How to pray Tarawih
Tarawih (literally 'intervals of rest') is the nightly congregational prayer of Ramadan. It is a sunnah mu'akkadah, a strongly-recommended tradition of the Prophet ﷺ. Most congregations pray 20 rak'ahs (with short rests after every 4), though 8 is also well-attested and increasingly common. The Prophet ﷺ led the community in tarawih for a few nights, then stopped out of fear it would become obligatory. 'Umar later re-established it as congregation and the community has prayed it ever since.
After Isha and before Fajr, during Ramadan only
Aloud, in 2-rak'ah units. Often long recitations, the imam typically completes the Qur'an over the month.
8 or 20 rak'ahs, depending on the school
Usually prayed in congregation immediately after the Isha fard. Can be prayed alone at home if the mosque congregation isn't an option.
Step by step
Every section below is one position in the prayer. Read top to bottom, then repeat for each rakaʿa.
Prayed in pairs of 2 rakaʿāt with a salām between each pair (8 or 20 total) during Ramadan. The flow below covers one pair.
- Intention before the prayerNiyyah
After performing wuḍū' (ablution), stand straight on your feet, turn to the qiblah, and make the following intention in your heart:
"For the sake of Allah, I intend to pray the farḍ of Tarāwīḥ, the obligatory Tarāwīḥ prayer, consisting of 2 rakaʿāt."
The intention is made silently in the heart. Voicing it is not required.
- The opening takbirTakbir
Raise your hands and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
The prayer begins. After this, fold your hands.
- Dua Sana· 1st rakʿa onlyQiyām
Place your right hand over your left and say silently:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānak-Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārak-asmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 1st rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 1st rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Stand up for the 2nd rakʿaTakbir
Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Final tashahhudTashahhud
Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt:
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
- Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah· Durood on the Prophet ﷺTashahhud
ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد. ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
- Final duaTashahhud
Make any sincere dua. A widely-recited one:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة، وَفِي ٱلْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
- The closing salāmSalām
Turn your head to the right and say the salām, then to the left and say it again:
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰه
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
The prayer is complete.
A note on variants. Recitations follow the most widely shared Sunnah wording. Some madhabs use slightly different phrasing for Dua Sana, At-Taḥiyyāt, the closing dua, or hand placement during qiyām. All authentic variants are valid, pray in the way your local imam teaches.
What makes Tarawih distinct
- 1
Only prayed during the nights of Ramadan, between Isha and Fajr.
- 2
Prayed in 2-rak'ah units. Salam after every 2 rak'ahs.
- 3
Count is 8 or 20 rak'ahs based on madhab. Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali generally pray 20. Some follow 8 based on 'A'ishah's narration.
- 4
Recited aloud by the imam. Imams typically divide the Qur'an into 30 nightly portions (one juz per night).
- 5
Short rests (tarawih literally means rests) are taken after every 4 rak'ahs.
- 6
Followed by Witr at the end of the night.
FAQs about Tarawih
Is tarawih obligatory?+
No. It is a sunnah mu'akkadah, a strongly-confirmed Prophetic practice. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever prays during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins are forgiven. Sahih al-Bukhari 37.
Should I pray 8 or 20?+
Both are valid. The 20-rak'ah count is the majority practice from the time of 'Umar onward. The 8-rak'ah count is supported by 'A'ishah's description of the Prophet's ﷺ own night prayer. Follow your local imam or pray what your school recommends.
Can I pray tarawih at home?+
Yes. If you cannot attend the mosque, pray at home alone or with family. The congregational reward is greater but not the only path.
How long do tarawih prayers take?+
Depends on the imam's recitation. A mosque that completes one juz per night and prays 20 rak'ahs usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. Shorter services take 30 to 45 minutes.
Is witr prayed after tarawih?+
Yes. The community prays tarawih first, then a few minutes of dua, then 3 rak'ahs of witr. If you leave early, pray witr at home before sleeping (or before Fajr).
Can women pray tarawih in the mosque?+
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ permitted women to attend night congregations with proper hijab and without perfume.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.