Friday, September 14, 2007

How to Pray Taraweeh

Taraweeh prayer is prayed the same as Fajr prayer, and can be as many rakats as you like, as long as it is prayed 2 rakahs by 2 rakahs.

No Iqama (like the one you do for your 5 daily prayers) is said for Taraweeh.

Your intention at the beginning of the prayer is said silently, and you say: This is my intention to pray the sunnah prayer of Taraweeh.

It follows after Isha prayer and the Imam will call for the Taraweeh prayer, and you will pray the same as Fajr, following behind the Imam until the Imam completes the prayer. More info is available in the link below for guidance on following the Imam in prayer.

Normally the Quran is read, surah by surah, by the Imam in Taraweeh so that it is completed by the end of Ramadan.


Questions and Answers on Taraweeh
Question:Should we read the opening du’aa’ at the beginning of each two rak’ahs of taraaweeh prayers?.
Answer:Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, it is prescribed for you to recite the opening du’aa’ at the beginning of each two rak’ahs of taraaweeh prayer, and other naafil prayers, because of the general meaning of the evidence.
With regard to the opening du’aa’ in qiyaam al-layl in particular, the following words were narrated:
Laa illaha ill-Allaah (three times), Allaahu akbar (three times), Allaahu akbaru kabeera wa alhamdu Lillaahi katheera wa subhaan Allaahi bukratan wa aseela (There is no god but Allaah, Allaah is most Great, Allaah is most Great, much praise be to Allaah and glory be to Allaah at the beginning and end of the day).” A man from among the Sahaabah started his prayer with these words and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I was surpised, the gates of heaven have been opened for these words.”
Question:I wanted to know the difference between QIYYAM and TARAWIH.
Answer:Praise be to Allaah.
Salaat al-Taraaweeh is classified as part of qiyaam al-layl; they are not two different prayers, as many people think. Qiyaam al-layl during Ramadaan is called Taraaweeh because the salaf or early generations of Islam (may Allaah have mercy on them) used to rest (istaraahu) after every two or four rak’ahs, because they made their prayers long in order to make the most of this season of great reward. They were eager to earn the reward mentioned in the hadeeth: “Whoever stays up and prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 36). And Allaah knows best.
Question:Is there a difference between Witr prayer and the night prayer?.
Answer:Praise be to Allaah.
Witr prayer is part of the night prayer, but there is still a difference between them.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Witr is part of the night prayer, and it is Sunnah and it is the end of the night prayer, one rak’ah with which one concludes the night prayers at the end of the night, or in the middle of the night, or at the beginning of the night after ‘Isha’ prayer. You pray whatever you can, then you conclude it with one rak’ah. End quote.
Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 11/309

For more Info on Following the Imam in Prayer please click the link below:

http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=33790&ln=eng

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a question,
The niyyah for taraweeh prayer is as you said, This is my intention to pray the sunnah prayer of Taraweeh, my questions are, is this the only thing that has to be said? Do you have to say the same thing through out the whole prayer before every rakkat?
Thank You

Anonymous said...

No, this is the same type of statement of intention as before every prayer. Just say it once beffore youstart praying.

And allah knows best