Extending the Second Rakaah of the Taraaweeh Salaah

Q: Salaah-457: A Haafidh performing the Taraaweeh salaah extends the second Rakaah longer than the first whereas the person correcting his recitation says that the first ought to be longer than the second. The Haafidh says that this is not necessary on Sunnah salaahs. Please clarify.

Answer: Although the Taraaweeh salaah is a Sunnah salaah, it resembles the Fardh salaahs in that it is performed in Jamaa'ah. It is therefore undesirable to extend the second Rakaah longer than the first. While one will not be sinful for doing it occasionally, making a habit of it conflicts with the Mustahab practice. Imaam Abu Haneefah RAH. and Imaam Abu Yusuf RAH. are of the opinion that both Rakaahs be of equal duration while Imaam Muhammad RAH. says that the first ought to be longer than the second. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2