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Ramadan prayer, Hanafi

How to Pray Taraweeh: 20 Rak‘at, Method and Tasbih

Taraweeh is the night prayer of Ramadan: twenty rak‘at, sunnat-e-mu’akkadah. Learn how to pray it, the rest after every four rak‘at and the tasbih of taraweeh, with sources.

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A mosque at night in Ramadan with lanterns, a crescent moon and rows of prayer mats
RamadanEvery night
20 rak‘atTen salams
After IshaBefore witr
SunnahMu’akkadah
SourcesBook and page

What is taraweeh?

Taraweeh is the prayer of Ramadan nights: twenty rak‘at, prayed after the fard of Isha, and it is sunnat-e-mu’akkadah (Faizan-e-Taraweeh; Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, p. 688).

“Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward, his past sins are forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2009)

How to pray taraweeh

  1. After the fard of IshaIts time is from after the fard of Isha until true dawn (al-Durr al-Mukhtar, as quoted in Faizan-e-Taraweeh).
  2. Twenty rak‘at in pairsPray two rak‘at at a time, with ten salams in all (al-Durr al-Mukhtar, as quoted in Faizan-e-Taraweeh).
  3. Rest after every fourSitting after every four rak‘at, for about as long as the four took, is mustahab (Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, p. 690). You may stay quiet, or recite dhikr, durood or the Quran.
  4. Then witrPray the three rak‘at of witr.

The tasbih of taraweeh

Tasbih-e-Taraweehسُبْحٰنَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوْتِ، سُبْحٰنَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيَآءِ وَالْجَبَرُوْتِ، سُبْحٰنَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِيْ لَا يَنَامُ وَلَا يَمُوْتُ، سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اَجِرْنِيْ مِنَ النَّارِ يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرّٰحِمِيْنَSubhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut, subhana dhil-‘izzati wal-‘azamati wal-haibati wal-qudrati wal-kibriya’i wal-jabarut, subhanal-malikil-hayyil-ladhi la yanamu wa la yamut, subbuhun quddusun rabbul-mala’ikati war-ruh, Allahumma ajirni minan-nar, ya mujiru ya mujiru ya mujir, bi-rahmatika ya arhamar-rahimin.Glory be to the Owner of the dominion and the unseen kingdom. Glory be to the Owner of might, greatness, awe, power, majesty and command. Glory be to the King, the Ever-Living, who neither sleeps nor dies. Most Glorious, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Ruh. O Allah, save me from the Fire, O Protector, O Protector, O Protector, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy.Faizan-e-Taraweeh, Dawat-e-Islami Islamic Portal, which says this tasbih may also be recited in the rest after every four rak‘at

Frequently asked questions

How many rak‘at is taraweeh?

Twenty rak‘at, as prayed in congregation in the time of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (al-Bayhaqi, as-Sunan al-Kubra, no. 4617; Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, p. 688), as explained in Faizan-e-Taraweeh.

Is taraweeh sunnah?

Yes. It is sunnat-e-mu’akkadah for every sane, adult Muslim man and woman (al-Durr al-Mukhtar; Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, p. 688).

Can I pray taraweeh at home?

Praying it in congregation is sunnat-e-kifayah (al-Hidayah, vol. 1, p. 70): when it is held in congregation in the area, a person who prays it alone at home has still prayed taraweeh.

Do we have to complete the Quran in taraweeh?

Completing the Quran once in taraweeh is sunnat-e-kifayah (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 10, pp. 334–335).

When does taraweeh start?

On the night the Ramadan moon is sighted, after the fard of Isha. See our Ramadan timetable 2027 for the expected dates.

Sources

  1. Faizan-e-Taraweeh, Dawat-e-Islami Islamic Portal (citing al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Bahar-e-Shariat vol. 1 pp. 688–690, al-Hidayah vol. 1 p. 70, al-Bayhaqi’s as-Sunan al-Kubra no. 4617 and Fatawa Razawiyyah vol. 10 pp. 334–335).
  2. Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 2009.

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Last updated: October 2026

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