Taraweeh is a special night prayer in Ramadan, prayed after Isha, usually in sets of two rak‘ahs, with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure and drawing closer to Him.

What is Taraweeh?

  • It is a Sunnah night prayer specific to Ramadan, prayed after the obligatory Isha prayer.
  • You can pray it in the mosque behind an imam or at home, alone or with family.
  • Common counts are 8, 12, or 20 rak‘ahs, always done in pairs of two; the exact number is a matter of scholarly difference, so follow what you are able and what your community/teachers advise.

Basic Structure (Overview)

  1. Pray Isha first:
    • 4 rak‘ahs fard (obligatory).
    • 2 rak‘ahs Sunnah of Isha (recommended).
  1. Make intention in your heart for Taraweeh (e.g., “to pray Taraweeh for the sake of Allah”).
  1. Pray Taraweeh in sets of 2 rak‘ahs:
    • Pray 2 rak‘ahs, say salam.
    • Repeat 2-by-2 until you reach your intended number.
  1. Finish with Witr prayer (usually 1 or 3 rak‘ahs) after Taraweeh.

A simple beginner routine at home could be: Isha → 2 Sunnah → 8 rak‘ahs Taraweeh (2 by 2) → 3 rak‘ahs Witr.

Step‑by‑Step: One Rak‘ah (like normal Salah)

Each rak‘ah of Taraweeh is performed like the normal prayer you already know from the five daily prayers, the difference is only the intention and number of rak‘ahs.

For each rak‘ah:

  1. Intention and opening takbir
    • Stand facing Qiblah, in wudu.
    • Intend Taraweeh in your heart.
    • Raise hands and say “Allahu Akbar” (Takbiratul Ihram).
  1. Standing (Qiyam) and recitation
    • Place right hand over left on chest.
 * Recite opening supplication (Dua al‑Iftitah) if it is your first rak‘ah (optional but recommended).

 * Recite Surah Al‑Fatiha.
 * Then recite any other surah or verses you know; in Taraweeh people often recite longer passages, but you can recite short surahs if that is what you know.
  1. Ruku‘ (bowing)
    • Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow, hands on knees, back straight.
 * Say the tasbih at least three times, for example: “Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim wa bihamdih.”
  1. Standing after ruku‘ (I‘tidal)
    • Rise saying “Sami‘a Allahu liman hamidah.”
    • Standing straight, say “Rabbana wa laka al‑hamd” or similar praise.
  1. Sujud (prostration)
    • Say “Allahu Akbar” and go to sujud, placing knees, then hands, then forehead and nose on the ground.
 * Say a sujud tasbih at least three times, such as “Subhana Rabbiyal‑A‘la.”
  1. Sitting between two sujuds
    • Say “Allahu Akbar” and sit on your legs.
    • Make a short supplication if you wish (forgiveness, mercy, etc.).
  1. Second sujud
    • Repeat the sujud as before.
  1. Next rak‘ah or tashahhud
    • If it is the first rak‘ah of the pair, stand up again for the next rak‘ah and repeat the same steps.
    • In the second rak‘ah of the pair, after the second sujud, sit for the final tashahhud, recite it, then end with salam to the right and left.

This completes two rak‘ahs; then you start another two until you are done.

How Many Rak‘ahs & Practical Options

Scholars and communities differ in practice, but all treat Taraweeh as a Sunnah, not a fard obligation.

Common patterns:

  • 8 rak‘ahs Taraweeh + 3 Witr (total 11).
  • 20 rak‘ahs Taraweeh + 3 Witr (total 23).
  • If you are tired or new, even 2 or 4 rak‘ahs with khushu‘ (presence of heart) is better than many without focus.

General tips:

  • Always pray in pairs of two rak‘ahs, with salam after each pair.
  • Follow your local mosque’s number if you are praying in congregation.
  • At home, choose a number you can sustain most nights of Ramadan, even if small.

Praying Taraweeh at Home vs Mosque

You can pray Taraweeh either in congregation at the mosque or at home, and both have precedents in the tradition.

  • In the mosque:
    • You follow the imam; your job is to intend the prayer and follow his movements and recitation.
    • You will usually complete a fixed number (often 8 or 20) and Witr with the imam.
  • At home (alone or with family):
    • One person leads; others stand behind.
    • If you do not have much Qur’an memorized, it is generally permitted by many scholars today to recite from a mushaf or app when needed, especially in Sunnah prayers like Taraweeh.

If you feel shy or lost in the mosque, a gentle way is to learn the structure at home first, then join the congregation when you feel ready.

Witr After Taraweeh (Brief)

After finishing your Taraweeh rak‘ahs, you pray Witr:

  • Commonly 3 rak‘ahs: either 2 + salam, then 1, or 3 together with one tashahhud at the end (follow your madhhab or local imam).
  • Recitation is like other prayers, with extra qunut dua in some schools in the last rak‘ah.

If you already have a habit of praying Witr later in the night (e.g., before Fajr), you can delay Witr and just pray Taraweeh after Isha.

Mini Story: A First Night of Taraweeh

Imagine someone who knows just a few short surahs, feels nervous in Ramadan 2026, and wants to “finally do Taraweeh properly.” They make wudu, pray Isha, then quietly stand in their room: “Allahu Akbar.” In the first two rak‘ahs they recite Al‑Fatiha and short surahs like Al‑Ikhlas and Al‑Falaq, bowing and prostrating just as in normal Salah, finishing with salam. Their heart is racing, but they repeat that simple cycle three more times until they have prayed 8 rak‘ahs. They end with a simple 3‑rak‘ah Witr, raising their hands in dua at the end, feeling a calm they did not expect. Nothing fancy—just a sincere, simple Taraweeh, totally valid and beloved to Allah.

If You Want More Detail

If you tell me:

  • Whether you follow a particular school (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, etc.), and
  • Whether you’ll pray at home or in the mosque,

I can lay out a night-by-night plan for Ramadan (how many rak‘ahs, how to build up, sample recitation suggestions) that matches your situation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.