Series Regarding the Number of Rakah for Taraweeh
No. 10 Is it authentic that anyone of the Khulafa prayed twenty Rakah?
Part D: Shaykh Albaani commented on what Shaykh Isma’eel al-Ansaari refuted his book with, saying:
‘He also ascribed to me on p.41 that I declared the Salaf as-Salih to be ignorant’
In reality this is his greatest lie against me, because that which preceded this lie is connected to my knowledge and it is possible that I make a mistake in some parts of my knowledge and that he is correct in what he ascribed to me, even though I have established his lying in these issues.
As for this lie, then it is connected to my Aqeedah, my Deen and my understanding of the Deen upon the manhaj of the Salaf as-Salih. I am -and all praise belongs to Allaah- well-known among all the people that I am indeed a Salafi. I call to following the Salaf as-Salih with speech and writing. From that is what I stated in the book ‘Salatul Taraweeh’ : ‘If it was established from one of the Khulafa ar-Rashideen (rightly guided Caliphs) or other than them from the scholars of the Companions of an increase upon 11 Rakah, then it would not permit us except to hold the opinion with the permissibility of increase of Rakah due to our knowledge of their excellence, understanding and being far away from innovating in the Deen. . . ‘
Therefore, if it is not established to me that they increased in the number of Rakah and I adhered only to what is established from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- then how can my reward be that I am accused of declaring the Salaf to be ignorant?! I swear by Allaah that this is one of the greatest calamities; indeed Allaah Ta’ala is the one from whom help is sought.
[Tamaam al-Mina. …p.255]