[SerycegeBunny]

There are several flaws and inconsistencies with what was mentioned by Sh. Wasiullah Abbas.

First is his understanding of Ta'assub, He is oblivious to the meaning. Doing Taqleed to a School and respecting differing opinions is not Ta'assub and strictly holding on to the opinions of your School doesn't make one a Ta'assub, even if it is a Scholar holding onto the opinion of a more learned Scholar.

al-Lajnah al-Da'imah (Which was run by Hanbali Scholars and headed by Sh. Bin Baaz)

وإن كان لا يعرف الدليل أو لا يستطيع أن يستنبط الحكم منه؛ قلد من يثق به من أئمة الفقه فيأخذ بما عرفه من أقواله دون أن يغمط غيره حقه أو ينتقصه، وإلا كان متعصبًا

"...if a Muslim does not know the proofs or how to deduce rulings from them, it is permissible for them to follow the example of a trustworthy Imam (initiator of a School of Jurisprudence). They can apply their famous views without refusing to recognize those of other Imams or rejecting them, otherwise, this will be considered fanaticism." (Translation taken from the site itself)

Dr. Wasiullah Abbas answers in the video: The narration about Makkah is that 20 Raka'ah taraweeh takes place only in Masjid Al-Haram.. only.. But, in other Masjids of Makkah city, alhamdulillah my children (4 sons) are all Huffaaz (memorizers of Quran) and they lead the Taraaweeh prayers. So, In other masjids, 8 + 3 = 11 raka'ah taraaweeh takes place, that's it.. Also, in Riyadh 8 + 3 = 11 Raka'ah taraaweeh takes place.. In very rare cases, maybe someone prays 20, but never heard anyone doing it His four Huffaz sons go all over Makkah to lead Taraweeh? in the Masaajid? does that mean they see every single happenings? anyway lets not look at what 21st Century people are doing geographically rather the 1st Century (Hijri) were doing, as they are our role models.

You might be knowing about King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. He decided to revive the Sunnah (of 8 raka'ah) in Masjid Al-Haram. And he sought advice from the leading Scholars (who were Hanbali) at that time. Sounds like a Madkhali, but anyway, what is his proof that the King wanted to implement 8 Rak'aats? just saying it is not a proof.

One Hanbali book says, "Nayyarain" (i.e. facing towards the Sun and the Moon and passing urine/stool is not permissible). But a famous Hanbali Scholar said that, this Ruling is against the Hadith and there is no proof of it from Hadith. But, (nayyarain) is only not allowed only while facing the Qiblah. He rejected that Ruling outright. Although the Book was of from his own madhab. It is very sad that the Ahlul Hadith have had an effect on some of the Hanbali 'Ulama in Saudi, though i do see that there are still who are trying to revive the Hanbali Fiqh.

They replied that, Masjid Al-Haram is a global location where people from all parts of world will arrive. Some people want pray 20 and some people want to pray 10 Rather it is a Majority and Minute!

So, you can authorize two Imams, the first Imam will pray 8 + 2 = 10 and the second Imam will pray 8 + 2 = 10. The problem is he is twisting words, what proof does he have from these 'Ulama said this? why is he saying 8+2, why not 2+2+2+2+2? the problem is he wants to make it sound like 11 Rak'aat, So by having two Imams leading doing Taraweeh means they are reading 8 Rak'aat each? then my local Masjid has three Huffaz for Taraweeh, does that mean the first that prays the 6 Rak'aat thinks Tarweeh is 6 Rak'aat? swapping Imams for Taraweeh is not a new phenomena, rather it is very ancient practice going back to the Aslaaf.

And the Imam himself, you can see on Television, I think they show it, the Imam never strictly adheres to 20 Raka'ah. They perform (10 raka'ahs) and then leave. Well if they are appointed to perform ten, how on earth can they do more or less? the first Hafiz at my Masjid performs six, does that mean anything?

Secondly, "leave" where? the congregation? the bilaad? the Masjid? they could go "leave" and join the Saffs and performs the rest, possibility?

Lastly the Haram pray a separate 3 Rak'aat Witr, which demolishes their argument, so all in all it is 23 Rak'aat, Allah' Rasool blessed the Bilaad of the Haramayn, do they think that their fatwa of 8 Rak'aat will get any acceptance (for Taraweeh) in the sight of Allah?

But, if someone wants to pray more, then he should not have an aqeedah or belief 20 (raka'ah) is Sunnah Mad-khali at it's high.

Infact it could be mentioned the other way round, if you had not the Shi'i type of hatred for 'Umar establishing 20 Rak'aats, then what is wrong with praying 20 Rak'aat, 8 to fulfill Rasulullah (if for argument sake we agree) and the rest to keep the Sunnah of the Khulafa Rashideen? if your intentions were pure (Insha-Allah it is) you could have killed two bird with one stone, two rewards! But obviously Ahlul Hawaa are nothing more than confused dot com.

To illustrate their "wisdom" they would go to the Masjid and if it is few minutes before Jama'ah they will stand and not sit, (to avoid not praying 2 Rak'aat Sunnah of entering Masjid), because the hadith mentions "when of one you enters masjid he should not sit until he prays two Rak'aats." Subhan-Allah so the opposite from this hadith they deduce is "but stand to avoid the two Rak'aat". Hilarious.

I wonder when these people are going to wake up.