The Tarawih prayer
An emphasized sunnah of Ramadan — long, calm night prayer where the Quran is often completed cover to cover.
About Tarāwīḥ
Tarāwīḥ is a special night prayer performed only during the nights of Ramadan, after ʿIshāʾ and before Witr. The Prophet ﷺ prayed it in congregation for three nights, then prayed alone so as not to make it obligatory. In the time of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiya-llāhu ʿanhu), the Muslims were united behind one imam for 20 rakʿahs — a practice continued in Makkah and Madīnah to this day.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever stands the nights of Ramadan in faith and hoping for reward, all his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari · Muslim)
Key facts
- Prayed only during the nights of Ramadan, after ʿIshāʾ and before Witr.
- Ruling: sunnah muʾakkadah — an emphasized sunnah for men and women.
- May be prayed in congregation at the mosque or individually at home.
- Traditionally 8 or 20 rakʿahs — both are authentically transmitted; both are correct.
- Prayed in pairs of two rakʿahs, each ended with a tasleem.
- Named tarāwīḥ (rest) because worshippers rest after every four rakʿahs.
Etiquette
- Perform wudu and pray ʿIshāʾ first — Tarāwīḥ begins after the fard of ʿIshāʾ.
- Recitation is elongated compared to daily prayers; imams often complete the entire Quran through Ramadan.
- Follow the imam closely — do not race ahead in bowing or prostration.
- Sit briefly between every four rakʿahs to rest and make dhikr, then continue.
- End the night with Witr — Tarāwīḥ is never the last prayer of the night.
- Women may pray at home behind a male mahram or alone; both carry the same reward.
How to pray Tarāwīḥ
Intention (Niyyah)
Make the intention silently in your heart: to pray two rakʿahs of Ṣalāt al-Tarāwīḥ as sunnah, following the imam or alone.
Note: The intention specifies Tarāwīḥ so the reward is recorded correctly.
Opening Takbir & Qiyām
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Raise both hands, say the takbir and place the right hand over the left on the chest. Recite the opening duʿāʾ, then Al-Fātiḥa and a longer portion of the Quran.
Rukūʿ
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-ʿAẓīm
Bow with the back straight, hands gripping the knees. Say the tasbīḥ three or more times — Tarāwīḥ prolongs the rukūʿ.
Sujūd × 2
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-Aʿlā
Prostrate with seven parts touching the ground, sit calmly between the two sujūds, then prostrate again. Make sincere duʿāʾ during sujūd — Ramadan nights are especially blessed.
Second rakʿah, Tashahhud & Tasleem
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu-llāh
Stand for the second rakʿah, repeat Al-Fātiḥa and another portion. After the second sujūd, sit for the Tashahhud and Ibrāhīmiyya, then give the tasleem right and left.
Repeat in pairs · rest after each 4
Repeat the same two-rakʿah pattern. After every four rakʿahs, sit briefly, make dhikr or duʿāʾ, then continue. Complete either 8 or 20 rakʿahs.
Note: Both 8 and 20 are valid — follow the practice of your mosque or madhhab.
End with Witr
After Tarāwīḥ, pray Witr — either 3 rakʿahs in one tasleem or 2 + 1. This seals the night prayer.
What is recited
Dua between every four rakʿahs (Tarāwīḥ Tasbīḥ)
After each 4سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ، سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَنَامُ وَلَا يَمُوتُ، سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Subḥāna dhi-l-mulki wa-l-malakūt, subḥāna dhi-l-ʿizzati wa-l-ʿaẓamati wa-l-haybati wa-l-qudrati wa-l-kibriyā'i wa-l-jabarūt, subḥāna-l-Maliki-l-Ḥayyi-lladhī lā yanāmu wa lā yamūt, Subbūḥun Quddūsun Rabbunā wa Rabbu-l-malā'ikati wa-r-rūḥ.
"Glory be to the Owner of the kingdom and dominion. Glory be to the One of might, majesty, awe, power, greatness and grandeur. Glory be to the King, the Living who does not sleep and does not die. All-Glorious, All-Holy, our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the Spirit."
Witr Qunut dua
In final rakʿah of Witrاللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Allāhumma-hdinī fī-man hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fī-man ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fī-man tawallayt, wa bārik lī fī-mā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahu lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta Rabbanā wa taʿālayt.
"O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your protection among those You have taken into Your protection, bless what You have given me, and protect me from the evil You have decreed. Indeed You decree and no one decrees against You. The one You support is never humiliated, and the one You oppose is never honoured. Blessed and exalted are You, our Lord."
Laylat al-Qadr
Increase your worship in the last ten nights, especially the odd nights (21, 23, 25, 27, 29). Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree — is better than a thousand months. Extend Tarāwīḥ, add Tahajjud, and recite the duʿāʾ of ʿĀ'isha: Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbu-l-ʿafwa fa-ʿfu ʿannī — "O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me."
Guidance is based on mainstream Sunni fiqh. Consult a qualified scholar for madhhab-specific details.