Introduction
Of all the special acts of worship in Ramadan, Tarawih holds a beloved place in the hearts of Muslims. Every night of the blessed month, mosques fill after Isha prayer with believers standing shoulder to shoulder, listening to the Quran being recited in long, peaceful rakats. But where did Tarawih come from, why is it prayed only in Ramadan, and how many rakats should we pray? In this article, we will learn the meaning of Tarawih, its history from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), how Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) organised it in congregation, and a simple step-by-step guide to praying it.
The Meaning of Tarawih
The word Tarawih (تراويح) is the plural of tarwihah, which means a rest or a pause. These extra night prayers of Ramadan are called Tarawih because the worshippers would pause and rest after every four rakats before continuing. The name itself tells us something beautiful about this prayer: it is not meant to be rushed. It is a calm, unhurried conversation with Allah in the nights of the most honoured month.
Tarawih is a Sunnah prayer — not obligatory, but strongly recommended. Missing it carries no sin, but praying it carries an enormous reward. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays at night during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) Think about that promise: one month of sincere night prayer can wipe out the sins of the past. No wonder the believers treasure these nights.
How Tarawih Began: The Story from the Prophet’s Time
In the month of Ramadan, it was the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to stay in the mosque after the Isha prayer and offer additional voluntary prayers. One night, some of the companions noticed him praying these extra rakats and joined him. The next night, more Muslims stayed behind after Isha to pray along with him. On the third night, the gathering grew even larger.
Then, on the fourth night, when a huge crowd had assembled expecting the Prophet (peace be upon him) to lead them, he did not come out for the extra prayers — he returned to his home after the Isha prayer. He continued to do this on the following nights, and gradually the crowds praying extra rakats grew smaller. Then one night he prayed the extra rakats again, and when the companions asked him about the break, he explained his reason.
He said that he had stopped the congregational extra prayers because he feared the Muslims might come to regard them as obligatory, and that would become a burden on the ummah. He made it clear that these prayers to Allah were not compulsory — but whoever offered them voluntarily would receive Allah’s blessing. From that time, it became the practice that some Muslims offered extra prayers in Ramadan on their own, while others simply went home after Isha.
This story shows the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) deep mercy for his followers. He loved the night prayer and wanted its reward for his ummah, but he protected them from anything that might become too heavy to carry.
Umar (R.A) Organises Tarawih in Congregation
When Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) became the Caliph, he noticed something in the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah: after Isha, many Muslims were offering the extra Ramadan prayers, but each person was praying on his own. There was no order to it, and people differed about how many rakats to pray.
Umar felt it would be an improvement if the prayers were offered together in congregation with a fixed number of rakats. After consulting the companions, he issued instructions in 14 AH (635 CE): the extra prayers should be led in congregation by a reciter of the Quran who would recite a long portion every night, so that the entire Quran would be completed over the course of the month. The prayers would be offered as ten taslimahs — ten sets of two rakats each — and after every four rakats there would be a rawih, a rest. Because of these rests, the prayers came to be known as Tarawih.
These instructions were circulated throughout the Muslim lands. Some people questioned whether organising these prayers after the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) death was lawful, since the Prophet himself had not prescribed them in this form. Umar explained that he was not making them obligatory — it remained open to every person to pray or not to pray as he wished. If someone prayed, that was good for him; if someone did not, there was no blame on him. His instructions were advisory only, and they were not against Islam in any way: he had not ordered the Muslims to do anything Allah or His Messenger had forbidden. Rather, he had organised something inherently good, which had not been prohibited, in a way that served the spirit of Islam — unity of the believers in worship.
How Many Rakats? The 8 and 20 Question
One question comes up every Ramadan: should Tarawih be 8 rakats or 20? Both practices have a basis, and Muslims should treat this difference with respect.
- Eight rakats: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) never prayed more than eleven rakats in Ramadan or outside it — eight of night prayer and three of Witr. (Sahih Bukhari) Many scholars understand this as the Prophet’s own regular practice of the night prayer.
- Twenty rakats: The congregation organised by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was twenty rakats, and this became the widespread practice in Madinah and in most of the Muslim world, including the Haramain (Makkah and Madinah) to this day.
The important point is that both are voluntary. Whether you pray eight or twenty, you are following a practice of the righteous. What matters far more than the number is praying with presence of heart, understanding, and sincerity — and never looking down on a fellow Muslim who follows the other practice.
How to Pray Tarawih: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Tarawih is prayed after the Isha prayer (including its Sunnah rakats) and before Witr. Here is how it is done:
- Make your intention. Intend in your heart that you are praying the Sunnah night prayer of Ramadan for Allah’s sake.
- Pray in sets of two rakats. Like any two-rakat voluntary prayer: recite Al-Fatihah and a portion of the Quran in each rakat, then give salam. Repeat the pairs — four pairs make eight rakats, ten pairs make twenty.
- Rest briefly after every four rakats. This is the tarwihah the prayer is named after. Use the pause for dhikr, dua, or simply to catch your breath.
- Finish with Witr. After Tarawih, pray Witr (usually three rakats). If you prayed Witr earlier in the night, do not repeat it — there are not two Witrs in one night.
In congregation, the imam recites aloud and often completes the whole Quran over the month — this is why Tarawih in the mosque is such a moving experience. At home, you can pray alone or with your family, reciting whatever portions of the Quran you know. Both are valid and rewarded.
Tarawih for Women, the Elderly, and the Busy
Tarawih is recommended for everyone, but Islam’s ease applies here too. Women may pray Tarawih at home — and many scholars note that a woman’s prayer at home carries special merit — or attend the mosque where facilities and safety allow. The elderly or those who are ill may pray fewer rakats, or even pray sitting down if standing is difficult; Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. And if work or family duties mean you can only manage a few rakats some nights, pray those few — a small, consistent deed done sincerely is beloved to Allah.
Tarawih and Laylatul Qadr
Tarawih gains its greatest significance in the last ten nights of Ramadan, among which hides Laylatul Qadr — the Night of Decree, better than a thousand months. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) Praying Tarawih through the last ten nights, especially the odd nights, is how the believer positions himself to catch this priceless night.
Practical Tips for a Better Tarawih
- Eat lightly at iftar. A heavy meal makes standing for long rakats difficult. Eat enough to regain your strength, then stop.
- Arrive early and make wudu calmly. Rushing into the prayer disturbs the heart’s focus.
- Follow the recitation. Even if you do not understand Arabic, keep a translation nearby at home, or simply listen attentively — the Quran’s recitation itself softens the heart.
- Do not abandon it after a missed night. Shaytan’s trick is to make one missed night become the whole month. Missed last night? Start again tonight.
- Make dua in the pauses. The night hours of Ramadan are among the times when duas are answered.
Conclusion
Tarawih is a gift of Ramadan: extra nights of standing before Allah, a practice loved by the Prophet (peace be upon him), organised with wisdom by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and prayed by millions every Ramadan since. It is not obligatory — and that is exactly its beauty. Every rakat of Tarawih is a voluntary step toward Allah, taken only out of love and hope for His reward. This Ramadan, make the intention to stand in those peaceful night prayers — whether eight or twenty, in the mosque or at home — and ask Allah to forgive your past sins and write your name among the people of the night prayer.
