Tarawih

This is a sub-article of Sunnah salat and Ramadan.

Tarawih
Tarawih prayer at the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia
Official name	صَلَاةُ التَّرَاوِيح (ṣalāt at-tarāwīḥ, lit. 'prayer of the Tarāwīḥ''
Also called	Taraweeh
Observed by	Sunni & Wahabi Muslims
Type	A Sunnah mu'akkadah prayer, according to Sunni Muslims
Significance	A Sunnah prayer considered to have been practiced by Muhammad during Ramadan by Sunni Muslims.
Begins	After Isha prayer
Ends	The prayer typically consists of 20 raka’at (varies between 8 and 20 raka’at), lasting approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on whether shorter or longer portions of the Quran are recited during the prayer.
Date	During Ramadan
Frequency	Observed every night in Ramadan, starting after the Isha prayer
Related to	Ramadan

Tarawih prayer at Taipei Grand Mosque, Taiwan

Tarawih (Arabic: التَّرَاوِيح, romanized: At-tarāwīḥ), also spelled Taraweeh, refers to special Sunnah prayers performed exclusively during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The prayers involve the recitation of long portions of the Quran and can consist of up to 20 raka'at (cycles of prostration in Islamic prayer).

A key feature of Tarawih is the completion of the Quran during the month, with one juz' (section) recited each night in congregational prayers at the mosque. While the number of raka’ah may vary across different traditions, the practice remains a significant aspect of Ramadan worship for many Muslims.

Overview

Tarawih prayers begin from the first Moon-sighted evening (the start of Ramadan) to second moon-sighted evening (the last day of Ramadan). This prayer is performed in congregation during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar, after Isha (and before witr, which is also prayed following the imam, who leads the prayer aloud in one or three rakats unlike for the eleven other months).

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs. According to the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools of Sunni Islam, the standard number of rakats is twenty since it is referred to in a narration by Muwatta' Imam Malik, which states, "In the time of Umar, the people used to offer 20 raka'āt." However, it clearly mentions in the before the said narration that when Umar assigned Ubay ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari the duty lead the Tarawih, he ordered them to offer 11 raka'āt (eight of Tarawih and three of witr). Sunni Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a takmil ("complete recitation" of the Quran) as one of the religious observances of Ramadan, by reciting at least one juz' per night in tarawih.

Tarawih prayers are considered Sunnah, or meritorious but not obligatory. However, it is believed that the reward for them is great, as it is the Sunnah of Muhammad and is reported in multiple authentic hadiths.

Muhammad, according to Abu Hurayra said, "Whoever stands with the imam (in Taraweeh prayer) until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer." The hadith was used as a proof by Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal.

Background

Tarawih is a prayer that is mentioned in Sunni traditions as Qiyam al-Layl min Ramadan ("Standing of night in Ramadan") and Qiyam al-Ramadan ("Standing of Ramadan"). Some Sunni Muslims regard Tarawih as confirmed traditional prayers (sunnat al-mu'akkadah). Other Sunni Muslims believe Tarawih is an optional prayer (nafl) that may be performed at home. According to that tradition, Muhammad initially and briefly prayed the Tarawih in congregations during Ramadan but discontinued the practice out of concern it would be mandated (fard) though he never forbade it. When Umar was the caliph, he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation.

Shia Muslims regard Tarawih as an "innovation" (bid‘ah) that was reintroduced by Umar, according to his own words, after the death of Muhammad.

A Shia hadith, however, is claimed to have authenticated the Sunni prayer Taraweeh, but that is disputed since not all hadiths in Kitab al-Kafi are sahih (genuine):

‘Abu ‘Abdallah (peace be upon him) has said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) would increase his prayer during the month of Ramadan. After Al-‘Atmah (late evening prayer), he would perform more prayers. People behind would stand up [for prayer], but he would go inside and leave them. Then, after he came out, they would come and stand up behind him [for prayer], but he would leave them and go inside several times. He (the narrator) has said that the Imam then said, “You must not perform prayer after late evening prayer during the times other than the month of Ramadan.”

—Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 154-155 (declared sahih by Majlisi)

Muhammad al-Bukhari narrated regarding the Tarawih prayer in Sahih al-Bukhari:

I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, “In my opinion I would better collect these [people] under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!).” So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and [saw that] the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, “What an excellent bid'ah (i.e. innovation in religion) this is!”

Instead, Twelvers believe in the Tahajjud prayer, or salat al-layl ("night prayer"), which is recommended throughout the year, especially during the nights of Ramadan.

Other

On 3 January 2000, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad expressed regret that Tarawih prayers were used by certain people for political gain.

On 2 April 2022, hundreds of Muslims gathered in Times Square, New York City, to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadhan. Before the prayers, oer 1,500 meals were handed out to the people to break their fast, known as iftar. The event marked the first public Tarawih prayers to be held in Times Square.

Further reading

• John L. Esposito: The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press US 2004, ISBN 978-0-19-512559-7, p. 276 (restricted online version, p. 276, at Google Books)

External links

Prayer Time in Egypt