Tarawih Prayer

The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan is a blessed month in which Muslims are generally exhorted to come up with as many optional activities as is possible for deeds  performed during this holy month. 

It is in appreciation of this that the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam traditionalized list for the Muslim Ummah a voluntary prayer to be performed during the nights of this month. This voluntary prayer is known as "Tarawih" or "Qiyaam".

The virtue of this prayer can be noted from the following saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam :

"Anybody who performs Tarawih prayer during the month of Ramadan with deep sense of belief and scrutiny will have his previous sins forgiven". (Reported by Imam Bukhari)

Indeed  the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam manifested the importance of this prayer by personally leading its initial congregation although he did not insist on its performance for fear it was made obligatory on the Ummah. 

The mother of the faithful Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:

"Many people perform Tarawih with the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  in the first night and many more in the second night. in the third night even a larger congregation attended the Masjid to perform the prayer with the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  but he did not go out for them. In the next morning the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  told them that I saw your assembly but nothing prohibited me from coming out to you except the fear that it be made obligatory upon you". (Reported by Imam At-Tirmidhi)

After the death of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  there was no longer any fear of this prayer been made obligatory and it was Caliph Umar who during his reign re-activated the performance of this prayer in congregation. 

Since then, the Ummah has practice this prayer in congregation but it is permissible for someone to perform it on individual basis, although much preference is given to performing it with the congregation as can be noted from the following saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

"Whoever prays Tarawih with the congregation till the Imam leaves will be rewarded as if he prayed the whole night". (Reported by Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi)

This prayer is performed in rakaats (units) of two each except the last rakaat which is always prayed oddly as one. It is confirmed that the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  used to perform eleven rakaats when praying Tarawih.