Tarawih

Tarawih, also known as Taraweeh, is a category of voluntary nightly prayers observed by many Muslims during the month of Ramadan after the obligatory Isha prayer. While not mandatory, Tarawih is widely encouraged as part of Ramadan worship and is often held in congregations at mosques, though individuals may also perform it at home.

The prayers are typically offered in sets of two rak’ahs, with breaks between sets. The total number of rak’ahs is not fixed in Islamic law; common formats include eight or twenty rak’ahs, depending on regional tradition and the imam’s practice. In many communities, the Qur’an is recited over the course of the prayer, with worshippers listening to long portions and finishing the entire Qur’an by the end of the month in some mosques.

Historical note and practice: Tarawih was not established as an obligatory ritual. It originated as a voluntary practice during Ramadan, and in the early Islamic period some Muslims prayed individually or in small groups. According to tradition, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab organized Tarawih prayers in congregation in the mosque, which helped standardize communal nightly worship in many places. Over time, regional practices diverged, leading to eight- and twenty-rak’ah formats being common in different communities.

Relationship to other prayers: Tarawih is distinct from the five daily prayers and from Qiyam al-Layl outside Ramadan. It is regarded by many scholars as a highly recommended Sunnah mu’akkadah during the lunar month, reflecting a spiritual emphasis on nighttime devotion during Ramadan.