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This is a sub-article of Sunnah salat and Ramadan.

Tarawih (Arabic: تراويح) refers to extra congregational prayers performed by Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. Contrary to popular belief, they are not compulsory.^[1] However, many Muslims pray these prayers in the evening during Ramadan. Some scholars maintain that Tarawih is neither fard or a Sunnah, but is the preponed Tahajjud (night prayer) prayer shifted to post-Isha' for the ease of believers.

Overview

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 20 raka‘āt according to two schools, Hanafis and Shafi'i, of Sunni Islam. Some believe that 8, 12 or 20 can be read. A break is taken after every 4 rak'ah - Malik ibn Anas added 4 raka'h in each break (to account for the time spent in Tawaf, since he was in Medina) thus taking the total number to 36. Due to varying numbers, the number of prayers performed is broad in scope. This prayer is performed only during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar after Salah of Isha'. Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a khatm "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 optional, not mandatory.

Sunni views

A majority of Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as Sunnat al-Mu'akkadah, a salaat that was performed by the Islamic prophet Muhammad very consistently. Sunni Muslims believe tarawih is a Sunnah salat and may be performed at home if one is unable to attend a mosque. According to this tradition, Muhammad initially prayed the tarawih in congregation during Ramadan even though there is no evidence to prove such practice. He prayed in congregation for three consecutive nights but discontinued this practice out of fear that it would be made mandatory, rather than sunnah.^[2] During the time when Umar was the caliph, he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation since Muhammad had died and as such there was no longer any misapprehension of it being made mandatory.^[3] However, Malik ibn Anas prefers that Tarawih be prayed at home, if one has a strong intention to do so.^[4]^[5]. Some scholars belonging to Ahle Hadith maintain that Tarawih is neither fard or a Sunnah, but is the preponed Tahajjud (night prayer) prayer shifted to post-Isha' for the ease of believers which according to them is not more than 8.

Shia views

The Shia view differs among the three main schools of thought, Ismaili, Twelvers and Zaydis. However, some Zaydis have been known to regard tarawih as sunnah.

Twelvers believe in the Tahajjud prayer or Salatul layl (night prayer) which Muhammad recommended during nights of Ramadan.

Salatul layl or Tahajjud prayer is made up of eleven rak’ats.

The first eight rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl^{[needs translation]}.
The next two rak’ats are prayed with the niyyah of Salatul Shaf’a^{[needs translation]}.
The remaining rak’at is prayed with the niyyah of Salatul Witr.

In the last rak’at, Qunut is recited before or after ruku' and the Salat is completed as usual with Tashahhud and Salaam.

Notes

^ Tarawih Prayer a Nafl or Sunnah
^ Sahih Muslim, Book #4, Hadith #1,663
^ Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book #32, Hadith #227
^ al-Mudawannah
^ ibn Rushd, al-Bayan wat-Tahsil

References

John L. Esposito: The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press US 2004, ISBN 978-0-19-512559-7, p. 276 (restricted online version, p. 276, at Google Books)

External links

[1] Tarawih Prayer a Nafl or Sunnah

[2] Sahih Muslim, Book #4, Hadith #1,663

[3] Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book #32, Hadith #227

[4] -Mudawannah

[5] ibn Rushd, al-Bayan wat-Tahsil

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[2]

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 ===Sunni views===
-A majority of Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as ''Sunnat al-Mu'akkadah'', a salaat that was performed by the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] very consistently. Sunni Muslims believe tarawih is a [[Sunnah salat]] and may be performed at home if one is unable to attend a [[mosque]]. According to this tradition, Muhammad initially prayed the tarawih in congregation during Ramadan even though there is no evidence to prove such practice. He prayed in congregation for three consecutive nights but discontinued this practice out of fear that it would be made mandatory, rather than sunnah.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/004.smt.html#004.1663 Sahih Muslim, Book #4, Hadith #1,663]</ref> During the time when [[Umar]] was the [[caliph]], he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation since Muhammad had died and as such there was no longer any misapprehension of it being made mandatory.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/032.sbt.html#003.032.227 Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book #32, Hadith #227]</ref> However, Malik ibn Anas prefers that Tarawih be prayed at home, if one has a strong intention to do so.<ref>[[Mudawana|al-Mudawannah]]</ref><ref>[[Averroes|''ibn Rushd'']], al-Bayan wat-Tahsil</ref>
+A majority of Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as ''Sunnat al-Mu'akkadah'', a salaat that was performed by the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] very consistently. Sunni Muslims believe tarawih is a [[Sunnah salat]] and may be performed at home if one is unable to attend a [[mosque]]. According to this tradition, Muhammad initially prayed the tarawih in congregation during Ramadan even though there is no evidence to prove such practice. He prayed in congregation for three consecutive nights but discontinued this practice out of fear that it would be made mandatory, rather than sunnah.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/004.smt.html#004.1663 Sahih Muslim, Book #4, Hadith #1,663]</ref> During the time when [[Umar]] was the [[caliph]], he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation since Muhammad had died and as such there was no longer any misapprehension of it being made mandatory.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/032.sbt.html#003.032.227 Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book #32, Hadith #227]</ref> However, Malik ibn Anas prefers that Tarawih be prayed at home, if one has a strong intention to do so.<ref>[[Mudawana|al-Mudawannah]]</ref><ref>[[Averroes|''ibn Rushd'']], al-Bayan wat-Tahsil</ref>. Some scholars belonging to [[Ahle Hadith]] maintain that Tarawih is neither fard or a Sunnah, but is the preponed Tahajjud (night prayer) prayer shifted to post-Isha' for the ease of believers which according to them is not more than 8.
 ===Shia views===