Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Assalam O Alaikum ,

I  would like to know the significance of Taraweeh during the blessed month of Ramadan. Is there a difference between the way Taraweeh is offered by men and women? Could you please elaborate on how a woman should  perform Taraweeh prayer  to attain maximum blessings during this sacred month.

Thank you for taking the time out to reading and answering this question. Your help and knowledge is much appreciated.

Jazak ALLAH kherun!

Wa Alaikum As salaam,

The Taraweeh Salaah in the month of Ramadhan is one which brings about a great amount of blessings, and is the ideal way of establishing the month of Ramadhan with worship. For those who establish the nights of Ramadhan with the Taraweeh  Salaah, they are given glad tidings of the forgiveness from Allah. In this regard, the Prophet(SAS) is reported to have said, ‘Whoever stands in the month of Ramadhan with firm faith and hope of receiving rewards, all his previous sins shall be forgiven’. (Sahih Al Bukhari)

On account of the continuous practice of the Prophet (SAS) and his blessed teachings, the Fuqaha (Jurists) have stated that the Taraweeh Salaah is Sunnah Al Mu’akadah for both men and women. Therefore, women are also required to perform the Taraweeh Salaah just as men are required to do it. If it is left out without a valid excuse (acceptable in the Shariah), then one will be sinful for being negligent in fulfilling an emphasized Sunnah of the month of Ramadhan.

In the performance of Taraweeh salaah, there is no difference between men and women. This means that just as men will perform 20 rakaats of Taraweeh, so too, women will perform the same amount. The Taraweeh will be performed in two rakaats with a short pause after every four.

It will be performed after Isha Salaah but before the witr Salaah. The same is applicable to females. There is however, the difference in certain postures adopted by women in Salaah. Women must take note of these differences and perform all salaah, while adopting postures which are for females.

As emphasized by the Prophet (SAS), the best place for the Salaah of a woman is her home. She gets the most amount of blessings and rewards when she performs Salaah (including Taraweeh) in the privacy of her home. In this regard, the Prophet (SAS) is reported to have said, ‘The best place for Salah for Women is the inner most part of their homes’. (Hakim in his Mustadrak).

Therefore, in order to gain the maximum rewards, a woman is encouraged to perform the Taraweeh Salaah at home. While performing Salaah, the Prophet (s.a.w) has emphasized that one should do it with calmness, full devotion and concentration and in the best manner. One must understand that one is speaking to Allah, Who is looking at the worshipper. The standing, bowing and prostrating postures must be done in a calm manner and in the best way with full devotion. One must not do the salah fast and in haste. The Prophet (s.a.w) instructed us by saying, ‘When you come to salah, then do so with calmness, peace and tranquility”. (Sahih Bukhari). While reciting Quran and tasbeeh and the other recitals in salah, one must not make haste in reciting, but should pay attention to what is being recited, and do so in a proper manner. In a nutshell, salah requires one’s full concentration and devotion, together with humility and submission to Allah. If one’s salah is performed in this manner, then one will not only receive the greatest amount of rewards for it, but it will be the most enjoyable thing that a person can experience.

And Allah Knows Best

Mufti Waseem Khan

18/05/2017