But you are not like him, so how can you say, “I shall introduce an innovation—and what an excellent innovation it is!” Umar, however, has an established sunnah that is to be followed.

Moreover, we do not know of Umar having introduced any religious legislation. Rather, he introduced administrative measures that had not existed during the Prophet’s time, peace and blessings be upon him, because he considered them to serve the public interest. Examples include his requiring a threefold divorce to count as three divorces (1); his prohibition of the sale of slave-women who had borne children to their masters, even though they were sold during the Messenger’s time, peace and blessings be upon him (2); and his increasing the punishment for drinking wine from approximately forty to eighty lashes (3).

These were administrative measures which he considered to achieve the public interest. But did Umar add to the prescribed prayers and make them six? No. Or did he make the noon prayer five units? No.

Performed in Congregation ........

His statement, “It is performed in congregation,” means that the Tarawih prayer is to be prayed in congregation. If a person prays it alone in his home, he will not have fulfilled the sunnah.

The evidence for this is the practice of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him (4), Umar’s instruction, may Allah be pleased with him, and the agreement of most of the Companions on this (5).