How many rakats do most scholars follow?

The four schools are known for twenty rakats plus Witr, following the practice of Madinah under Umar; salafi-oriented scholars pray eleven or thirteen, following the Prophet’s ﷺ sunnah in the authentic collections. As shown above, the matter is broad.

Is Taraweeh obligatory or voluntary?

It is a confirmed sunnah, not obligatory; there is no sin in leaving it, and whoever performs it with faith and seeking reward is forgiven his past sins, as reported in Bukhari and Muslim.

What is the difference between Taraweeh and Tahajjud?

Taraweeh is the Ramadan qiyam while Tahajjud is night prayer in general; Taraweeh is a form of Tahajjud specific to Ramadan, which is why Ramadan night prayers are called taraweeh.

Can Taraweeh be prayed in congregation at home?

Yes, qiyam in congregation at home is permitted. For men, praying in the mosque is preferable for the greater reward and listening to the Quran with the congregation; women praying at home is established in the sunnah.

How Many Rakats in Taraweeh? Rulings and Number

What is Taraweeh and what is its ruling?

Taraweeh is the night prayer (qiyam) performed during the nights of Ramadan after the Isha prayer, named “taraweeh” because early Muslims rested between every two sets of rakats. Its ruling is a confirmed sunnah for the majority of scholars, based on the Prophet’s ﷺ words: “Whoever stands in Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will be forgiven his past sins” (Bukhari and Muslim), and on the Companions gathering for it in congregation under Umar ibn al-Khattab, which no Companion objected to. Its time runs from after Isha until dawn, and the last part of the night is best for those able.

How many rakats are in Taraweeh?

The Prophet ﷺ prayed eleven rakats: Aisha said, “He used to pray eleven rakats in Ramadan and at other times” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2013). Umar ibn al-Khattab later gathered the people upon twenty rakats following the qiyam of Ubayy ibn Ka’b, and the people of Madinah continued on it, so twenty became the well-known practice of the Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools. The matter is broad: night prayer has no fixed upper count, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Night prayer is two by two, and when dawn approaches, pray Witr” (Sahih al-Bukhari 993).

In short: praying 11, 20, or another odd count lands within the sunnah, and more brings more reward. The agreed position of the Muslims is that this difference should not become a cause of strife; the doors of voluntary worship are wide.

The ruling on following the imam to the end

A Muslim should complete the standing with the imam and leave with him. When Umar gathered the reciters to lead Ramadan qiyam, they prayed in separate congregations behind them, and he said: “What a fine innovation this is.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, a night of standing is written for him” (Tirmidhi 806, graded hasan-sahih). Even if sleep overcomes him while standing in the night, the full reward of standing is written for him, as reported in the authentic narrations.

Taraweeh and Witr

Witr is the last prayer of the night, and it is best as the seal of your qiyam, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Make the last of your prayers at night a witr” (Bukhari and Muslim). Whoever catches the imam’s Witr after Taraweeh has attained the sunnah; whoever wishes to stand and pray Witr later in the night may do so, since Witr may be repeated after sleep according to the majority of scholars.

Common mistakes in Taraweeh

Strife and splitting inside one mosque over the number of rakats, when the matter is broad as shown above.
Rushing so severely that a pillar or condition of the prayer is lost; the sunnah is calmness and a full tasbih in each position, as were the Prophet’s ﷺ prayers.
Skipping Ramadan qiyam entirely because the imam prays briefly, though reward is attained by intending qiyam even if it is short.
Neglecting the daytime sunnahs of Ramadan such as Quran recitation and charity, which strengthen the night prayer.

You can find Suhoor and Iftar times and everything about Ramadan in the Ramadan imsakia and the Islamic occasions article.

Frequently asked questions

How many rakats do most scholars follow?
The four schools are known for twenty rakats plus Witr, following the practice of Madinah under Umar; salafi-oriented scholars pray eleven or thirteen, following the Prophet’s ﷺ sunnah in the authentic collections. As shown above, the matter is broad.
Is Taraweeh obligatory or voluntary?
It is a confirmed sunnah, not obligatory; there is no sin in leaving it, and whoever performs it with faith and seeking reward is forgiven his past sins, as reported in Bukhari and Muslim.
What is the difference between Taraweeh and Tahajjud?
Taraweeh is the Ramadan qiyam while Tahajjud is night prayer in general; Taraweeh is a form of Tahajjud specific to Ramadan, which is why Ramadan night prayers are called taraweeh.
Can Taraweeh be prayed in congregation at home?
Yes, qiyam in congregation at home is permitted. For men, praying in the mosque is preferable for the greater reward and listening to the Quran with the congregation; women praying at home is established in the sunnah.