The Tarawih Prayer and Its Significance | Complete Guide

Tarawih prayer is a nightly prayer performed in congregation during the sacred month of Ramadan. It is performed between the Isha prayer (night prayer) and the Fajr prayer (dawn prayer).

Tarawih is a sunna mouakkada, that is, a verified sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ practiced consistently. It is recommended to pray Tarawih after the four obligatory rak'ahs of the Isha prayer, before the Witr prayer and at any time before dawn.

The word Tarawih comes from the plural of the word "tarwi hatun" meaning "rest," because people were accustomed to stopping to rest every four rak'ahs.

Origins of Tarawih

Tarawih prayer is a recommended and highly meritorious practice that is part of the Sunnah. It was instituted by the second caliph of Islam, Omar Ibn Al‑Khattab, who organized the Muslims to pray together behind a single imam during Ramadan.

The Prophet ﷺ himself practiced this night prayer during Ramadan, but he feared that it would become obligatory for his community, which is why he prayed it at home. After his death, 'Omar رضي الله عنه gathered the Muslims for the collective Tarawih prayer, thus reviving a prophetic sunnah.

What is the meaning of Tarawih?

Tarawih is a supererogatory prayer performed during the month of Ramadan. It generally comprises 20 rak'ahs (according to the majority opinion) and takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete depending on the length of the recitation.

Muslims perform dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and invoke the peace and blessings of Allah upon the Prophet after every two rak'ahs.

It is permissible to say supplications between every two rak'ahs, such as "Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad" (O Allah, bless Muhammad).

Tarawih is a very important supplication for Muslims, as it is like a conversation with God where we present our needs and ask for His forgiveness and His mercy.

What are the benefits of Tarawih prayer

Tarawih prayer is full of spiritual, physical and social benefits:

• Purification of sins : The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever prays during Ramadan with faith and seeking the reward of Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven".
• Physical and emotional health : Night prayer improves health, regenerates the body and soothes the mind.
• Following two Sunnahs : Night prayer and congregational prayer.
• Purification of the soul : It allows one to draw closer to Allah, seek forgiveness and purify one's heart.
• Multiplied reward : During Ramadan, good deeds are multiplied and rewards are increased.

Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ explicitly spoke to us about the virtues of standing to pray during Ramadan.

How to perform the Tarawih prayer?

To perform the Tarawih prayer, the Muslim must pray two rak'ahs and then make the prayer salutations (taslim) at the end of these two rak'ahs.

Women may attend if they dress appropriately and respect the rules of modesty, although it is preferable for them to pray at home.

There is no obligation regarding the number of prayers to perform for Tarawih, but it is generally recommended to perform 11 or 13 rakats (including Witr), two by two, according to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. Some schools recommend 20 rak'ahs.

The prayer can be performed individually or in a group with family and neighbors.

When should the Tarawih prayer be performed?

The Tarawih prayer is a supererogatory prayer (sunnah) that is only performed during the month of Ramadan. It can be performed at any time between the Isha prayer and the Fajr prayer (dawn).

How to perform the Tarawih prayers?

The Tarawih prayer consists of 2 rak'ahs, followed by the prayer salutations. This sequence is repeated as many times as desired (usually 8 to 10 times, or 16 to 20 rak'ahs), then concluded with Witr (1 or 3 rak'ahs).

Women may attend if they dress appropriately and respect the rules of modesty.

There is no obligation regarding the number of prayers to perform for Tarawih. The prayer can be performed individually or in a group with family and neighbors.

How many rak'ah in Tarawih prayer?

There is no obligation concerning the number of prayers to perform for Tarawih. According to the known opinions of the Hanbali and Shafi'i schools, a Muslim can perform up to twenty rak'ah.

Other scholars recommend 11 or 13 rak'ah (including Witr), following the practice of the Prophet ﷺ who generally prayed 11 rak'ah during the night.

The essential thing is the quality of the prayer, the presence of the heart, and the thoughtful recitation of the Quran, rather than the quantity of rak'ah alone.

What Prayer to Perform During Ramadan?

During Ramadan, Muslims perform five daily obligatory prayers and a special prayer called Tarawih, which is performed after breaking the fast in the evening.

The hadiths have reported several teachings on the importance of night prayer. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that praying with the imam until he finishes is equivalent to spending the entire night in prayer.

And Abu Dharr reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that those who pray with the imam until he finishes will receive a reward similar to that of spending the entire night in prayer.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, do not miss the opportunity to pray at night during Ramadan with sincerity and in hope of divine reward. Your sins may perhaps be forgiven!

The Place of Tarawih in Ramadan

Tarawih is a special prayer performed during the month of Ramadan. It is a sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and is performed after the 'Isha' (Night) prayer.

The Tarawih prayer tones the muscles of elderly people, purifies our souls and gives us the chance to ask forgiveness from Allah the Almighty.

It is also said that whoever performs the night prayer during Ramadan, expressing his faith and seeking a reward from Allah, will have his sins erased.

Is Tarawih Prayer Obligatory?

You are not obliged to perform the Tarawih prayer. It is a confirmed sunnah (sunna mouakkada), but if you do not perform it, there is no sin.

However, it is strongly recommended and meritorious, and Muslims are encouraged to practice it to benefit from its immense spiritual rewards.

What is the Duration of Tarawih Prayer?

It begins right after the Isha prayer and lasts until dawn. Generally, it consists of 20 rak'ah and lasts approximately one to one hour and twenty minutes, depending on the length of the Quranic recitation.

Attention! You must not pray it after the Witr prayer, as Witr must be the last prayer of the night. The exact timing varies each day according to prayer times.

How to Perform Tarawih at Home or at the Mosque?

If you want to pray Tarawih at home, you must decide whether you will read the Quran from a mushaf or recite it from memory, begin by praying Isha (four fard rak'ah + two sunnah) and continue to pray in pairs (2 rak'ah + salam, repeated several times) until you are satisfied.

If you prefer to pray at the mosque, it is generally advised to pray in sets of 2 rak'ah. Whether at home or at the mosque, you must adopt the correct prayer postures: standing, bowing (rukû'), prostrating (sujûd), sitting with hands on the knees.

What are the Rules of Tarawih?

Tarawih prayer can be performed at home. It must begin after the Isha prayer, followed by two rak'ah at a time until the believer is satisfied.

The palms of the hands must be placed on the knees during rukû', and one sits on the sole of the left foot while keeping the toes of the right foot directed towards the qibla.

It is recommended to recite the Quran or memorize it during Tarawih, as it is the month of the revelation of the Quran.

How to Recite the Quran During Tarawih Prayer?

It is preferable to recite the Quran from memory during Tarawih prayer, as holding the Quran in hand is contrary to the Sunnah for several reasons (hand movements, distraction).

However, it is legally valid to open the Quran and use it for recitation during prayer, whether reciting aloud or silently, especially if one does not have memorization mastered.

Tarawih prayer is an opportunity to recite or listen to long portions of the Quran during the month of its revelation.

The differences between Tarawih prayer and other Islamic prayers

Tarawih and Tahajjud are both Islamic night prayers, but there are some differences between them.

Tarawih is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ specific to Ramadan, performed after the 'Isha prayer. It generally consists of several pairs of rak'ah (8 to 10 pairs according to the schools).

On the other hand, Tahajjud is a more general term that refers to any night prayer performed after sleep, outside or during Ramadan. The Tarawih prayer ends with the Witr prayer, while Tahajjud can be performed at any time during the night.

Tarawih vs Tahajjud

You may have heard of Tarawih and Tahajjud prayer, but do you know that these two forms of night prayer differ from one another?

Tarawih and Tahajjud prayers are both forms of night prayer, but they have differences:

• Period: Tarawih is specific to Ramadan, while Tahajjud can be prayed year-round.
• Time: Tarawih is done just after 'Isha, Tahajjud is done after sleep, generally in the last third of the night.
• Origin: Tahajjud was ordained in Mecca, while Tarawih (in congregation) was organized in Medina by 'Umar.

The terms Qiyam al-Layl (night prayer), Tahajjud and Tarawih can sometimes be used interchangeably to refer to the night prayer of Ramadan.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tarawih

How to perform Tarawih at home or at the mosque?

The Tarawih prayer can be performed at home, alone or in a group, or at the mosque. Praying in a group at the mosque is generally considered preferable, but for women, praying in the depths of their home has more reward than praying at the mosque.

To pray Tarawih at home, you must pray 'Isha (four rak'ah), perform the two sunnah rak'ah of 'Isha, set your intention to begin praying Tarawih/Qiyam, take a short break and continue with the prayer in pairs of 2 rak'ah.

How to pray Tarawih at home?

To pray Tarawih at home, you must pray 'Isha (four rak'ah), perform the two sunnah rak'ah of 'Isha, set your intention to begin praying Tarawih/Qiyam, take a short break and continue with the prayer in series of 2 rak'ah.

Can you perform Tarawih with your phone?

It is permissible to read the prayer from a phone. However, you must use the smartphone only as the Qur'an (mushaf) during prayer and put it in airplane mode so as not to receive calls or messages.

There is a difference of opinion among scholars on whether one can hold the phone while praying. The ideal remains to memorize or use a traditional mushaf.

Can you pray Tarawih alone?

The Tarawih prayer is an optional form of worship that can be performed individually. Although it is acceptable to perform Tarawih at home, it is recommended to prioritize the mosque to benefit from group prayer and its multiplied rewards.

Can you pray Tarawih remotely?

The Tarawih prayer can be followed remotely (for example via video), but it is not considered valid as a group prayer according to the general consensus of scholars. It is preferable to pray alone at home or to go to the mosque.

Is Tarawih an innovation?

The group Tarawih prayer was organized by the Rightly Guided Caliph 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab, who called it a "beneficial innovation" (bid'ah hasanah), because it revived a practice of the Prophet ﷺ.

Some Shia Muslims avoid group Tarawih, considering it an innovation, but Sunnis consider it a praiseworthy and recommended sunnah.

Is Tarawih obligatory for women?

The Tarawih prayer is not obligatory for women. However, it is a reinforced prophetic practice (sunna mouakkada) during the month of Ramadan for men and women.

However, it is preferable for them to pray the night prayer at home.

Scholars have differing opinions on whether Tarawih is a sunna mou'akkadah (reinforced sunnah) or simply nafl (supererogatory), which applies to both men and women.

Can you pray Tarawih with the Qur'an?

Yes, it is possible to pray Tarawih with the Qur'an (by holding it in your hands). The Tarawih prayer consists of reading long portions of the Qur'an, and Muslims who can read Arabic can hold the Qur'an in their hands and read it aloud or follow silently behind the imam.

Books to Deepen Your Understanding of Fasting and Night Prayer During Ramadan

To fully experience the month of Ramadan — fasting, Tarawih prayer, Qur'an recitation and supplications — here is our selection of reference works available at Al‑Imen.