The Ruling
Tarawih is sunnah mu’akkada (a strongly recommended sunnah) for both men and women. It is NOT obligatory — missing it carries no sin — but its reward is enormous.
The Prophet’s statement about the fear of obligatory status is read by scholars as evidence of both its desirability (he prayed it) and its non-obligatory status (he withdrew to prevent it becoming fard).
The Number of Rak’at
This is the most debated question in tarawih jurisprudence:
| Position | Number | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi traditional | 20 rak’at | ’Umar ibn al-Khattab’s establishment; widely practiced by companions |
| Maliki | 20 (or 36 in old Medina practice) | Medina practice |
| Shafi’i | 20 rak’at | Companion consensus |
| Hanbali | 20 rak’at | Companion consensus |
| Some contemporary scholars | 8 rak’at | Based on Aisha’s hadith about the Prophet’s night prayer being no more than 8 (+ Witr) |
The 8 vs. 20 debate is not new — both positions have classical backing. The 20-rak’at position is supported by companion practice under ‘Umar; the 8-rak’at position refers to the Prophet’s private tahajjud. Most traditional mosques pray 20.
The Structure
Tarawih is prayed in sets of 2 rak’at, with a rest (tarwih) after every 4 rak’at (2 sets). For 20 rak’at:
- 5 groups of 4 rak’at = 5 rest pauses
- After tarawih: Witr (1 or 3 rak’at)
The Khatm (Quran completion): The imam typically recites 1 juz’ (1/30 of the Quran) per night, completing the entire Quran over 30 nights of Ramadan — making tarawih the vehicle for the annual communal khatm.
The Spiritual Value
Tarawih combines several spiritual goods simultaneously:
- Extra prayers in the most blessed month
- Long recitation of the Quran (for the congregation, this is passive listening — istima’ — which carries its own reward)
- Communal worship reinforcing the ummah’s shared bond
- Physical stamina (20 rak’at is substantial)
The Prophet: “Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes, it is written for him as if he prayed the whole night.” (Abu Dawud) — this hadith specifically about the tarawih congregation means that even those who cannot manage the full night of qiyam al-layl receive a full night’s reward by completing tarawih with the congregation.
See also: Understanding Namaz, Fiqh Overview, Fiqh Madhabs, Adhkar, Khatm Quran, Nafl, Masjid