Taraweeh

Tarawih (Arabic: تراويح‎‎) refers to extra prayers performed by Sunni Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 08/12/20 raka‘āt according to the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools of Sunni Islam. A break is taken after every 4(2+2) raka‘āt. This prayer is performed only during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar after salat of Isha the last Tarawih prayers is only on Second to last day of Ramadan . Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a khatm "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 optional, not obligatory.

In all the Sunni hadith scriptures, the prayer Tarawih has been mentioned as Qiyamul Layl min Ramadan (Standing of night in Ramadan) and Qiyam-ar-Ramadan (Standing of Ramadan). Some Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as Sunnat Mu'akkadah; however it was not performed by Muhammad regularly in congregation so that view is not valid. Other Sunni Muslims believe tarawih is an optional prayer that may be performed at home. According to this tradition, Muhammad initially and briefly prayed the tarawih in congregation during Ramadan, but rejected this practice, as evidenced in Ahadith. During the time when Umar was the caliph, he reinstated the praying of Tarawih in congregation.

The Shia view differs among the three main schools of thought, Ismaili, Twelvers and Zaydis. Alevi Muslims in Turkey, Twelvers and Ismailies have no Tarawih prayer and see it as bid‘ah (بدعة) introduced after the death of Muhammad.

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Wikipedia