Things You Should Know About Taraweeh Salah

‘Taraweeh Salah’ prayer is often referred to as special evening prayer of Ramadan which is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) 

How ‘Taraweeh Salah’ is carried out?

Taraweeh in Ramadan is performed at night after Isha prayer where Muslims line up in a sacred place to observe a number of Raka’at and listen and reflect on the recitation of Holy Quran’s Surahs to illuminate oneself of the maximum knowledge our Quran shares and monitor it in a true spirit to get the true narrations.

Origin of ‘Taraweeh Salah’

Taraweeh is an Arabic word which is the plural word of ‘Taraweeha’ which means to ‘Rest’. It means to rest between every four Raka’at. The first rest we get after the first four Raka’at and the second rest is after the next four Raka’ats. However, this Salah is not mandatory; this has been a Sunnah (optional) from the times of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) which is still followed by millions f Muslims in Ramadan around the globe.

There’s a Hadith which indicates that Prophet (P.B.U.H) led his followers after the Isha prayer on 25th, 27th and 29th nights of Ramadan.

Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) Practices on ‘Taraweeh Salah’

This prayer was one of the finest deeds our Prophet acted upon during Ramadan in small congregations during which one stands upright to read from the Quran and usually perform many movements (standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting). The Taraweeh prayer can be very long sessions as the whole Quran is divided into equal parts called ‘Juz’.

Narrated by Ibn Abbas (R.A) that, Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to pray twenty- raka’ats by himself followed by ‘Witr’ every night in the month of Ramadan.

 (Sunan Al-Baihaqi, h12102).

The Hadith also documented that by the fear of becoming 'Fard' on Ummah, Prophet discontinued the prayer. It’s been a dispute now how long Taraweeh is supposed to be whether 8 or 20 raka’ats .

Hazrat Abu Dhar Ghifari (RA) narrates in the same regard in the following way

“We (the Companions) observed the fasts of Ramadan with the Prophet (PBUH). In the whole month, the Prophet (PBUH) did not lead us in prayer until there were 7 days left in the month. The Prophet (PBUH) then led us in prayer on the 23rd, 25th and 27th night.” (Abu Dawood)

How to Offer Taraweeh Salah

1. It is just like any other nafal salah. There are some instructions properly listed below to perform this prayer. 
2. If you’re alone, it’s okay. It’s not compulsory to make a congregation.  Or if you want to make a small congregation, make it after Isha and two- raka’at Sunah.
3. Do niyat for twio raka’at Taraweeh Salah.
4. Just like the other Salah,say the- two raka’at Salah.
5. Have some rest after offering the Salah twice.
6. Stop again after eight raka’at (i.e. 2 x 2, 2x2), but it is better to complete 20 rakat (i.e. 2 x2, 2 x 2, 2 x 2, 2 x 2, 2 x 2). The comma denotes the resting time you have to taken.
7. Recite Quran as much as you can during Taraweeh or if you haven’t memorized it by heart then you may recite last 10 small surahs twice (so 10 rakat, then 10 rakat completed). So atleast in 29 days, whole Quran can be completed.
8. You can recite a Dua/Zikr while you rest but it’s not compulsory.