Tarabeeh is indeed a highly revered prayer in Ramadan, and its significance goes beyond just the act of prayer. The word "Tarabeeh" itself comes from the Arabic root word "raaha," which means rest or relaxation, reflecting the peaceful and rewarding nature of the prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time.”
As you mentioned, Tarabeeh is performed after the obligatory Isha prayer during the blessed month of Ramadan. It holds a unique place because, while it is not obligatory, it is a strongly recommended Sunnah (voluntary practice) that holds great reward. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized its importance by saying:
"He who observes optional prayer (Tarabeeh prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of faith and in the hope of earning reward, will have his past sins pardoned."(Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
How many rakats are in Tarabeeh?
Among various Mazhab of thought, such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali, people generally perform 20 rak'ahs for Tarabeeh. However, during the time of Umar (RA), it is known that 11 rak'ahs were performed. Ubayy ibn Ka'b and Tamim al-Dari were entrusted with leading the prayer, which consisted of 8 rak'ahs of Tarabeeh and 3 rak'ahs of Bitr.
It is customary among Sunni Muslims to try to recite one Juz (one para) of the Quran during Tarabeeh prayer in Ramadan. The goal is to complete the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan, which is part of the effort for religious and spiritual development.
It can be said that, although there are differences of opinion regarding the number of rak'ahs in Tarabeeh prayer, the goal remains the same—to attain closeness to Allah and understand the message of the Quran.
How to Pray Tarabeeh:
- Pray the 4 Rak'ahs Farz of Isha (Obligatory Isha Prayer): Start with the Farz(obligatory) 4 rak'ahs of Isha, which are required for every Muslim to pray each night. This is the foundation before performing Tarabeeh.
- Pray the 2 Rak'ahs Sunnah of Isha (Voluntary Sunnah Prayer): After the Farz Isha prayer, offer the Sunnah prayer, which consists of 2 rak'ahs. This is recommended but not obligatory.
- Set Your Intention to Pray Tarabeeh (Qiyam al-Lail): After the Sunnah, make the intention in your heart to perform Tarabeeh prayer. This is important to ensure that the prayer is performed for the sake of Allah and with sincerity.
- Pray the First 4 Rak'ahs of Tarabeeh (2 Rak'ahs at a Time): Begin Tarabeeh with 2 rak'ahs and complete 4 rak'ahs in total (2 sets of 2 rak'ahs). After each 2 rak'ahs, you may pause briefly for rest or reflection if needed.
- Take a Short Break After Every 4 Rak'ahs: After completing the first set of 4 rak'ahs, you can take a short break to rest, make supplications (du'a), or reflect. This break is beneficial, especially after praying a significant number of rak'ahs.
- Pray Another 4 Rak'ahs of Tarabeeh: After the break, continue by praying another set of 4 rak'ahs (again in sets of 2 rak'ahs). You can repeat this process as many times as needed.
- Rest: As with the earlier breaks, after completing another set of 4 rak'ahs, take another short break to rest, reflect, or make dua.
- Complete the Remaining Rak'ahs Until You Reach 8 or 20 Rak'ahs: Depending on your local mosque tradition or personal preference, you can either end Tarabeeh here after 8 rak'ahs (2 sets of 4 rak'ahs), or continue praying until you reach 8 or 20 rak'ahs. The practice of 20 rak'ahs is the most common in many mosques and is based on the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions.
- End the Night with the Bitr Prayer: Finally, conclude the night prayer with the Bitr prayer, which is an odd-numbered prayer (usually 1 rak'ah). The Witr prayer is a significant prayer to end the night on a note of sincerity and devotion.