Tarawih prayer at the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia
Official nameصلاة التراويح (ṣalāt at-tarāwīḥ; literally, 'prayer of the Tarāwīḥ')
Also calledTaraweeh
Observed bySunnis
TypeSunnah prayer according to Sunni Muslims
SignificanceA voluntary Sunnah prayer that Sunni Muslims say was done by Muhammad
BeginsIsha prayer
Ends8 rakahs with 3 witr rakahs take approximately 1 hour
FrequencyEvery night in Ramadan
Related toRamadan
Tarawih prayer at Taipei Grand Mosque, Taiwan

Tarawih (Arabic: تراويح, romanized: tarāwīḥ), also known as Taraweeh, are special Sunnah prayers involving reading long portions of the Quran, and performing many rakahs (cycles of prostrations required in Islamic prayer), which are performed only in the Islamic month of Ramadan. The entire Quran is recited in the Tarawih prayers at a mosque, typically at the rate of one Juz' per night.

Overview

Tarawih prayers begin from the first Moon-sighted evening (start of Ramadan) to second Moon-sighted evening (last day of Ramadan). This prayer is performed in congregation during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar, after Isha (and before Witr, which is also prayed following the imam who leads the prayer aloud in one or three rakats unlike how it is done in other eleven months).

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs. According to the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi' and Hanbali schools of Sunni Islam, the standard number of rakats is twenty referring it to a narration in Muwatta' Imam Malik which said that "In the time of Umar, the people used to offer 20 raka'āt". But it is clearly mentioned in the Muwatta' before the said narration that when Umar assigned duty to Ubay ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the Tarawih, he ordered them to offer 11 raka'āt (8 of tarawih and 3 of witr). Sunni Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a takmil ("complete recitation" of the Quran) as one of the religious observances of ramadan, by reciting at least one juz' per night in tarawih.

Tarawih prayers are considered Sunnah, or in other words, not obligatory. However, it is believed that the reward for them is great, as it is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, being reported in multiple authentic Hadiths.

Muhammad, according to Abu Hurairah said, "Whoever stands with the imam (in Taraweeh prayer) until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer." This hadith was used as a proof by Imam Ahmad.[1][2]

Background

The Sunni prayer Tarawih has been mentioned in traditions as Qiyam al-Layl min Ramadan ("Standing of night in Ramadan") and Qiyam al-Ramadan ("Standing of Ramadan"). Some Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as confirmed traditional prayer (sunnat al-mu'akkadah). Other Sunni Muslims believe Tarawih is an optional prayer (nafl) that may be performed at home. According to this tradition

“Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to exhort (his Companions) to pray (at night) during Ramadan without commanding them to observe it as an obligatory act, and say: He who observed the night prayer in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. When Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakr's caliphate and the early part of 'Umar's caliphate”[3] During the time when Umar was the caliph, he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation.[4]

Shia Muslims regard Tarawih as "innovation" (bid‘ah), re-introduced after the death of Muhammad by Umar ibn al-Khattab, according to his own words.[5]

A Shia hadith, however, is claimed to have authenticated Sunni prayer Taraweeh but this is disputed since not all hadiths in Al Kafi are sahih:

‘Abu ‘Abdallah (peace be upon him) has said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) would increase his prayer during the month of Ramadan. After Al-‘Atmah (late evening prayer), he would perform more prayers. People behind would stand up [for prayer], but he would go inside and leave them. Then, after he came out, they would come and stand up behind him [for prayer], but he would leave them and go inside several times. He (the narrator) has said that the Imam then said, “You must not perform prayer after late evening prayer during the times other than the month of Ramadan.”

—Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 154-155 (declared sahih by Majlisi)[6]

Muhammad al-Bukhari narrated regarding the Tarawih prayer in Sahih al-Bukhari:

I went out in the company of Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, “In my opinion I would better collect these [people] under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!).” So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and [saw that] the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, “What an excellent bid'ah (i.e. innovation in religion) this is!”[7]

Instead, Twelvers believe in the Tahajjud prayer or Salat al-Layl ("night prayer"), which is recommended throughout the year, especially during the nights of Ramadan.[8]

Other

On 3 January 2000, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has expressed regret that tarawih prayers are being made use of by certain people for political gains.[9]

On 2 April 2022, hundreds of Muslims gathered in Times Square to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadhan. Over 1,500 meals were handed out to the people, before the prayers, to break their fast; known as iftar. This event marked the first Tarawih prayers held in Times Square, publicly.[10]


Name variations


See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Taraweeh Prayer and Its Origins". Arab News. Susi Research & Publishing Company. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "Riyad as-Salihin 1187 - The Book of Virtues - كتاب الفضائل - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Book of Prayer - Travellers". Book 4, Hadith 1663. Sahih Muslim. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Praying at Night in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)". Book 32, Hadith 227. Sahih Bukhari. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Praying at Night in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)". Book 31, Hadith 3. Sahih al-Bukhari. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Tarawih proven from (12er) Shia books". 22 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Muhammad al-Bukhari, Muhammad. Sahih al-Bukhari (in Arabic). p. Book 31, Ch. 1, Hadith 3, Nu. 2010. خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ لَيْلَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ، إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، فَإِذَا النَّاسُ أَوْزَاعٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ يُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَيُصَلِّي الرَّجُلُ فَيُصَلِّي بِصَلاَتِهِ الرَّهْطُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنِّي أَرَى لَوْ جَمَعْتُ هَؤُلاَءِ عَلَى قَارِئٍ وَاحِدٍ لَكَانَ أَمْثَلَ‏.‏ ثُمَّ عَزَمَ فَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ لَيْلَةً أُخْرَى، وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ قَارِئِهِمْ، قَالَ عُمَرُ نِعْمَ الْبِدْعَةُ هَذِهِ
  8. ↑ "Imaam Ali Foundation - Ramadan Moon Crescent 1436". Archived from the original on 17 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "PM regrets tarawih prayers misused for political gains". New Straits Times. 4 January 2000.
  10. ↑ "Hundreds gather in Times Square to mark beginning of Ramadan". CBS New York. 2 April 2022.

Further reading

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