Tarawih Prayer—also known as Qiyam (night prayer)—is associated with the month of Ramadan and is a confirmed Sunnah.
When you think of Tarawih prayer, you feel a sense of spirituality and joy entering your heart, as it is connected to a great and blessed month for Muslims.
The month of Ramadan is a sacred time for Muslims. It is a month of mercy, forgiveness, and drawing closer to Allah through obedience and worship. Among the most important features that distinguish this month are:
- Fasting
- Tarawih prayer
Muslims consider Tarawih prayer an essential part of Ramadan, through which a servant draws closer to Allah and to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
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The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the first to perform this prayer.
So, let us explore together this prayer, and answer all the questions that may come to your mind—you will find them in this article.
What is Tarawih prayer?
Tarawih Prayer is the night prayer performed during Ramadan after the ‘Isha prayer. The first to perform it was the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He initially prayed it in congregation, then stopped gathering people for it out of fear that it might become obligatory upon the الأمة, as narrated by the Mother of the Believers, Lady ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Muslims continued to perform it after the Prophet’s passing, each praying individually, until ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered them to pray together in one congregation.
It was narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd al-Qari that he said:
“I went out with ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) one night in Ramadan to the mosque, and the people were scattered in groups—some praying alone, and others praying in small groups. Then he went out with them another night and saw them praying behind one reciter. He said: ‘What a good innovation this is, but the prayer they sleep through is better than the one they are performing now,’ meaning the last part of the night. At that time, people used to pray in the early part of the night.”
It was also narrated by Sa‘id ibn Mansur in his Sunan that ‘Umar gathered the people behind Ubayy ibn Ka‘b to lead the men in prayer, while Tamim al-Dari led the women.
Meaning of “Tarawih”
The word Tarawih is derived from “راحة” (rest), referring to relaxation. It is the prayer performed in congregation during the nights of Ramadan. The term is the plural of Tarwihah, and it was named so because early Muslims used to take a short rest after every two units (rak‘ahs), as mentioned by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar. It is also known as Qiyam Ramadan.
In Arabic usage, Tarawih originally refers to sitting for rest. Worshippers would rest after every four rak‘ahs due to the length of the prayer, sometimes engaging in remembrance of Allah, supplication, or recitation of the Qur’an.
Another reason for the name comes from the practice in Makkah, where Muslims would pray four rak‘ahs, rest, then perform tawaf around the Ka‘bah, and repeat this pattern.
How to Perform Tarawih Prayer
Tarawih is prayed in units of two rak‘ahs, ending each with tasleem (saying “peace”). One continues in this manner until reaching eight rak‘ahs or more.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The night prayer is offered in two units, and if you fear the approach of dawn, then pray one rak‘ah as Witr.”
Method of Prayer:
- Begin with the intention in the heart and face the Qiblah.
- Raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar.”
- Recite the opening supplication, then Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by any verses from the Qur’an.
- Bow (ruku‘) and say: “Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim” three times.
- Rise and say: “Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah.”
- Prostrate (sujood) and say: “Subhana Rabbiyal-A‘la” three times.
- Sit and say: “Allahumma ighfir li,” then prostrate again.
- Stand for the second rak‘ah and repeat the same steps.
- At the end of the second rak‘ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud, then conclude with tasleem to the right and left.
This is repeated in sets of two rak‘ahs. After every four rak‘ahs, it is recommended to take a short rest.
After completing the Tarawih prayer, the worshipper performs Witr prayer (usually three rak‘ahs).
Supplication in Tarawih
There is no fixed supplication specifically for Tarawih, but making du‘a is recommended.
One example of supplication:
“O Allah, I ask You for all الخير, immediate and delayed, what I know and what I do not know. I seek refuge in You from all الشر, immediate and delayed, what I know and what I do not know. I ask You for Paradise and whatever brings me closer to it in words and deeds, and I seek refuge in You from the Fire and whatever brings me closer to it in words and deeds.”
Another well-known supplication:
“O Allah, guide us among those You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, take us into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, bless what You have given us, and protect us from the evil of what You have decreed.”
How many rakat is salat tarawih?
The jurists differed in the number of tarawih rakaat, and they are as follows:
- The majority of jurists from the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools are of the view that the number of tarawih rakaat is twenty. Imam Tarawih prayer Witr.
- The Malikis: The Malikis are of the view that the number of tarawih rakaat is thirty-nine, resting between every four rak’ahs, of which nine times; It is thirty-six units of prayer, and they complete it with three units of witr.
- It was proven on the authority of Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her – that the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, prayed eleven rak’ahs with the Witr. Abu Salamah asked Aisha: (How was the prayer of the Rasool Allah, may Allah prayers and peace be upon him, in Ramadan? In addition, he should perform eleven rak’ahs, he prays four and does not ask about their beauty and length, then he prays four, and he does not skip them, then he prays four, and he does not skip them).
What time is tarawih?
Salat al tarawih begins from the first moon-sighted evening (start) to the second evening(last day of Ramadan).
Tarawih prayer time extends from after the Isha prayer until the Fajr prayer, and it is preferable to take it after the Isha prayer and end with the Witr prayer.
How do you pray Taraweeh for kids?
The family plays an important role in teaching their children how taraweeh for kids to pray salat al tarawih, and they have to be patient with them and not to abuse them or pressure them in it.
Salat al Taraweeh is hard on the old, so how will it be on the little one, as follows:
- So the father and mother begin to teach their children the correct way of prayer from a young age for their children.
- And introduce them to its virtues and perform it in front of them and with them until they love Tarawih and accept it.
- Then accompany them He goes to the mosque with them and does not pressure them to perform it all.
- So he begins with two rakats, then four and so on so that he does not find any hardship for him, and his performance becomes based on love stemming from within him and not for the sake of pleasing his parents.
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Is tarawih sunnah?
Yes, Tarawih is a confirmed Sunnah muakadah of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and is not an obligation.
Can you pray tarawih prayers listening to a recorded Quran?
No, you can’t do that because it is not permissible to pray behind the recorded Quran, because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “In prayer, there is a distraction.” Agreed upon, and the worshiper is commanded to reflect on what he is reading, bring his heart during recitation, and strive to attain humility as much as possible.
The Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “In prayer, there is a distraction.” Agreed upon, and the worshiper is enjoined to reflect on what he recites, to bring his heart during the recitation, and to strive to attain reverence as much as possible. No doubt repeating the recitation behind the recorder contradicts this purpose. The invalidity of the prayer of the worshiper if someone who is not with him in prayer opens it to him.
- Allah loves that Muslims are close to him during the prayer. We have many spiritual and physical benefits of Tarawih prayers:
Benefit of tarawih
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Improving physical and emotional health through gentle movements up and down, including prostration (sujood) and bowing (ruku‘).
Tarawih prayer helps restore muscle strength in the elderly. As people age, their level of physical activity often decreases, which may lead to weaker bones.
The repeated movements during Tarawih help improve joint flexibility, muscle strength, and tendon strength.
Tarawih also enhances endurance, self-confidence, and self-esteem among older adults, encouraging independence.
Among its benefits is encouraging people to attend the mosque more frequently to perform this special prayer in congregation.
Tarawih brings together Muslims from all walks of life in one place, fostering unity among Muslims around the world.
Frequent supplication throughout the month of Ramadan strengthens a Muslim’s faith and motivates them to do what pleases Allah.
Tarawih prayer encourages more worship, even at the expense of sleep, helping believers prioritize their spiritual connection.
This special prayer not only brings us closer to Allah but also provides a form of physical activity that helps prevent overeating and supports overall fitness.
It can also improve memory through the continuous recitation of Qur’anic verses, helping to clear distracting thoughts from the mind.
Since the regular movements in Tarawih are a form of light exercise, they can contribute to burning calories.
Eating balanced meals at suhoor and iftar, combined with performing Tarawih, may help with weight management.
Summary
Tarawih is a prayer that teaches patience. A Muslim should perform it with calmness, focus, and حضور القلب, avoiding distractions so that the prayer is accepted, good deeds are increased, and one draws closer to Allah and His Paradise.
It is among the beloved acts of worship to Allah and His Messenger, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan—a month of mercy, forgiveness, and blessings.
Tarawih helps in the forgiveness of sins, strengthens the relationship between the servant and Allah, and brings the believer closer to Him.
