Taraweeh ( تراويح ) Prayers

During the month of Ramadhan it is tradition that Iftar (dinner) parties are thrown every evening around sun down to break the days fast with ones family and neighbors. After Iftar the men retreat to the Mosque and women to prayer rooms to begin their Maghrib prayers. (Maghrib is the 4th required liturgical prayer of the day for Muslim’s.) Later in the evening, well after sundown, there is another Adhan (call to prayer) from the Mosque loud speaker for the Eish’a prayers.

Eish’a is the 5th and final (required) liturgical prayer of the day. During the month of Ramadhan there are special prayers that proceed directly after the Eish’a prayers. These prayers are called Taraweeh ( تراويح ) and they require almost two hours for their completion every night. During Taraweeh prayers the congregation of the Mosque is lead by a Hafeez (One who has committed the entire Qur’an to their memory). The Hafeez will recite and take them through the entire Qur’an in Arabic during these thirty days according to Juz’ (جزء ). Juz’, being the Qur’an broken up into 30-parts to be read during the 30 days of Ramadhan. During the Juz’ recitation Sunni Muslim’s normally perform 20 Rak’at’s ( ركعات ) in pairs of two Rak’at’s with a short rest in between.

The completion of one Rak’ah looks a little like this:

Standing in prayer, one gives his/her Niyat (Intention before God) then he/she lift’s their hands to their ears and proclaims, "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great!) After reciting a few prayers, everyone recites the first Surah of the Qur’an while in a standing position with their hands interlocked over their stomachs (hands interlocked over breasts for women). From this position one will bow while standing and proclaim 3x, "Subham arab biyal’ajim!" (Glory to our Lord the Great!) After this, one will stand upright again proclaiming "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great!) Then the Imam (Prayer Leader/Priest) will say, "Sammi Allahu liman Hamidah" (God has heard all those who praise Him) at this, the congregation will together in unison say, "Rabbana lakal Hamd!" (Our Lord: Praise be to thee!) and at once, all-together bow all the way to the ground with their forehead’s touching the floor in Sajdah (Prostration). While prostrated with ones head to the ground one will proclaim 3x, "Subhan arrab biyal a’la!" (Glory to our Lord the Most High!) After this one will assume a sitting position with ones feet under him/her. From this position other prayers (parts of the Qur’an) will be recited and then the worshipper will return to Sajdah (Prostration) where he/she will recite again 3x, "Subhan arrab biyal a’la!" (Glory to our Lord the Most High!) When this is completed the worshipper will rise to his/her feet. At this, one Rak’ah has been completed. Thus, it is 20 of these Rak’at’s that are completed while reciting the Juz’ (parts) on a nightly basis to fulfill the requirements of the Sunnah (Law).

While some Sunnis might only do 8 or 12 Rak’at’s every night during Taraweeh, Shi’ah Muslim’s do not perform Taraweeh prayers at all. For Sunni Muslim’s this is Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (required according to the Law) and Jayez (That which is perfect in God’s eyes). For Shia’ah’s these Taraweeh prayers are seen as Bid’ah (Innovation), and therefore should not be followed. Thus making this one key contention between them.

Both the devout and laymen Sunni’s attend these prayers every year. In the Muslim community there is little that rivals the festivities and pride surrounding the fasting of Ramadhan and Taraweeh’s participation and completion.

It is my sincere prayer that all Muslim's praying Taraweeh, or any prayer during Ramadhan would be lead on the Siratul Mustaqeem (Straight Path). Straight into the arms of the Beloved!