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Author:  Muhamamd Hashim Bastawi

The meaning of Taraweeh

Allama Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani, the commentator of Sahih Bukhari, writes in his book Fateh al-Bari: “That Taraweeh is the plural of Tarweeha, and the meaning of Tarweeh is to rest once, like Taslima means to greet once. In the nights of Ramadan, congregational prayer after Isha prayer is called Taraweeh”.

History of Taraweeh

It is proven that the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم) ( pray Taraweeh, and Hazrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) ordered that the first Taraweeh should be recited in congregation and in the first night, and it has been recited in this way ever since. Taraweeh prayers are usually led by Hafiz Quran reciters, and it is Sunnah to listen and read the entire Quran once in the entire month of Ramadan, and even more times the entire Quran Sharif can be completed.

Taraweeh prayer is Sunnah or Fard and Necessary?

The Taraweeh prayer is a Sunnah for every Muslim man and woman; it is a sin to intentionally miss it without any reasonable reason.

How many rak’ahs of Taraweeh prayer? And when is it performed?

Taraweeh prayer is performed in congregation after Isha prayer and before Witr prayer in the month of Ramadan. The Taraweeh prayer is twenty rak’ahs according to all Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’at (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali). And according to Ahl al-Hadith, there are 8 rak’ahs.

How do I perform Taraweeh?

In the Taraweeh prayer, two rak’ahs are intended, and salam is said on every two rak’ahs, and after every four rak’ahs there is a stop, which is called Tarweeha. In which special Tasbeeh and Taraweeh prayers are recited.

Dua of Taraweeh

After every four rak’ahs in the Taraweeh prayer, the following supplication is usually recited:

SUBHANA ZIL MULKI WAL MALAKOOT, SUBHANA ZIL IZZATI WAL AZAMATI WAL QUDRATI WAL KIBRIYAAI WAL JABAROOT, SUBHANAL MALIKIL HAYYIL LAZI LA YANAMU WLA YAMOOT, SUBBUHUN QUDDUSUN RABBUNA W RABBUL MALAYIKATI WARROOH, LA YILAHA ILLALAH, NASTAGHFIRULLAH, W NAUOOZU BIHI NAMANNAR.