Comprehensive Guide to the Tarawih Prayer: Principles, Raka'at Counts, and Step-by-Step Supplications
The Tarawih prayer (Salāt al-Tarāwīḥ) is one of the most distinguished voluntary acts of worship performed exclusively during the blessed month of Ramadan. Drawing from Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) and the practical guidance of scholarly teachings—including insights from Islamic scholar Buya Yahya—this guide provides a complete overview of the rules, virtues, and step-by-Step supplications associated with the Tarawih and Witr prayers.
1. The Virtues and Ruling of Tarawih Prayer
Tarawih prayer is classified as Sunnah Mu'akkadah (an emphasized recommended sunnah) for both men and women. It is performed after the 'Isha' prayer during every night of Ramadan.
While voluntary night prayers are generally encouraged throughout the year, performing them in Ramadan carries multiplied rewards:
Allah Almighty says:
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةًۧ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًۧا مَّحْمُودًۧا
"And from [part of] the night, pray with it as an additional worship for you; it is expected that your Lord will grant you a praised station."
— Surah Al-Isra (17:79)
Prophetic Hadith:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the virtues of standing in prayer during Ramadan:
مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
"Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."
— Sahih al-Bukhari (2009) & Sahih Muslim (759)
2. The Number of Raka'at: 8 or 20 Raka'at?
A common question among worshippers is whether Tarawih should consist of 8 or 20 raka'at. Scholarship across the four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Shafi'i, Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali) provides clarity on this matter:
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The Majority Legal Consensus (20 Raka'at):
The classical opinion established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and followed by the major legal schools is to perform 20 raka'at of Tarawih (offered in sets of 2 raka'at), followed by the Witr prayer.
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The 8 Raka'at View:
Performing 8 raka'at is also permissible and valid, relying on narration regarding the Prophet's regular night prayers.
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Scholarly Harmony: Performing 20 raka'at is considered complete according to the traditional consensus of the jurists, while completing 8 raka'at is fully accepted for those with constraints, time limits, or physical difficulty. The most crucial rule is that Tarawih must be performed two raka'at by two raka'at, ending each pair with a Salam.
"The night prayer is offered two by two."
— Sahih al-Bukhari (472)
3. How to Perform Tarawih Step-by-Step
A. Intention (Niyyah)
The intention is made in the heart before initiating the prayer with the opening Takbir (Allahu Akbar).
- Intention for the Imam:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِمَامًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
"I intend to pray two raka'at of the Sunnah Tarawih prayer as an Imam for Allah the Almighty."
- Intention for the Follower (Ma'mum):
- Intention for Individual Prayer:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
"I intend to pray two raka'at of the Sunnah Tarawih prayer for Allah the Almighty."
B. Supplications and Dhikr Between Raka'at
It is customary to recite Tasbih and Salawat during brief rest intervals between sets of Tarawih.
1. Tasbih Recitation:
سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ المَعْبُودِ، سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ المَوْجُودِ، سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لاَ يَنَامُ وَلاَ يَمُوتُ وَلاَ يَفُوتُ أَبَدًا، سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّ المَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ العَلِيِّ العَظِيمِ
Subḥāna al-maliki al-ma‘būd, subḥāna al-maliki al-mawjūd, subḥāna al-maliki al-ḥayyi alladhī lā yanāmu wa-lā yamūtu wa-lā yafūtu abadā, subbūḥun quddūsun rabbunā wa-rabbu al-malā’ikati wa-r-rūḥ, subḥānallāhi wa-l-ḥamdu lillāhi wa-lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar, wa-lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata illā billāhi al-‘aliyyi al-‘aẓīm.
"Glory be to the Sovereign who is worshipped. Glory be to the Sovereign who exists. Glory be to the Ever-Living Sovereign who neither sleeps, nor dies, nor passes away ever. Perfect, Holy, our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel). Glory be to Allah, all praise is due to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no power nor might except with Allah, the Most High, the Supreme."
C. The Tarawih Supplication (Doa Kamilin)
After completing the Tarawih units, the traditional Du'a Kamilin is recited:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا بِالإِيمَانِ كَامِلِينَ، وَلِلْفَرَائِضِ مُؤَدِّينَ، وَلِلصَّلاَةِ حَافِظِينَ، وَلِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلِينَ، وَلِمَا عِنْدَكَ طَالِبِينَ، وَلِعَفْوِكَ رَاجِينَ، وَبِالْهُدَى مُتَمَسِّكِينَ، وَعَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضِينَ، وَفِي الدُّنْيَا زَاهِدِينَ، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ رَاغِبِينَ، وَبِالقَضَاءِ رَاضِينَ، وَلِلنَّعْمَاءِ شَاكِرِينَ، وَعَلَى البَلاَءِ صَابِرِينَ، وَتَحْتَ لِوَاءِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ سَائِرِينَ، وَإِلَى الحَوْضِ وَارِدِينَ، وَفِي الجَنَّةِ دَاخِلِينَ، وَمِنَ النَّارِ نَاجِينَ
Allāhummaj‘alnā bil-īmāni kāmilīn, wa lil-farā’iḍi mu’addīn, wa liṣ-ṣalāti ḥāfiẓīn, wa liz-zakāti fā‘ilīn, wa limā ‘indaka ṭālibīn, wa li-‘afwika rājīn, wa bil-hudā mutamassikīn, wa ‘anil-laghwi mu‘riḍīn, wa fid-dunyā zāhidīn, wa fil-ākhirati rāghibīn, wa bil-qaḍā’i rāḍīn, wa lin-na‘mā’i shākirīn, wa ‘alal-balā’i ṣābirīn, wa taḥta liwā’i Muḥammadin ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallama yawmal-qiyāmati sā’irīn, wa ilal-ḥawḍi wāridīn, wa fil-jannati dākhilīn, wa minan-nāri nājīn.
"O Allah! Make us among those who are complete in faith, who fulfill their obligatory duties, who safeguard their prayers, who pay the zakat, who seek what is with You, who hope for Your forgiveness, who adhere to guidance, who turn away from vain talk, who are ascetic in this worldly life, who desire the Hereafter, who are pleased with Your decree, who are thankful for Your favors, who are patient under trials, who walk under the banner of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the Day of Resurrection, who arrive at the Reservoir (al-Hawd), who enter Paradise, and who are saved from the Hellfire."
4. The Witr Prayer (Salāt al-Witr)
Following Tarawih, it is prescribed to conclude the night prayers with Witr. Witr is typically performed as 3 raka'at (offered as 2 raka'at followed by a final 1 raka'at).
A. Intentions for Witr
First 2 Raka'at:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةً مِنَ الوِتْرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Uṣallī sunnatan minal-witri rak‘atayni lillāhi ta‘ālā.
"I intend to pray two raka'at from the Sunnah Witr prayer for Allah the Almighty."
Final 1 Raka'at:
أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الوِتْرِ رَكْعَةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Uṣallī sunnatal-witri rak‘atan lillāhi ta‘ālā.
"I intend to pray one raka'at of the Sunnah Witr prayer for Allah the Almighty."
B. Supplication After Witr Prayer
Upon concluding the Witr prayer, it is recommended to repeat the following invocation three times:
سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ القُدُّوسِ
Subḥānal-malikil-quddūs. (Recited 3 times)
"Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy."
Followed by the supplication for forgiveness and pleasure:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، لاَ أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
Allāhumma innī a‘ūdhu bi-riḍāka min sakhaṭik, wa bi-mu‘āfātika min ‘uqūbatik, wa a‘ūdhu bika mink, lā uḥṣī thanā’an ‘alayk, anta kamā athnayta ‘alā nafsik.
"O Allah! I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise; You are as You have praised Yourself."
— Sunan an-Nasa'i (1748) & Sunan Abi Dawud (1427)
Conclusion
The Tarawih and Witr prayers serve as spiritual pillars during Ramadan, providing a opportunity to connect with the Qur'an and engage in nightly devotion. Whether performing 8 or 20 raka'at, maintaining focus (khushu'), proper composure, and sincerity remains the core objective of the prayer.
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