Tarawih (Ramadan Night Prayer)
The voluntary night prayer performed in congregation during Ramadan.
Tarawih (Arabic: تراويح) is a voluntary night prayer performed in congregation at the mosque throughout the month of Ramadan. The word "tarawih" is the plural of "tarwiha", meaning "rest" — because the worshippers rest between each set of rak'ah.
Tarawih is prayed after the Isha prayer and typically consists of 8 or 20 rak'ah, depending on the local tradition and school of law. During Tarawih, the goal is to recite the entire Quran over the course of the Ramadan month, typically one juz' (section) per night.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed Tarawih in congregation for a few nights, but then stopped out of concern that it would be made obligatory. Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab later revived the tradition of congregational Tarawih prayer in the mosque.
Tarawih is one of the most beloved traditions during Ramadan and creates a special atmosphere in the mosques, where the entire community gathers for night prayer and Quran recitation.
Related terms
Qiyas (Analogical Reasoning)
Legal analogy used to derive Islamic rules for new situations based on established rules.
Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)
The Islamic legal science that derives practical rules from the Quran and Sunnah.
Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Paradise)
The most widely used Shia prayer book, compiled by Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi.
Tawaf (Circumambulation of the Kaaba)
The ritual of walking seven times around the Kaaba counterclockwise as part of Hajj and Umrah.
Hayya ala Khayr al-Amal (Come to the Best of Deeds)
The third exhortation in the Shia adhan: "Come to the best of deeds".
Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter of Sincerity)
The 112th chapter of the Quran, declaring Allah's absolute oneness.