I have 3 questions about Ramadhaan according to Hanafi Madhab. I had an argument with a friend about these topics recently. 1. I know to go for Taraaweeh is not Fardh on anyone but Sunnah, but can you tell me the benefits for men to go to the Masjid and pray? 2) Is it necessary for Muslims to finish the Qur'aan during Ramadhaan? 3) And last, is there such a thing as less than 20 Raka'h Taraaweeh? Please can you use a Hadeeth to back up all of these answers?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

There are great benefits in going to the mosque and performing congregational Taraaweeh prayers, among which is:

1.     It is permissible to perform congregational Taraaweeh prayers, and performing them in congregation is better than performing them at home as the Prophet said: "A man praying with another man is better than him praying alone; praying with two other men is better than him praying with one man, and if the number of praying persons is greater, then that is more beloved to Allaah." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

2.     The person going to the mosque to perform the prayer gets the reward of going to the mosque. The Prophet said: "For every step that a person makes when going to the mosque to perform the prayer, Allaah raises him by one degree and eradicates one of his sins." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

3.     Among the benefits one gets when going to the mosque to perform Taraaweeh prayers is that he performs 'Ishaa' prayer in congregation.

4.     It is also reviving the Sunnah of the Prophet and his companions as they used to pray Taraaweeh prayers in congregation in the mosque.

The scholars of the Hanafi School are of the view that performing Taraaweeh prayers in congregation in the mosque is better than performing them at home, and those who perform them in congregation at home miss the excellence of performing them in the mosque.

It is not obligatory to finish the whole Qur'aan in Taraaweeh prayers in Ramadan. However, it is very much desirable to read the Qur'aan as much as possible. Jibreel used to meet the Prophet every night during Ramadan and review with him the Qur'aan. [Al-Bukhari] Reading the Qur'aan is something desirable and reading it in Ramadan is more rewardable. Moreover, it is dislikeable for a Muslim not to read the entire   Qur'aan in 40 days. 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar asked the Prophet : "How many days does it take you to finish reading the Qur'aan?" The Prophet replied: "Forty days, then he said, one month, and finally he said every seven days." [Abu Daawood] This is an evidence that one should finish reading the Qur'aan every 40 days.

To know the numbers of Rak'ah read the Fatwa: 82507 and 82508.

Allaah knows best.