Taraweeh is a voluntary night prayer of Ramadan, prayed after the Isha prayer and before Fajr. You pray it two rak'ahs at a time, ending each pair with salam, usually 8 or 20 rak'ahs in total, then close with witr. You can pray it in the mosque or at home, alone or with your family.
What is Taraweeh?
Taraweeh is the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) offered during the nights of Ramadan. It is a confirmed Sunnah, not an obligation. The name comes from the Arabic word for rest, because the early Muslims sat and rested after every four rak'ahs of long recitation.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins will be forgiven" (Sahih al-Bukhari 37; Sahih Muslim 759). It is among the best acts of worship in Ramadan.
The Prophet ﷺ led the people in this prayer in the mosque for a few nights, then stopped coming out, explaining that he feared it would be made obligatory on them (Sahih al-Bukhari 2012; Sahih Muslim 761). Later, Umar ibn al-Khattab gathered the people behind one imam, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, and congregational Taraweeh has continued ever since (Sahih al-Bukhari 2010).
When does Taraweeh start and end?
Taraweeh starts after you have prayed the obligatory Isha prayer and lasts until the start of Fajr. It is not valid before Isha, because it follows the obligatory prayer of the night.
Most people pray it straight after Isha and its Sunnah, as mosques do, but praying later in the night is also allowed. Taraweeh is only prayed in Ramadan: it begins on the night the month is confirmed (after Isha on the evening before the first fast) and ends on the last night of Ramadan.
How do you pray Taraweeh step by step?
Each pair of Taraweeh rak'ahs is prayed like the two-rak'ah Fajr prayer:
- Make wudu in a clean place.
- Pray Isha (four rak'ahs) and, if you can, its two-rak'ah Sunnah.
- Face the qiblah and make your intention in your heart to pray two rak'ahs of Taraweeh. The intention does not need to be said aloud.
- Say "Allahu Akbar" while raising your hands, then fold them and quietly recite an opening supplication, such as "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika".
- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then any surah or verses you know.
- Bow (ruku), saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim", then rise saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd".
- Prostrate twice (sujud), saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la", sitting briefly between the two prostrations.
- Stand for the second rak'ah and repeat Al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku and two prostrations.
- Sit for the tashahhud, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, then end with salam to the right and left.
- Repeat in pairs until you reach the number you intend, such as 8 or 20. You may rest briefly after every four.
- Finish with witr, one or three rak'ahs, and make dua.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The night prayer is two by two, and if one of you fears that dawn is near, let him pray one rak'ah to make what he has prayed odd" (Sahih al-Bukhari 990; Sahih Muslim 749). If you are new to the prayer positions themselves, our guide to the five daily prayers in Islam covers each movement.
How many rak'ahs are prayed in Taraweeh?
Taraweeh is most commonly prayed as 8 rak'ahs or 20 rak'ahs, followed by witr, and both are valid. Because the Prophet ﷺ described the night prayer as "two by two" without setting a limit, scholars agree there is no fixed number you must reach.
| Number of rak'ahs | Basis | Who follows it |
|---|---|---|
| 8 + witr (11 in total) | Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs at night, in Ramadan or outside it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147; Sahih Muslim 738) | Many mosques and individuals today; a common choice when praying at home |
| 20 + witr (23 in total) | The practice of the Companions from the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab | The majority position of the Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools; prayed in many large mosques |
| 36 + witr | The historical practice of the people of Madinah in the time of Imam Malik | The historical position of the Maliki school |
| Fewer (even 2) | Any night prayer in Ramadan counts as qiyam | Anyone who is tired, ill, busy with small children or just starting |
The difference is about which is best, not about which is allowed, so do not argue with people who pray a different number. If you cannot manage eight, two sincere rak'ahs are better than leaving the prayer altogether.
How do you pray Taraweeh at home?
You pray Taraweeh at home in the same way as in the mosque: pairs of two rak'ahs after Isha, then witr. Praying at home is completely valid.
Praying Taraweeh at home alone
Follow the step-by-step list above. You may recite aloud or quietly, whichever helps you focus, as long as you do not disturb anyone sleeping. Decide in advance how many rak'ahs you will pray so you do not give up halfway.
Praying Taraweeh at home with your family
The person who knows the most Quran usually leads and recites aloud. Rows are arranged as follows:
- One man or boy with the imam: he stands to the imam's right, level with him.
- Two or more men or boys: they form a row behind the imam.
- A wife praying with her husband: she stands behind him, not beside him.
- A mixed family: men and boys form the first row behind the imam, and women and girls form a row behind them.
How do women pray Taraweeh at home step by step?
Women pray Taraweeh exactly as described in the steps above: Isha first, then pairs of two rak'ahs, then witr. Sisters may pray at home or attend the mosque, and both are permissible.
- Alone: follow the same steps. A woman may recite aloud when no non-mahram men can hear her, or quietly.
- With other women: the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, among others, allow a woman to lead other women. She stands in the middle of the first row rather than in front of it, as reported from Aisha and Umm Salamah. Other schools differ on this point, so follow the view of your school or teacher.
- With her husband or family: she prays in the row behind the men, as described above.
- During menstruation or postnatal bleeding: a woman does not pray and does not make up missed Taraweeh. She can still make dhikr and dua and listen to the Quran. Our guide to women's fasting rules in Ramadan covers the related rulings.
What should you recite in Taraweeh if you have not memorized much?
You can recite any surahs or verses you know after Al-Fatihah, even the same short surahs every night. There is no requirement to finish the Quran or to recite in order when you pray at home.
A simple plan is to use the last ten surahs of the Quran, from Al-Fil to An-Nas, adding Ayat al-Kursi or other passages you know.
Reading from a mushaf (a printed or digital copy of the Quran) during voluntary night prayer is permitted by many scholars, including the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools. They cite the report that Dhakwan, a freed slave of Aisha, used to lead her in prayer reading from the mushaf. Imam Abu Hanifa held that reading from a mushaf invalidates the prayer, so those who follow the Hanafi school recite from memory. If you follow a school, ask your teacher; if you do read from a mushaf, keep movement to a minimum.
Ramadan is also a natural time to start memorizing: one new short surah a week gives you fresh recitation by the end of the month.
How do you pray witr after Taraweeh?
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that ends the night prayer, and it is usually one or three rak'ahs. The Prophet ﷺ told us to make witr the last prayer of the night.
- One rak'ah: pray a single rak'ah with Al-Fatihah and a surah, then end with salam.
- Three rak'ahs: either pray two rak'ahs with salam and then one more, or pray all three together with one tashahhud at the end. The Hanafi school prays three with a sitting after the second rak'ah, like Maghrib.
Many recite Al-A'la, Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas in the three rak'ahs, and a dua called qunut is often said in the last rak'ah, either before or after ruku depending on the school.
If you pray witr with Taraweeh and then wake up later for tahajjud, pray your extra rak'ahs in pairs but do not repeat witr, because the Prophet ﷺ taught that there are not two witrs in one night.
What dua do you say after Taraweeh?
There is no single required dua after Taraweeh; you may ask Allah for anything in any language. Two duas taught by the Prophet ﷺ are especially suited to these nights:
- The qunut of witr, which he taught his grandson al-Hasan ibn Ali (reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi): "Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa 'afini fiman 'afayt..." meaning "O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, and grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being..."
- The dua for Laylat al-Qadr, which he taught Aisha (reported by al-Tirmidhi): "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni", meaning "O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me."
Make the second dua often in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when Laylat al-Qadr is sought.
How do you pray Taraweeh in the mosque?
In the mosque you pray Isha with the congregation, pray its Sunnah, and then follow the imam through Taraweeh in pairs of two rak'ahs, with witr at the end. The imam recites aloud and you listen silently, following his movements.
Some mosques pray 8 rak'ahs and others 20, and many complete the whole Quran over the month. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever prays with the imam until he finishes is recorded as having prayed the whole night (reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi), so try to stay until the imam completes witr.
How long does Taraweeh take?
Taraweeh usually takes from about 20 minutes to over an hour: eight rak'ahs with short surahs at home may take 20 to 30 minutes, while 20 rak'ahs reciting a full juz often take an hour or more.
Length is not the goal: it is better to pray fewer rak'ahs with calm and focus than to rush through many.
Can you learn to recite for Taraweeh with a teacher online?
Yes. A teacher can help you memorize new surahs to recite and correct your pronunciation.
At Murouj Academy, our online Quran memorization course is taught in live, private one-to-one classes with a personalized plan, and every teacher is a native Arab. Women and girls learn with female teachers. For the rulings of prayer and fasting, see our Islamic studies course for kids, or book a free trial class to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taraweeh compulsory?
No. Taraweeh is a confirmed Sunnah of Ramadan, not an obligation. You are not sinful for missing it, but you lose a great reward, so try to pray at least a few rak'ahs each night.
What is the difference between Taraweeh and tahajjud?
Both are night prayer. Taraweeh is the name for the night prayer of Ramadan, usually prayed after Isha, while tahajjud is night prayer offered after sleeping, at any time of year. In Ramadan, a person can pray Taraweeh early and add tahajjud before Fajr.
Can I pray Taraweeh after sleeping?
Yes. Taraweeh lasts until Fajr, so you may sleep after Isha and pray it later in the night. Many scholars consider the last third of the night an especially blessed time.
Can I pray Taraweeh in four rak'ahs with one salam?
The Sunnah is to pray in pairs and end every two rak'ahs with salam, following the hadith "the night prayer is two by two." Praying in pairs is the safest practice and is valid in every school.
