Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

bhai what is the meaning of the word Taraweeh? what is the purpose of Taraweeh?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Literal meaning of tarawih

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘tarawih’ is derived from the root word ‘rauh’ or ‘raha’ which basically means to take a rest. Because it is customary to take a small break or rest halfway through these extra voluntary prayers of the nights of Ramadan, it came to be called and recognized as the ‘tarawih’ prayers so as to distinguish them from other voluntary night prayers.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) would encourage people to perform the special night prayers during Ramadan (tarawih) without commanding them as obligatory and he (saws) said: "Whoever prays during the nights of Ramadan [tarawih] with a firm belief and hoping for reward, all of his previous sins would be forgiven."

At the time of the Prophet (saws), the prayers which we recognize as ‘tarawih’ today were not called ‘tarawih’ prayers, but rather they formed a part of the voluntary ‘qiyaam-ul-layl’ (standing in prayer at night) prayers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan