Reference: Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Question No.4 of Fatwa No.7617
Question: With the advent of the month of Ramadhaan, when the time for the taraaweeh prayer arrives, should I go to the masjid or pray [the taraaweeh prayer] at home? [Bearing in mind] I am not the imaam, but one of the congregation, and I love to read the Qur.aan, and I prefer to recite the Qur.aan by listening to myself, and [so] if I were to pray the taraaweeh prayer at home is there any sin upon me [for doing so]?
Response: [As a rule] there is no harm in you praying it (the taraaweeh prayer) at home, since it is [a] voluntary [prayer]. However, praying it together with the imaam in the masjid is better – following the example of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhum). And [this is] based upon what the Prophet ﷺ said to his companions when he prayed the taraaweeh prayer on some of the nights until a third of the night, and [then] some of them [who sought to pray more] said to him “O Messenger of Allaah, if [only] you [continued to] lead us in voluntary prayer [for] the remainder of this night of ours.” […to which he responded]:
«Whoever stands [in prayer] with the imaam until he finishes, Allaah will record for him [the reward of] spending the entire night in prayer.» – transmitted by Ahmad, Abu Daawood, an-Nasaa.ee, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah. They [all] transmitted it with a Hasan chain of narration, from the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhu).
And with Allaah lies all the success, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and his companions.
