How to Perform the Taraweeh Prayer for Ramadan

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Learn the history and rewards of tarawih prayers and du’as
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Taraweeh is the sunnah prayer performed after the ‘Isha (night) prayer in Ramadan and is believed to bring many great rewards to Muslims who complete it. In this article, we’ll teach you all the steps to pray Taraweeh at home. We’ll also explain what Taraweeh is, detail the rewards of performing it, and answer common questions about praying Taraweeh.

The Taraweeh Prayer: Step-by-Step

  1. Ensure that you and the area you’re praying in are free of impurities.
  2. Make the intention to pray Taraweeh.
  3. Complete a set of two rak’at.
  4. Repeat the process for as many rak’at as you want to pray.
  5. Finish the Taraweeh with the Witr prayer.
Section 1 of 5:

Preparing for Prayer

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  1. A rak’ah (plural: rak’at) is a unit of prayer that consists of standing and reciting the Qur’an, bowing, standing again, and prostrating. Like every voluntary prayer, Taraweeh is prayed in sets of 2 rak’at at a time, with the ability to rest after every 4 rak’at. [1] Some narrations state that a complete Taraweeh is 8 rak’at, while others say it is 12 or 20. Decide how many you are going to pray; as long as you pray two by two and conclude with the Witr prayer, you are following the Sunnah.
    • It was narrated by one of the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that “He performed the night prayer in pairs (i.e., rak’ah) and made it an odd number by observing one rak’ah (as Witr).”
    • If you are attending Taraweeh at a masjid, the Imam will usually pray the full 20 rak’at, as all four schools of thought support these narrations.
  2. This includes your body, clothes, and the place of prayer itself. If you have urinated, defecated, passed gas, bled excessively, or fallen asleep while leaning against something since your last prayer, perform wudu so that you are ritually pure. [2]
    • If you are praying in a masjid (mosque), which is highly encouraged for men, enter quietly—other fellow Muslims might still be praying, and you don’t want to disturb them. Stand in a free space away from the entrance/exit.
    • If you are unsure of the cleanliness of your area, spread a mat or cloth on the floor for good measure. This mat (or prayer rug) is very important to Islamic culture.
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  3. Certain circumstances will require that you perform ghusl instead of wudu to be cleansed after removing najas (impurities) and before praying. If you wish to pray after having sexual intercourse, ending your menstruation period or postpartum bleeding, giving birth, or ejaculating, you need to perform ghusl. [3]
    • To perform ghusl, wash your entire body and hair with water. It is recommended that you wash 3 times.
    • Be aware that when you perform wudu or ghusl, anything that prevents water from touching the obligatory areas of the body must be removed. This includes things like nail polish, accessories, and waterproof mascara. [4]
  4. If you are unable to use water, you may choose to perform tayammum instead of wudu or ghusl. This rite involves using clean soil or dirt that has not been used before to purify yourself. [5]
  5. This is the direction all Muslims face when praying towards the Holy Ka’bah. The Holy Mosque in Mecca is the most revered place of worship for Muslims around the entire world. All Muslims are required to face the Ka’bah five times every day when offering their prayers. [6]
    • If you have trouble finding the Qibla , there are many apps that can help you face the right direction.
  6. Men and women must both cover their skin throughout the prayer. Women must cover everything but their faces and hands, while men must cover the area between their navel and knees. [7]
    • The material you use must cover the body during prayer movements. For example, if bending causes a piece of material to slip and expose skin on a woman’s neck, she would need to tuck her clothing in properly or put more clothing on before she can complete her prayer.
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Section 2 of 5:

Performing Taraweeh

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  1. Begin performing Taraweeh by making your intention for the Salah. This can be done silently or verbally and in Arabic or your own language. Say something like, “I intend to pray two rak’at for Taraweeh for Allah facing the Ka’bah.” [8]
  2. Men should raise their hands up to their earlobes, while women should raise theirs to their shoulders. As you raise your hands, say “Allahu Akbar,” which translates to “Allah is the greatest.” When you do so, you enter a state of ihram , which means that all worldly things are forbidden to you, such as talking, laughing, eating, drinking, or thinking about anything that will distract you. [9]
    • This is usually performed standing, but if you cannot stand for medical reasons, you are allowed to sit down.
  3. Men should place their hands just below the navel, while women should place their hands over their chest. Recite the opening du’a by saying, “Subhanakal-lahumma, wabihamdika watabarakas-muka wataala, judduka wala ilaha ghayruk.” Then say, “A’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem, bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem.” [10]
    • The first part of this prayer translates to “O Allah, glory and praise are for You, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your Majesty and there is no god but You.” The second part translates to “I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
    • As you have commenced the prayer, you must stay focused. It’s recommended to fix your eyes on the place of prostration so that you don’t look around.
    • It’s greatly disliked to look up when praying. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “People must stop raising their eyes to the heavens… during prayer. Otherwise, their sight will be taken away.” [11]
  4. This is a key component of the prayer that must be recited in each of the two rak’at of Taraweeh. Say “Alhamdu lillahi rabbi ‘aalameen; Ar-rahmanir raheem; Maaliki yawmid deen; Iyyaka na'budu wa-iyyaaka nasta'eeen; Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem; Siraatal latheena an'aamta 'alayhim; Ghayril maghdoobi 'alayhim walad dhaalleen.” End by saying “Amin,” which means “let it be so.” [12]
    • If you are leading the prayer, remember to recite all Surahs out loud.
  5. The minimum recitation is three verses or one long verse that is equal in length to three short verses. It is better, however, to recite a complete Surah. If you have memorized the Qur’an, it’s encouraged to make each rak’ah lengthy by reciting a long Surah. However, if you do not know that many Surahs, it’s okay to recite the ones you know, as long as you recite them in the correct order. [13]
  6. This is the ruku’ position, which allows you to rest. [14] Bow down and say “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “Allah is the Greatest.” Place your hands on your knees and keep your back as straight as possible. While bowing, say, “Subhanna Rabbiyal Adheem” three times. This means “Glorious is my Lord, the most great.”
    • Some schools of jurisprudence say that you should raise your hands and then go into ruku’, while others do not. Both are valid opinions.
  7. The act of standing from ruku’ is called Qiyam. [15] While standing up straight, recite “Sami-allah Huliman Hamidah,” which means “Allah hears those who praise him.” Then, say “Rabana Walakal Hamd,” which means “Our Lord, all praise is for you.” You may also add “Hamdan Katheeran Tayyiban Mubaarakan Feeh,” which means “Praise which is abundant, excellent, and blessed.”
    • Some schools of jurisprudence say that you should raise your hands after you have stood back up, while others do not. Both are valid opinions.
  8. This is the sajdah position. [16] Place your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the floor. When you are in the correct position, say “Subhanna Rabbiyal A’laa” three times. This translates to “Glorious is my Lord, the most High.”
    • Make sure your forearms are not on the floor.
    • Some schools of jurisprudence say that you should go into sajdah with your knees first, while others say you should go into sajdah with your hands first. Both are valid opinions.
  9. Rest the palms of your hands on your knees and sit on the flat of your left foot, keeping the toes of your right foot planted and pointing forward. This sitting posture is called qa’dah. [17] After a few moments, return to sajdah while again saying “Allahu Akbar.” Repeat “Subhanna Rabbiyal a’laa” another three times.
    • While sitting, you may choose to recite “Allaahumma-ghfir lee warhamnee wajburnee, warfa’nee, wa ‘aafinee war’zuqnee,” which translates to “O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, strengthen me, raise me in status, pardon me, and grant me provision.”
  10. When you stand up, you will have completed one rak’ah. Taraweeh is prayed in sets of two, so you must now complete another rak’ah in the exact same way. [18]
  11. At this point, you must recite certain du’as from your seated position. Recite the du’as as follows:
    • Tashahhud: At-tahiyyaatu Lillaahi wa-salaawaatu wa-tayyibaat. As-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. As-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibaad-illaah-is-saaliheen. Ash-hadu al-aa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu. [19]
      • "All compliments, prayers, and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger."
    • Durood: Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innak hameedun majeed [20]
      • "O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory."
  12. Turn your head over your right shoulder while saying “As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah,” which translates to “May peace, the Mercy of Allah, and His blessings be upon you.” Then, turn your head to the left and do the same. [21]
  13. When you’ve prayed your chosen amount of two-by-two rak’at, round it all off by praying an odd number of Witr rak’at . Most commonly, people pray one or three rak’at Witr. For example, pray 12 rak’at of Taraweeh, then one rak’ah of Witr to make it 13 rak’at in total. [22]
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Section 3 of 5:

What is Taraweeh?

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  1. Taraweeh (or Tarawih) translates to “rest” or “relaxation.” It is a voluntary prayer performed after the evening prayer, Isha , every night during Ramadan. It is a highly recommended Sunnah , and mosques around the world hold congregational Taraweeh prayers every night of the month of Ramadan. [23]
Section 4 of 5:

Rewards of Taraweeh

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  1. According to Bukhari, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who observes optional prayer (Tarawih prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of Faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned.” Praying Taraweeh also carries the reward of following the Sunnah, and because it is performed during Ramadan, it is believed that your rewards will be multiplied. [24]
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Section 5 of 5:

Taraweeh FAQs

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  1. The amount of rak’at you perform during Taraweeh varies depending on the narration you follow. Like any voluntary prayer, Taraweeh is prayed in sets of two rak’at. [25] Some narrations state that a complete Taraweeh is 8 rak’at, while others state that it’s 12 or 20. It is up to you to decide how many rak’at you will perform when praying Taraweeh at home.
  2. Taraweeh is performed every night of the month of Ramadan, following the evening prayer, Isha. You must perform Taraweeh before Fajr begins, and you should not pray Taraweeh after you have performed the Witr prayer, as the Witr is the last prayer of the night. [26]
  3. Yes, Taraweeh can be performed at home in congregation with your family or alone. While Taraweeh is also performed in mosques, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed most of his Taraweeh prayers at home, as Taraweeh was never a nightly congregational prayer in his lifetime. [27]
  4. According to the Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi’i schools of thought, it is permissible to hold a copy of the Qur'an during any voluntary prayer, even if you are the one leading the prayer. [28] However, there is a difference of opinion within the Hanafi school of thought; some Hanafi scholars believe it is impermissible to hold the Qur'an while praying, while others say that it is permissible but disliked.
    • The Shafi’i school of thought states that, while holding the Qur'an, you must ensure that you don’t move so much that your prayer is invalidated.
  5. There is no special du’a to recite during or after Taraweeh. Make any du’a you choose after every four rak’at or after the entire Taraweeh has been completed. This includes du’as from the Qur'an and Sunnah as well as personal du’as.
  6. Women can lead other women in congregational prayer. The woman who is leading the prayer will stand in the same row as other women and recite “Allahu Akbar” and all the Surrahs out loud. They will also say the final “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.”
  7. It is not compulsory to recite the entire Qur'an during Taraweeh. The sincerity of your prayer is the most important thing, so don’t worry if you don’t have many Surahs memorized. Most mosques typically recite the whole Qur'an throughout Ramadan, completing one Juz per night of Taraweeh. [29]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Do I say the tasleem in three intervals or every rakah, or do I do it at the end of the taraweeh prayer or say 12 rakahs?
    Community Answer
    Pray taraweeh in 2 rakaats. For example, on the second rakaat, then give salaams.
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  • Question
    Am I allowed to use my phone for reciting while praying Tahajjud, as I have not memorized the holy Qur'an?
    Black And Blue Gaming
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. There are very good Islamic sites on the internet, and it is no problem to use them.
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  • Question
    I've watched a video in which they said after Tashahud, you recite a dua (of taraweeh) followed by salaam. Reciting Darood Ibrahim isn't mentioned in the video. Is it wrong?
    Sobi
    Top Answerer
    That is not something I have heard of, nor is it the position of any of the schools of thought as far as I am aware. Some scholars take the opinion that Durood Ibrahim (salawat) is sunnah, while others say it is fardh.
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      • You are allowed to read from the Qur'an if you have not memorized it.
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      • If you feel tired, finish your Taraweeh prayers and then pray one rak'ah of Witr. Don't overburden yourself, as it's discouraged to stay awake all night until Suhoor; you'll feel tired and weak.
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      • You are allowed to do Short Surahs (Surah Fil to Surah Naas) if you did not memorize the Quran.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-the-tarawih-prayer-and-how-is-it-performed
      2. ↑ https://www.halaltrip.com/other/blog/how-to-do-taraweeh-at-home/
      3. ↑ http://www.sunna.info/prayer/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.php
      4. ↑ http://www.sunna.info/prayer/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.php
      5. ↑ https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/lawbase/risalah_maliki/book06.html
      6. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/qiblah
      7. ↑ http://www.sunna.info/prayer/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.php
      8. ↑ https://www.halaltrip.com/other/blog/how-to-do-taraweeh-at-home/
      9. ↑ https://www.muslimaid.org/what-we-do/religious-dues/qurbani/what-is-ihram/
      1. ↑ https://myislam.org/opening-dua-of-salah/
      2. ↑ https://sunnah.com/abudawud/2/523
      3. ↑ https://abdurrahman.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/explaining-surah-al-fatihah-shaykh-uthaymeen-authentic-translations-com.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.amaliah.com/post/55660/how-to-pray-taraweeh-at-home-what-is-taraweeh
      5. ↑ https://www.alislam.org/book/salat/constituent-parts-of-prayer/
      6. ↑ https://www.alislam.org/book/salat/constituent-parts-of-prayer/
      7. ↑ https://www.sistani.org/english/book/48/2235/
      8. ↑ https://www.alislam.org/book/online-salat-guide/qadah/
      9. ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-the-tarawih-prayer-and-how-is-it-performed
      10. ↑ https://myislam.org/tashahhud-dua-for-salah/
      11. ↑ https://learn-islam.org/class-9-durood
      12. ↑ https://www.howtopray.com/page/40/the-salutation-to-end-the-prayer-tasleem
      13. ↑ https://www.wrightstreetmosque.com/the-taraweeh-prayer-and-some-important-regulations-pertaining-to-it/
      14. ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-the-tarawih-prayer-and-how-is-it-performed
      15. ↑ https://al-islam.org/articles/laws-and-practices-why-do-shiah-avoid-tarawih-congregations
      16. ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-the-tarawih-prayer-and-how-is-it-performed
      17. ↑ https://www.wrightstreetmosque.com/the-taraweeh-prayer-and-some-important-regulations-pertaining-to-it/
      18. ↑ https://al-islam.org/articles/laws-and-practices-why-do-shiah-avoid-tarawih-congregations
      19. ↑ https://www.utrujj.org/can-you-hold-the-mushaf-quran-while-praying/
      20. ↑ https://www.zakat.org/what-is-the-tarawih-prayer-and-how-is-it-performed

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To pray the Taraweeh prayer at home, start by ensuring that you and the area around you are clean and free from impurities. You should also cover yourself and face the Qibla. When you're ready to begin, make the intention of Taraweeh, raise your hands to your ears, and say, "Allahu Akbar," then place your right hand over your left hand. Next, recite the Du'a al Istiftah and Surah al Fātiḥah. Once you're done, say "Allahu Akbar" and bend down into ruku' position. When you rise back up from ruku', recite "Sami-allah Huliman Hamidah," then say "Allahu Akbar" again and get into sajdah position. From here, you can complete this rak'ah by saying "Allahu Akbar" and standing up. Finally, perform another rak'ah and finish the prayer with tasleem and the Witr prayer. For more advice, including how to perform ghusl, keep reading!

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