There is
no particular sunnah regarding the recitation
during salat at-tarawih.
It is
related that some people of the early generations
would pray with two hundred ayahs or so and the
people would be leaning on staffs due to the
protracted standing during the salah. They would
not leave their prayers until shortly before dawn
and some of them would rush their servants to
prepare food for them fearing that dawn may break
soon. They would recite al-Baqarah in eight raka'at
and, if they would complete them in twelve raka'at
they would consider their prayers to have been
very short.
Ibn
Qudamah says "Ahmad said: 'Recite the Qur'an
what is easy for the people and do not be hard
upon them, especially during the short nights [during
the summer]."
Al-Qadi
says "It is not prefered to recite less than
the entire Qur'an during the month; in this way
the people will be able to hear the whole Qur'an.
Do not recite more than one reading of the Qur'an
as this may be hard upon the people. [While
reciting] consideration should be given to the
condition of the people. If the people concur
that they would prefer a long recital, that would
be best."
Abu Dharr
said "We prayed with Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam until we feared that we would
miss the pre-dawn meal. And the imam would recite
two hundred ayahs."
PRAYING
TARAWIH IN CONGREGATION
It is
allowed to pray tarawih of the month of Ramadan
in a congregation just as it is allowed to pray
them on an individual basis. The majority of the
scholars, however, prefer to pray them in a
congregation. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam prayed tarawih in congregation with the
Muslims but he discontinued since he feard that
it would be made obligatory.
'Umar was
the one who convoked the Muslims to pray tarawih
behind one imam. Abdurahman ibn Abdulqari reports
"One night during Ramadan, I went with 'Umar
to the mosque and the people were praying in
different groups. Some were praying by themselves
and others were praying in small groups. 'Umar
said "I think it would be better if I
gathered them under one imam." Then he
appointed Ubayy ibn Ka'b as the leader of the
prayer..."