Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 143
Undated 143 This is so because for Allah, nothing is unlawful. And as far as personal, national or trade matters are concerned, interest is absolutely prohibited. The reasoning that I have provided is similar to the fact that it is unlawful by the Shariah to burn a living being in fire, but in case of a war, it is permissible for a Muslim to make use of guns and cannons because the enemy is also using them. Number of Rak’aat in Tarawih Prayers Someone asked about the Tarawih Prayer, that if it is Tahajjud then what is your view about twenty rak’aat [units of Salat] because Tahajjud is only eleven or thirteen rak’aat including Witr. The Promised Messiah as said: The everlasting sunnah [practice] of the Holy Prophet s as is only the eight rak’aat and he used to offer them at the time of tahajjud , and this is the preferred method. However, it is also allowed in the earlier part of the night as well. In one narration it is stated that the Holy Prophet s as offered them at the earlier part of the night. Twenty rak’aat were introduced later, but the sunnah of the Holy Prophet s as was indeed that which has been stated earlier. 1 1. Badr, vol. 7, no. 5, p. 7, dated 6 February 1908