What is Taraweeh/ Tarawi / Special Prayers of Ramadan ? Islamic Fiqh

“WHAT IS TARAWEEH”

SUNNAT OR NAFIL

Q 1: Is “Taraweeh تراویح” prayer Sunnah or Nafl?

Answer: “Taraweeh” (special night prayer offered in the holy month of Ramadan) is, by consensus, Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasized, regular Sunnah) for both men and women. 

It is impermissible to abandon it. Its Jama’at is Sunnat-e-Kifaayah i.e. an obligation which will be fulfilled if offered by some arranging Jama’at in mosque. Otherwise all will be sinner. One is not sinner if he offered Taraweeh prayer by himself at home notwithstanding the Jama’at of Taraweeh prayer was held in his neighboring mosque. However, an elite or leader whose presence in Jama’at draws more people and absence reduces the number of worshippers is not permitted to forgo Jama’at without valid reason.

Q 2: What is the prescribed time of offering Taraweeh prayer?

Answer: The prescribed time of offering Taraweeh prayer begins after ‘Ieshaa prayer is over and lasts till dawn of Fajr. It can be offered before Witr prayer and after Witr as well.

It is better for one whose some Rakaats of Taraweeh were missed to offer Witr prayer with the Imaam in case he has stood to lead it and thereafter offer his remaining Rakaats provided he has offered Farz prayer under the leadership of the Imaam. It is also lawful if he completes his remaining Rakaats of Taraweeh first and then offers Witr prayer by himself.

Q 3: How many Rakaats are there in Taraweeh and how to be offered?

Answer: It is a belief of the vast majority of Muslims that there are twenty Rakaats of Taraweeh prayer. But 8 can also be Prayed…

This is also proved by Ahaadees (Prophetic practice,sayings). Muslims in all Islamic countries have been and are offering twenty Rakaats of Taraweeh since the time of Ameerul Mu’mineen Farooque Azam (Allah is well pleased with him).

Twenty Rakaats of Taraweeh are offered with ten “Salaams” i.e. after completion of every two Rakaats “Salaam” is said turning the face to the right side and then to the left. Both Imaam and Muqtadi should recite “Sana ثناء” at the outset of every two Rakaat and also recite Durood Shareef and Du’aa after Tashah-hud. A break (to sit and rest) after every four Rakaats equal to the period in which four Rakaats are offered is “Mustahab” (commendable). This is called “Tarwiha ترویحۃ”.

Q 4: What should be done during “Tarwiha”?

Answer: One may, in Tarwiha, sit silent or recite Kalimah or the Holy Quran or Durood Shareef or offer four Rakaats prayer by himself or recite this Tasbeeh:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ سُبْحانَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِياءِ وَالْجَبَرُوْتِ سُبْحانَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِيْ لا يَنامُ وَلا يَمُوتُ سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّنا وَرَبُّ المْلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنا مِنَ النّارِ يا مُجيرُ يا مُجيرُ يا مُجيرُ

“Subhaana Zil Mulki wal-Malakoot. Subhaana Zil-‘Izatewal-‘Azmatewal-Kibri-yaaa-iwal-Jabaroot. Subhaanal Malikil Haie-yil-Lazee Laa Yanaamuwalaa Yamoot. Subboohun Qudoosun Rabbunaawa Rabbul Malaaa-ikati war-Rooh. LaaIlaahaIllaallahu Nastaghfirul Laaha Nas-alukal Jannatawa Na’oozuBika Minan Naar”

(Glory be to the Owner of the Kingdom and Sovereignty. Glory be to the Possessor of all honour, all grandeur, all greatness and all awe. Glory be to the King Who is ever-living,

Whom neither sleep overtakes nor death. Absolutely Pure and All Holy is our Sovereign Lord as well as of the Angels and of the “Ruh” (spirit). There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone.

O’ Allah! we beg Your forgiveness, we beseech You for [our admittance into] paradise and seek refuge with You from the Hell-fire).

As long as we are praying our Taraaweeh, it shouldn’t be a matter of dispute or disunity whether it is 8 or 20 or even more.

And of course, what really counts is that Allaah accepts it from us, even if it is less rakaat, right?

Excerpt from The Glorius Quraan