Tarawih

From Freepedia

Tarawih (تراويح) is an Arabic phrase referring to extra prayers given at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers consist of (8-) 20 raka'ahs. It is normal to attempt to recite the whole of the Qur'an during Ramadan. This is done by reciting one juzu each night or in each tarawih by dividing the juzu into several ayat recited in one raka'ah. Tarawih can be performed at home if one cannot attend the mosque one day. If someone does not know how to read Qu'ran or cannot read it very good, he/she can recite Surahs that he/she knows.

Tarawih was originally instituted by Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Sunni Caliph. Several hadith reports say that the Prophet Muhammad often offered these prayers during Ramadan.

The Shi'a do not perform Tarawih.