Salat at-Tarawih — Ramadan Night Prayers

Tarawih prayers are the voluntary night prayers performed during the month of Ramadan after the Isha prayer. The name comes from the Arabic word "tarawih" (resting), because the early Muslims would rest between every four rak'ahs due to the length of the recitation. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of sincere faith and seeking its reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Tarawih is one of the most beloved acts of worship during Ramadan.

The Origin

The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed Tarawih in congregation for two or three nights, then stopped doing so in the mosque, fearing it would become obligatory upon his ummah. He said: "I feared it would be made obligatory upon you" (Sahih al-Bukhari). After the Prophet's death, during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, Umar saw people praying individually and in scattered groups in the mosque. He gathered them behind a single imam, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, saying: "What an excellent bid'ah (innovation) this is" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Scholars explain that Umar's use of "bid'ah" here was linguistic, since the practice itself had a basis in the Prophet's Sunnah.

The Number of Rak'ahs

This is one of the most discussed questions in Islamic jurisprudence. The Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools traditionally hold that Tarawih is twenty rak'ahs, based on the practice reported from the time of Umar and the consensus of the Companions. The hadith of Aishah states that the Prophet "did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs whether in Ramadan or outside it" (Sahih al-Bukhari), which some scholars understand as referring to Tahajjud (late night prayer) rather than Tarawih specifically. Other scholars, particularly those following the apparent meaning of Aishah's hadith, hold that eight rak'ahs (plus three Witr) is the Sunnah. Both positions are valid, and the matter is one of permissible scholarly difference.

Method and Recitation

Tarawih is typically prayed in sets of two rak'ahs, with a brief rest after every four. Many mosques aim to complete the recitation of the entire Quran during Tarawih over the course of Ramadan, dividing approximately one juz (part) per night. The recitation is led by a hafiz (one who has memorized the entire Quran). The prayer is performed after Isha and before Witr, as the Prophet said: "Make the last of your night prayer Witr" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Women may attend Tarawih at the mosque and are also rewarded for praying at home.

The Spiritual Experience

Tarawih transforms Ramadan nights into a unique spiritual experience. Standing in prayer while the Quran is recited in its entirety, the worshipper engages with the entire message of Allah over the course of thirty nights. The last ten nights are particularly intense, as Muslims seek Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), which is "better than a thousand months" (Quran 97:3). The communal nature of Tarawih, with mosques filled to capacity across the Muslim world, creates a powerful sense of unity and devotion that is one of the defining features of Ramadan.