Taraweeh

Number of rakaats in Taraweeh salaah

Q: I would like to enquire whether reading 20 rakaats of taraweeh is sunnah... I have recently heard someone say that Nabi صلا الله عليه وسلم read 8 rakaats in the musjid and 12 rakaats at home. Is this true?

Also, this person has said that the number of rakaats of taraweeh was not fixed and at one time in Makkah 30 rakaats were read. Could Mufti Saheb please clarify and include some ahaadith that I could use as proof.

Reciting بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم when continuing to the next surah in Taraweeh Salaah

Q: If someone is leading a congregation, for example Taraweeh. Does the imam need to say بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم after he finishes a surah and decides to continue? For example, if the Imam just finished Surah Baqarah and wants to continue to Al-Imran, does he stop after finishing and continue or does the Imam recite Tasmiyah and then continue to Al-Imran? Please clarify me on this.

Mistakes in taraweeh salaah

Q: With regards to Taraaweeh:

1. An Aayah was recited correctly. The Imaam thereafter repeated the Aayah and changed it (incorrectly) due to some doubt. Is the initial correct recitation or the second recitation which was incorrect taken into consideration? Does the Aayah have to be repeated?

2. For the purpose of listening to the Luqmah of a Saami', the Imaam remained silent for the duration of 3 Subhaanallaah or more (he did not recite Qiraat for that duration). Should Sajdat-us-Sahw be made?

3. Additionally, if a person because of some disturbance missed an Aayah in Surah Faatihah, or one sentence in his At-Tahiyyat, does he have to make Sajdatut-us-Sahw? To what extent is the Surah Faatihah and At-Tahiyyat Waajib?