Evidence No. 1

'Allaamah Ainnee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - writes the following in his book 'Umdatul-Qaree': 

"If you were to state that it is not clear in the narrations (by Imaam Bukhaaree), regarding the number of Rakaa'ah the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) prayed in these nights (the three (3) nights of Ramadhaan).

In response I say there is a narration from Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibbaan from the Hadeeth of Jaabir (radi-Allaahu 'anhu) who said that:

  "The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) prayed eight Rakaa'ah with us in the month of Ramadhaan and finished with the Witr." [Umdatul-Qaree Sharah Saheeh Bukhaaree, vol. 3, page 597, Egyptian print]

Evidence No. 2

'Allaamah Zailaee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - has also asserted in 'Nasbur-Rayaah Fee Takhreejer Ahadeetheer Hidaayah':   

"Also Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh has narrated from Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah (radi-Allaahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) prayed Eight Rakaa'ah with his Companions (radi-Allaahu 'anhum ajma'een) in the month of Ramadhaan and finished with Witr." [Nasbur-Rayaah, vol. 2, page 152]

Evidence No. 3

Imaam Muhammad - Rahimahullaah - one of the renowned students of Imaam Abu Haneefah - Rahimahullaah - has mentioned in his book 'Muwatta' the famous narration of Aa'ishah (radi-Allaahu 'anhaa):

"Whether it was Ramadhaan or any other month Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did not pray more than eleven Rakaa'ah." [Muwatta, Imaam Muhammad, page 138]

Evidence No. 4

Imaam Ibn Humaam - Rahimahullaah - writes in 'Fathul-Qadeer':

"In conclusion the Qiyaam of Ramadhaan (Taraweeh) consists of eight Rakaa'ah with Jamaa'ah (congregation) as it was done by our beloved Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)." [Fathul-Qadeer, Sharah Hidayaah, vol. 1, page 334]

Written in the footnote of 'Hidaayah' (a reliable book of the Hanafee Fiqh, vol. 1, page 96), is the following:

"The 'Sunnah' is that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did regularly."

Evidence No. 5

'Allaamah Mullaa Alee Qaaree Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - says: 

"Verily the Taraweeh prayer consists of eleven Rakaa'ah as it was the practice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam)." [Mirqaat Haashiyah Mishkaat, vol. 2, page 115]

After quoting this 'Allaamah Mullaa Alee Qaaree Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - also says:

"Therefore it has authentically been proven from the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) that he (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) prayed Eight Rakaa'ah Taraweeh with his Companions (Radi-Allaahu 'anhum ajma'een) and finished with the Witr." [Mirqaat Haashiyah Mishkaat, vol. 2, page 174]

Evidence No. 6

'Allaamah Abdul Hayy Lucknaawee Hanafee Rahimahullaah  states in his book 'Taleequl-Mumjeed' that:

"The narration which Ibn Hibbaan has narrated in his Saheeh of Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) prayed eight Rakaa'ah (Taraweeh), with his Companions in the month of Ramadhaan and finished with Witr is Very Saheeh." [Taleequl-Mumjeed, Sharah Muwatta, Imaam Muhammad]

Evidence No. 7

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Nasr Marwazee - Rahimahullaah - in his book 'Qiyaamul-Lail' from Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) that Ubay Ibn Ka'ab (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) went to the Messenger of Allaah (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) and said:

"I have done something last night (in Ramadhaan)." The Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam), said, "What is it, Ubay?" He (Ubay Ibn Ka'ab) replied, "Some of the women in my house told me, 'We cannot read the Qur'ân, so can you lead us in prayer?', so I led them in eight Rakaa'ah followed by one Witr." The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did not say anything which made it an approved Sunnah (taqreere). [Qiyaamul-Lail, Marwazee, page 90. Al-Haythamee said about this report in Majma-Zawaaed, vol. 2, page 74, that it's Isnaad (chain) is Hasan (good)]

Evidence No. 8

Imaam Tahaawee - Rahimahullaah - has said in 'Ma'aaneul-Athaar', which is considered as one of the most reliable books in Hanafee Fiqh:

"Sa'eeb Ibn Yazeed has said Umar Ibn al-Khattab (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) commanded Ubay Ibn Ka'ab and Tameem ad-Daaree to lead the people in (Qiyaam) Taraweeh with eleven Rakaa'ah finishing with the Witr." [Ma'aaneul-Athaar, vol. 1, page 173, and also narrated in Muwatta Imaam Maalik, page 40]

From the above narration we come to understand that the practice of the Companions of the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) was to pray eight Rakaa'ah Taraweeh, and also during the era of the second Caliph Umar (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) said or did the Sunnah of the Taraweeh prayer which was eight Rakaa'ah finishing with Witr, as it has been reported by Imaam Tahaawee - Rahimahullaah - in 'Ma'aaneul-Athaar'.

Evidence No. 9

Imaam Ahmad Tahtaawee - Rahimahullaah - writes:

"Verily the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) did not pray twenty (20), but he prayed eight (8) Rakaa'ah." [Tahtaawee Hashiyyab, Dure - Mukhtar, vol. 1, page 295]

In the same manner 'Allaamah Abu Saood Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - has written, in 'Sharah Kanz', a similar statement on page 265.

Evidence No. 10

'Allaamah Abul-Hasan Shurunbalaalee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - the author of the famous Hanafee Fiqh book regarding worship 'Noor ul-Eedhaa' writes:

"It has authentically been established that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) prayed eleven Rakaa'ah with congregation finishing with the Witr." [Maraaqiul-Falaah Sharah Noor ul-Eedhaa, page 274]

Evidence No. 11

Moulvi Muhammad Ahsan Nanotwi - Rahimahullaah - writes:

"Because the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) did not pray twenty but he prayed eight Rakaa'ah." [(Footnote) of Kanzud - Daqaaeq, page 36]

Evidence No. 12

Moulvi Ahmad Alee Sharanpuri - Rahimahullaah - writes:

"Verily the Qiyaam (Taraweeh) of Ramadhaan is Sunnah with eleven Rakaa'ah in congregation finishing with the Witr, just as it was the practice of the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) in the month of Ramadhaan with congregation." [(Footnote) of Bukhaaree, vol. 1, page 154]

And the following has also been written:

"The only authentic narration which has been proven with Saheeh Hadeeth regarding the Taraweeh prayer with the Witr is the narration of eight Rakaa'ah." [Ain ul-Hidayyah, page 562]

Evidence No. 13

'Allaamah Abdul Hayy Lucknaawee Hanafee Rahimahullaah - writes the following regarding the number of Rakaa'ah for Taraweeh:

"Ibn Hibbaan and others have narrated that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) in these (three) nights prayed eight Rakaa'ah with his Companions (Radi-Allaahu 'anhum ajma'een) in congregation." [Umdatur-Raayah, vol. 1, page 207]

And 'Allaamah Abdul Hayy Lucknaawee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah, in 'Taleequl-Mumjeed' page 138, declares the above narration to be VERY SAHEEH.

Evidence No. 14

One of the famous late Hanafee Scholars by the name of Moulvi Muhammad Zakareeyyah Khandelvi - Rahimahullaah, author of "Tableeghi Nisaab", says:

"According to the principles of the Muhadditheen (Scholars of Hadeeth) it has not been authentically proven in the correct manner with a 'Marfoo' narration, ('elevated', a narration from the Prophet Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam), reported by a companion, successor, and others that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) prayed twenty." [Awjazul-Masaalik Sharah Muwatta Imaam Maalik, vol. 1, page 397]

Evidence No. 15

Noa'maan has reported,

"As it has been commonly known (amongst the people) that twenty Rakaa'ah Taraweeh is the Sunnah, this is not authentically proven from the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam). What is correct is at the time of the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) according to his command the practiced Sunnah was in accordance with the (famous) narration of Aa'ishah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhaa) as it can be found in Saheeh Bukhaaree, which is:

"Whether it was Ramadhaan or any other month Allaah's Messenger (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) did not pray more than eleven Rakaa'ah."

Aa'ishah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhaa) knows better than other people about the affairs of the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) at night." [In Fatah Sirul-Manaan Fee Ta'eed Madhabeen-Noa'maan]

Evidence No. 16

'Allaamah Ibn Humaam Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - writes:

"The narration which Ibn Abee Shaybah, Tabaraanee and Bayhaqee have narrated from Ibn Abbaas (Radi-Allaahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) used to pray twenty Rakaa'ah finishing with Witr in the month of Ramadhaan is 'Da'eef' (weak). As the narrator is Abu Shaibah Ibrahim Ibn Uthmaan who is the grandfather of Imaam Abu Bakr Ibn Abee Shaibah and he is 'Da'eef' (a weak narrator). Apart from this the (above) narration also contradicts the authentic narration." [Fathul- Qadeer Ma'aa Hidayyah, vol. 1, page 205]

Evidence No. 17

'Allaamah Zailaee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - writes:

"Ibn Abee Shaibah has narrated from the Hadeeth of Ibrahim Ibn Uthmaan Abu Shaibah that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) used to pray twenty Rakaa'ah finishing with the Witr. This Hadeeth is Ma'lool meaning DA'EEF (weak) because it contains a narrator by the name of Abu Bakr Ibn Abee Shaibah. This narrator is DA'EEF (a weak narrator), because there is a consensus amongst all the Muhadditheen (scholars of Hadeeth) that the (above) narrator (Abu Shaibah Ibrahim Ibn Uthmaan) is Da'eef (a weak narrator)." [Nasbur-Rayyah, vol. 2, page 153]

Evidence No. 18

'Allaamah Zailee Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - also says:

"Ibn Adda in 'Kamil' has declared the (above) narration (the narration which contains Abu Shaibah Ibrahim Ibn Uthmaan) 'Leen' (meaning Da'eef - weak). Apart from this the (above) narration contradicts the authentic narration reported by Aa'ishah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhaa), which is:

"Abu Salmah Ibn Abdur-Rahmaan asked Aa'ishah (Radi-Allaahu 'anhaa) about the Messenger's (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) prayer in Ramadhaan." She said, "Whether in was in Ramadhaan or any other month, Allaah's Messenger did not pray more than eleven Rakaa'ah." [Nasbur-Rayaah, vol. 2, page 153]

Evidence No. 19

'Allaamah Anwar Shah Kashmiree Hanafee - Rahimahullaah - writes the following about twenty Rakaa'ah:

"What is authentically proven from the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is the number of eight Rakaa'ah and the report that states that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) prayed twenty has been narrated with a weak chain which makes it Da'eef (weak) and there is 'IJMAA' (consensus) upon its weakness." [Al-Urfus - Shizaa, page 209]

Evidence No. 20

From the book 'Zuhratul Riyaadil Abraar', chapter of Taraweeh, Issue: Eight Rakaa'ah Taraweeh:

'Allaamah Shurunbalaalee has stated in his book 'Maraqeeyul Falaah, Sharah Noorul Idha' (the explanation of Noorul Idha):

"To pray eight Rakaa'ah in congregation is Sunnatul Kifaayah (a Sunnah to be performed by a group of people), as it has been proven that the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) prayed eleven Rakaa'ah in congregation concluding with the Witr."

"DO NOT MIX TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD NOR CONCEAL THE TRUTH WHEN YOU KNOW" (Al-Quran surah Al-Baqrah: 2 Chapter:42)