Q: What is the position of Taraweeh in Shariah? Is it sunnat or nafl?
A: Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allah has made the fast of Ramadaan faradh upon you, and I have made its Qiyaam sunnat". (Tafseer Durre-Manthoor) The word Qiyaam, which means to offer salah, refers to the Taraweeh salah. (Mirqaat of Mulla Ali Qaari) From this hadith it is established that taraweeh is a sunnat of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), and this is the view of all four Schools of Thought. However, excluding the Maliki math-hab, the other three state that it is a Sunnat Muakkada (a strong sunnah). (Fiqh alal mathaahib-e-arba’)