Tarawih Prayers (during Ramadan)
It is recommended to perform the Tarawih each night of Ramadan. Tarawih is an optional sunnah salah of at least eight and up to twenty rak‘ahs performed after the isha prayer. These prayers can be offered alone, and it is preferred to offer them with a congregation when possible. Optimally, the entire Qur’an is recited by the Imam over the course of the Tarawih prayers.
Like all sunnah prayers, Tarawih is observed in sets of two rak‘ahs, with salams (greetings of peace) after each pair. After every fourth rak‘ah, you recite the du‘a below, then rest for a few moments.
| subåhâna dhi-l-mulki wa-l-malakûtsubåhâna dhi-l-‘izzati wa-l-‘adhmati wa-l-haybatiwa-l-qudårati wa-l-kibåriyââ’i wal-l-jabarûtsubåhâna-l-maliki-l-hayyi-l-ladhî lâ yanamu wa lâ yamût subbûhun quddûsun rabbunâ wa rabbu-l-malââ’ikati war-r-rûh allâhumma ajirnâ mina-n-nâr yâ mujîru yâ mujîru yâ mujîr | Glorified is the master of Mulk and Malakut*Glorified is the posessor of greatness, awe, & powerAnd Glory, and Grandeur and the Jabarut*Glorified is the King who is Ever-Living who neither sleeps nor diesFor Him is Purity and Holiness —He is our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the Spirit Oh Allah! protect us from the fire Oh Protector! Oh Protector! Oh Protector! *Mulk, Malakut and Jabarut are the worlds of the Kingdom, Dominion and Power, corresponding to physical reality, the angelic world, and the world of the spirit |
So if you are doing 8 rakats for your tarawih prayers:
- Do these 8 rakats as if you are doing 4 sets of Fajr, do a unit of 2 rakats, 4 times.
- Do you first set of 2 rakats like you do normally. When you’ve said “as salamu alaikum rahmatullah” to the right and left, you have finished your first 2 rakat.
- Stand up and start the next set of 2 rakats.
- After you’ve finished the second set of 2 rakats, (done 4 rakats total) recite the special Tarawih prayer (above) out loud.
- You can pause here if you need a break. When you are ready, stand and begin the next set of 2 rakats.
- Once you’ve finished your 8th rakat (or final rakat if you are doing more), finish the rakat by doing the prayers you normally do after you’ve said “as salamu alaikum rahmatullah” to the right and left. You are finished!
During Ramadan it is recommended that one offer Witr in a group after praying tarawih, unless one intends to pray the night vigil prayer (Tahajjud), in which case one should postpone Witr until after the night vigil prayer. Witr is among the most strongly confirmed of all sunnah practices and observing it at the end of every night’s worship (in solitary prayer outside of Ramadan) is a great blessing.
[c]2013-[y] Debra Jumanah Wakitsch