Tarawih

Tarawih, also known as Taraweeh, are special Sunnah prayers involving reading long portions of the Quran, as well as performing many rakahs (cycles of movement involved in Islamic prayer).
Name variations
Indonesian, Malay: salat tarawih, solat tarawih
Kurdish: نوێژی تەڕاویح, romanized: nwéjī tarâwīḥ
romanized Taroveh
Tamil : தராவிஹ்
Overview
Tarawih prayers begin from the first Moon-sighted evening (start of Ramadan) to second Moon-sighted evening (last day of Ramadan). This prayer is performed in congregation during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar, after Isha (and before Witr, which is also prayed following the imam who leads the prayer aloud in one or three rakats unlike how it is done in other eleven months).
Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs. According to the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi' and Hanbali schools of Sunni Islam, the standard number of rakats is twenty referring it to a narration in Muwatta' Imam Malik which said that "In the time of Umar, the people used to offer 20 raka'āt". But it is clearly mentioned in the Muwatta' before the said narration that when Umar assigned duty to Ubay ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari to lead the Tarawih, he ordered them to offer 11 raka'āt (8 of tarawih and 3 of witr). Sunni Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a takmil ("complete recitation" of the Quran) as one of the religious observances of ramadan, by reciting at least one juz' per night in tarawih.
Tarawih prayers are considered Sunnah, or in other words, not obligatory. However, it is believed that the reward for them is great, as it is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, being reported in multiple authentic Hadiths.
Muhammad is reported to have said, "Whoever stands with the imam (in Taraweeh prayer) until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer." This hadith was used as a proof by Imam Ahmad.
Background
The Sunni prayer Tarawih has been mentioned in traditions as Qiyam al-Layl min Ramadan ("Standing of night in Ramadan") and Qiyam al-Ramadan ("Standing of Ramadan"). Some Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as confirmed traditional prayer (sunnat al-mu'akkadah). Other Sunni Muslims believe Tarawih is an optional prayer (nafl) that may be performed at home. According to this tradition Muhammad initially and briefly prayed the Tarawih in congregation during Ramadan, but discontinued this practice out of concern it would be mandated (fard), yet he never forbade it. During the time when Umar was the caliph, he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation.
Shia Muslims regard Tarawih as "innovation" (bid‘ah), re-introduced after the death of Muhammad by Umar ibn al-Khattab, according to his own words.
A Shia hadith, however, is claimed to have authenticated Sunni prayer Taraweeh but this is disputed since not all hadiths in Al Kafi are sahih:
Muhammad al-Bukhari narrated regarding the Tarawih prayer in Sahih al-Bukhari:
Instead, Twelvers believe in the Tahajjud prayer or Salat al-Layl ("night prayer"), which is recommended throughout the year, especially during the nights of Ramadan.
Other
On 3 January 2000, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has expressed regret that tarawih prayers are being made use of by certain people for political gains.
On 2 April 2022, hundreds of Muslims gathered in Times Square to perform the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadhan. Over 1,500 meals were handed out to the people, before the prayers, to break their fast; known as iftar. This event marked the first Tarawih prayers held in Times Square, publicly.
See also
All-night vigil in Orthodox Christianity
References
Further reading
John L. Esposito: The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press US 2004 p. 276
External links
Fasting in Islam
Salah
Ramadan
Salah terminology