Taraweeh prayer is two by two rak’ahs

Praise be to Allah.

This action is not prescribed in sharee’ah, rather it is makrooh or haraam according to most scholars, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The night prayers are two by two.” Saheeh – agreed upon, from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him). And it is proven that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray eleven rak’ahs at night, and say the tasleem after each two rak’ahs, and he would pray Witr with one rak’ah. Saheeh, agreed upon. And there are many similar ahaadeeth. 

With regard to the famous hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, which says that “the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray four rak’ahs at night, and do not ask how beautiful and how long they were, then he would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful and how long they were”, the hadeeth is agreed upon – the answer is that he said the tasleem after each two rak’ahs; it does not mean that he would follow four rak’ahs with one salaam, because of the hadeeth quoted above. And it is proven that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The night prayers are two by two” as stated above. The ahaadeeth confirm one another, so the Muslim is obliged to study all of them together and to interpret those that are general in meaning by those that are more specific. And Allaah is the Source of strength. End quote. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)