Tarawih: the night prayer of Ramadan
Tarawih is the voluntary night prayer of Ramadan, prayed after Isha. In many mosques the whole Quran is recited in it over the month.
Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
How to pray tarawih
- Time: after the Isha prayer and its sunnah, until dawn.
- Form: in units of two rak'ahs, each ended with salam.
- Witr is prayed at the end, after the last tarawih.
The Prophet ﷺ prayed it in congregation for a few nights and then stopped, fearing it would become obligatory (al-Bukhari, Muslim). 'Umar later gathered the people behind one imam, and it has been prayed in congregation ever since.
8 or 20 rak'ahs?
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or at other times.
Aisha, Sahih al-Bukhari
- Eight rak'ahs plus three of witr follows this hadith of Aisha.
- Twenty rak'ahs is the practice from the time of 'Umar and the position of the four schools; it is prayed in the Haram in Makkah and in many mosques.
Night prayer has no fixed upper limit, so both are valid. What matters is praying with presence of heart, not arguing about the number.
Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes, the whole night's prayer is written for him.
at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud
Praying at home
Whoever cannot go to the mosque can pray tarawih at home, alone or with family, and recite what they know of the Quran. To finish the Quran in Ramadan, the 30 juz give one part a day.
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Frequently asked questions
Is tarawih obligatory?
No, it is a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). Whoever leaves it does not sin, but misses great reward.
Can women pray tarawih at the mosque?
Yes. Women prayed in the mosque in the time of the Prophet ﷺ, and he said not to prevent them from the mosques (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Praying at home is equally valid.
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.