Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “Whoever performs the voluntary night prayer during Ramadan with faith and in anticipation of reward will have their past sins forgiven.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i 5027]
Taraweeh is one of the special prayers of Ramadan. It is a nightly prayer performed after the obligatory Isha prayer and before the Witr prayer. The Taraweeh prayer consists of twenty rakat, each performed as a unit of two rakahs. Muslims from all over the world line up and listen to the recitation of the Quran done during Taraweeh in mosques. This prayer helps establish a deeper connection with the Lord and truly enjoy Ramadan’s essence.
Taraweeh & Its Origins
Taraweeh is an Arabic word that means ‘rest and relaxation.’ Taraweeh is sometimes called ‘Qiyam,’ which translates to ‘standing.’ It is a nightly prayer performed after the Isha prayer and is proven by the Prophet PBUH himself. Several hadiths are evidence of the Taraweeh prayer being established from the time of the Prophet PBUH.
‘A’isha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) led prayer in the mosque one night, and people joined him. On the following night, more people gathered to pray with him. However, by the third or fourth night, when even larger crowds assembled, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) chose not to come out to lead the Taraweeh prayer. In the morning, he explained: “I observed what you were doing, but I refrained from joining you, as I feared this prayer might become mandatory for you.”
[Sahih Muslim 761a]
After the Prophet PBUH passed away, the chance of Taraweeh prayer becoming obligatory no longer remained because Allah SWT completed the religion. After this, Umar RA gathered the people and started to pray Taraweeh in the congregation.
Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abd al-Qari narrated, “I accompanied Umar ibn al-Khattab to the mosque during Ramadan, where the people were scattered in groups. Some were praying alone, while others prayed in small clusters. Umar remarked, ‘By Allah! It would be better if these individuals united behind a single reciter.’ He then organized them to pray behind Ubayy ibn Kab. On another night, I joined him again, and the people were indeed praying behind the appointed reciter. Umar commented, ‘This new practice is excellent, but what you miss while you sleep is far better than what you observe in prayer.'”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 2010]
How To Pray Taraweeh?
Taraweeh is prayed like any other two-rakah prayer, with a short break after every 4 rakats. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of performing Taraweeh.
- Pray the Isha prayer, stopping before praying Witr.
- Make an intention to pray, Taraweeh.
- Pray the first 2 rakats.
- Again, pray 2 rakats.
- Take a short break and recite the dua for this break.
- Pray 2 rakats.
- Again, pray 2 rakats.
- Take a short break and recite the dua.
- Repeat this until all 20 rakats of the Taraweeh prayer are completed.
- Pray the Witr prayer.
How Many Rakats Are In Taraweeh?
Before looking at the rakats of Taraweeh prayer, it is essential to remember that there are no specified number of rakats of Taraweeh in the hadith.
Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about the night prayer. He replied, “Pray in sets of two. If you are concerned that dawn is approaching, then conclude your prayer with one Rak’ah of Witr.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah 1320]
The hadiths only mention that the night prayer, or Taraweeh, will be prayed in two sets. Therefore, the number of rakats in the Taraweeh prayer varies according to the four schools of thought.
- Hanafi: According to the Hanafi school of thought, the Taraweeh prayer consists of twenty rakahs, apart from Witr.
- Hanbali: The Hanbali school of thought states that the Taraweeh prayer comprises twenty rakats.
- Shafi: The Shafi school states that taraweeh is of twenty rakahs.
- Maliki: According to the Maliki school of thought, the Taraweeh prayer consists of thirty-six rakahs.
All of these opinions are correct and are permissible by the shariah. The difference in them arises from the difference in knowledge that reached each school. When Al Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this, he replied,
“The time for the Taraweeh prayer begins after the ‘Isha prayer has concluded, as noted by al-Baghawi and others, and continues until dawn. However, if a person is leading the prayer in the mosque, performing Taraweeh right after the ‘Isha prayer is preferable instead of postponing it to the middle or end of the night. This approach helps avoid causing difficulties for the worshippers, as some may fall asleep and miss the prayer. This practice is common among Muslims, who pray Taraweeh immediately after ‘Isha and do not delay it.”
Note: The person who is praying Taraweeh at home can pray it either at the beginning of the night or at the end of it.
Time For Taraweeh
The time for Taraweeh starts after the Isha prayer and lasts until dawn, so a Muslim can perform his prayer anytime in between.
Taraweeh: In congregation or alone?
Praying Taraweeh in the congregation and praying Taraweeh at home are both permissible. Still, it is preferred and better to pray Taraweeh in the congregation because it was the way of the Prophet PBUH. Moreover, when one prays taraweeh in a congregation, their focus and involvement in the prayer are enhanced due to the environment around the person. Furthermore, it is stated from several hadiths that the Prophet PBUH described praying in a congregation as equal to praying the whole night.
‘Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finishes, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.’
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806]
Taraweeh & Women
Praying Taraweeh At The Mosque
The fundamental guideline concerning a woman’s prayer is that her home is the preferred and more favorable place to pray. However, suppose she believes praying in the mosque serves a purpose such as motivation, listening to lessons, or any other benefit. In that case, as long as she maintains proper coverage, there is nothing wrong with her doing so. This practice can also be beneficial, encouraging good deeds and promoting righteousness.
This is the view of Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him). Furthermore, when he was asked about his view on women praying with men in the congregation, he replied:
Indeed, it is encouraged for a woman to go to the masjid if she fears that she will become lazy at home. She can go to the mosque if she is covered and avoids any unnecessary display. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH stated that their houses were better for them. he also acknowledged that the women would attend the five daily prayers with him then.
Suppose a woman goes out to pray and seek knowledge. In that case, she will be rewarded for her righteous intentions, especially if her home environment may make her unmotivated.
Do Women Have to Memorize the Quran?
A woman doesn’t need to memorize the Quran while praying for Taraweeh at home. But if she had memorized it, she may pray with what she has memorized. However, it might be more beneficial for her to pray in the mosque in certain situations, such as if she hasn’t memorized any parts of the Holy Qur’an, struggles with recitation, finds the mosque more motivating, or can take advantage of classes. In such instances, there’s no issue with her praying to the mosque as long as she dresses modestly and is appropriately covered.