Dividing the Taraweeh into Two is an Innovation – Imam al-Albaanee

[Maher.ibn.Ahmad.Attiyeh]

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma-ba'd

Dividing the Taraweeh into Two is an Innovation – Imam al-Albaanee
Questioner:

What is said about what is happening now in the last 10 days of Ramadan – meaning, the prayer is divided into the first part and the last part of the night, and now this has become a permanent practice?

Imam al-Albaanee: Innovation..

Questioner: How is it done? – meaning, we wish that we establish the Sunnah and [at the same time] make it easy for the people. So how can we do that?

Imam al-Albaanee: Perform it early as Umar ibn al-Khattab stated and delaying it is better – meaning he commanded Ubayd ibn Ka'b to establish the prayer with the people after the 'eesha Prayer, so he did and when Umar went out [to the masjid], he said, 'What a good innovation this is, but the prayer that they forgot about and sleep is better [than the one they are offering].

Questioner: So it should remain the way it was before the last ten days?

Imam al-Albaanee: Yes.


Source: http://video.dusunnah.com/fiqh/prayer/dividing-the-taraweeh-into-two-is-an-innovation-imam-al-albanee/

[AbdulHakeem.Ibn.Yusuf]

Find here (http://www.miraathpublications.net/what-is-the-description-of-the-night-prayer-in-the-last-10-nights/) Shiekh Ubayd -hafidhahu-Allaah-'s answer to this question

Quotes from Sheykh Ubayd's answer:

"It is not from the sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), nor of his rightly guided caliphs, and nor from the actions of the Imams from the blessed generations who were close to the time of the Prophethood, to perform salatul-taraweeh and salatul-at-tahajuud [i.e. in one night]. Rather they only used to perform the prayer once. And what indicates this is ...."

"... Thirdly, it is not permissible to label the people’s division of the night prayer in Ramadaan into two parts, taraweeh and tahajuud, it is not permissible that it is labelled an innovation because masses of the Imams of the Muslims traversed upon this and so it is not permissible to label it as an innovation. To do so would be an injustice and an error. However, to suffice with one salah [congregation] in the last ten days or in all of Ramadaan is more befitting and superior. ..."


Another compilation of the words of some Scholars can be found here (http://www.miraathpublications.net/day-19-dividing-the-qayyam-al-layl-night-prayer-in-the-last-ten-nights-of-ramadhaan/)

Other Scholars have consider the division of the taraweeh not to be a problem. See here for the fatwah of the al-Lajnatul-daaimah (http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=94403&p=433332)

Quotes from the answer of the al-Lajna:
"....
ولا بأس أن يزيد في عدد الركعات في العشر الأواخر عن عددها في العشرين الأول ويقسمها إلى قسمين قسما يصليه في أول الليل ويخففه على أنه تراويح كما في العشرين الأول وقسما يصليه في آخر الليل ويطيله على أنه تهجد فقد كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يجتهد في العشر الأواخر ما لا يجتهد في غيرها وكان إذا دخلت العشر الأواخر شمر وشد المئزر وأحيا ليله وأيقظ أهله تحريا لليلة القدر
..."
Wa Allaah 'alam