(iv). Salat-ut-Tarawih.--This is a special set of twenty rak'ats recited every night during the month of Ramazan. They must be said after the farz and sunnat, and before the witr rak'ats at the time of the Salat-ul-'Isha. The Salat-ut-Tarawih is considered of sunnat obligation. The practice dates from the time of the Khalif Omar. Abd-ur-Rahman, a Traditionist, states that one night in Ramazan he went with Omar to the Mosque. They saw some persons saying the Namaz alone and some reciting it in groups. Omar said: "If I gather them all together, so that they may recite it after one Imam it will be good." He did so, and the next night the people of their own accord came in great numbers and united together. Then said Omar: "this {206} bid'at is good." This is good authority for the institution, for the Prophet said: "Follow my Sunnat and that of the Khulafa-i-Rashidin." There is also a Hadis-i-Sahih to the effect that "God has made the fast of Ramazan farz, and its qiam[210] sunnat." (Kutiba 'alaikum siamu Ramazana wa sunna qiamuhu). The Prophet was anxious lest the Tirawih Namaz should become farz and, therefore, after going to the Mosque on two successive nights in Ramazan, he stayed away on the third, giving as his reason for so doing that he feared that, if he went every night, it might be considered a farz and not a sunnat duty.[211] The number of rak'ats is fixed at twenty, as that was the number recited by Muhammad and by the Khalif Omar. The Shia'hs do not say these prayers or even enter the Mosque on such occasions, as after every four rak'ats an eulogium is repeated on the four Khalifs--the first three of whom they hate. (v). Salat-ul-Kusuf and Salat-ul-Khusuf--Prayer said when an eclipse of the sun, or of the moon takes place. In the former case, the Imam recites with the congregation in the Mosque two rak'ats. The Azan and the Iqamat are both omitted. No Khutba is said. In each rak'at one ruku' is read. The Shafa'ites read two. After the rak'ats are completed those present remain in prayer (Du'a) until the eclipse is at an end. The Namaz during an eclipse of the moon is the same as that during an eclipse of the sun, with this exception that the rak'ats need not be recited in a congregation. Each Muslim can say the Namaz privately in his own house. The practice is founded on the Prophet's saying: "When you see an eclipse then remember God, pray (Du'a) and recite the Namaz until it becomes light again." (vi). Salat-ul-Istisqa.--Prayer in time of drought. When {207} there is a scarcity of water each person should, with face Qibla-wards, offer up prayer to God. They can be said at home and in private. Care must be taken that no Zimmi[212] is present. The reason given is that this is a prayer for a blessing; but God sends no blessing on a company in which a Zimmi is present.