How To Pray Terawih - Step-by-Step Guide

 Praise be to Allah. 

One of the acts of worship that we all look forward to during Ramadan is the terawih prayer. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said: 

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيْمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ 

“Whoever stands (in worship) in Ramadan out of faith and hope for the rewards (from Allah), his past sins will be forgiven.” 

(Sahih Al-Bukhārī & Muslim)

The terawih prayer will begin right after the congregational Isyak prayer. Dedicated spaces for Muslimah will also be made available at most mosques.

Read: 5 Things You Need to Know About Terawih Prayer.

Want to refresh your memory on how to perform the terawih prayer? Here is a step-by-step guide that you can follow!

1. Establish the intention to perform terawih

Recite the intention for terawih prayer:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ التَراوِيحِ رَكعَتَينِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Usolli sunnata-taraawiihi rak'ataini lillah ta'ala

I intend to pray the Sunnah prayer of terawih two raka'at for Allah ta'ala

If you pray in a congregation, the intentions for terawih prayer are as follows. The one who is leading the prayer as an Imam would recite:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ التَراوِيحِ رَكعَتَينِ إِمَامًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Usolli sunnata-taraawiihi rak'ataini imaamam lillah ta'ala

I intend to pray the Sunnah prayer of terawih as the Imam two raka'at for Allah ta'ala

The Makmum (follower) will recite this intention:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ التَراوِيحِ رَكعَتَينِ مَأمُومًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Usolli sunnata-taraawiihi rak'ataini makmumam lillah ta'ala

I intend to pray the Sunnah prayer of terawih as the Makmum two raka'at for Allah ta'ala

The following illustrations will guide us in praying Jema’ah (in a congregation) at home:

Read: Guidelines for praying in a congregation.

2. Say the Takbiratul Ihram

Takbiratul Ihram is the act of entering the state of prayer. It is done by raising your hands such that your thumbs are on the same level as your earlobes and your palms are on the same level as your shoulder. 

Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ while keeping your intention in mind.

3. Place your right hand over your left hand and recite Dua Iftitah

Stand in prayer (for the able men and women). Upon giving the Takbir, lower your hands gently over your chest and put your right hand over your left. 

Recite the Dua Iftitah (opening dua) quietly only for the first raka’at:

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيْرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيْلًا .وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَالسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ . إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ

 ______

Allāhu Akbar Kabirā,
Walhamdulillāhi Kathīrā
Wa Subhānallāhi Bukratan Wa aṣīlā
Wajjahtu Wajhiya lillazi Fatras-Samāwāti wal-Ardh
Hanīfan Musliman Wa-mā ana minal-musyrikīn
Inna ṣalātī, wa-nusukī wa-mahyaya, wamamātī Lillāhi Rabbil-'ālamīn
Lā syarīka laHu wa bizālika umirtu wa ana minal muslimīn

______

Allah the Almighty, the Greatest
All praises be upon Him
Allah The Most Exalted, day and night
I stand before The One Who created the skies and the lands
I sincerely submit to Allah and I am certainly not among those who associate Allah with other beings
Indeed my Solat, my good deeds, my life and my death are all for Allah The Lord of all the worlds
He has no partner nor parallel whatsoever, and I have been ordered as such, and I am from those who embrace Islam (submits).

4. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah from the Quran

Once the Dua Iftitah is read, recite the Ta’awwudz (seeking Allah's refuge from the devil) quietly:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'uzu biLlāhi minash-shaytānir-rajim

I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan

And then read Surah Al-Fatihah: 

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ. الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ
الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ. مالِكِ يَومِ الدّينِ
إِيّاكَ نَعبُدُ وَإِيّاكَ نَستَعينُ
اهدِنَا الصِّراطَ المُستَقيمَ
صِراطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِم غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِم وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

  ______

Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm
Alḥamdulillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn
Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm
Māliki yawmid-dīn
iyyāKa naʿbudu wa-iyyāKa nastaʿīn
Ihdināṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
ṣirāṭallazīna anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa-lāḍḍāllīn

  ______

In the name of God The Most Compassionate and Merciful
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds
The Compassionate, The Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help
Guide us along the straight path
the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace
not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray
Amiin

Upon completing the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, you may read any memorised surah of your preference. For the second raka’at, it is encouraged to choose a verse that does not precede the first in the order of the Quran.

For example, you can read Surah Al-’Asr in the first raka’at and read Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second.

Here is a list of recommended surahs from page 34 of Contemporary Irsyad Series - Ramadan edition (English) by Office of the Mufti:

While there is no harm in reading the same surah again for the next raka’at, this Ramadan could be an opportunity to learn other beautiful surah and further increase our appreciation of the Quran, especially since there are so many benefits of reciting the Quran.

You may also opt to read from the Mushaf (physical copy of Quran), maybe a pocket Quran or Quran app.

5. Bend forward for Ruku’

Recite the Takbiratul Intiqal (Allahu Akbar) during the transition from standing to bending for Ruku’, while raising your hands just as previously explained in Takbiratul Ihram. Lower your hands gently to your knees as you move towards the Ruku’ position. 

Say three times, 

سُبحَانَ رَبِّيَ العَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Subhanna Rabbiyal-’azim wa bihamdiHi

Glory be to Allah, the Mighty, and praise be to He

6. Stand in the upright position - I’tidal

 After completing your Ruku’, return to the standing position while raising your hands just as in the Takbiratul Ihram position and recite during the transition:

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami’ Allahu liman hamida

Allah has heard the one who praised Him 

 Lower your hands gently. When you are in the complete upright position, recite:

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana walaKal-hamd

O Our Lord, to You are all the praises

7. Perform the first sujud

Go into prostration while saying the Takbiratul Intiqal (Allahu Akbar) without raising your hands. Let your knees touch the ground first, followed by your palms and then your forehead. While in the first Sujud, say three times: 

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Subhānna Rabbiyal-a’lā wa bihamdih

Glory be to my Lord The Most High, and praise be to He

8. Sit on your knees

In between the two Sujud, rise from prostration to a sitting position on your knees while saying the Takbiratul Intiqal without raising your hands. In the sitting position, say :

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاجْبُرْنِيْ وَارْفَعْنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ 

Rabbighfirlī warhamnī wajburnī warfa’nī warzuqnī wahdinī wa‘afinī wa’fu ‘annī 

O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, cover for me my shortcomings, elevate my rank, provide for me, guide me, grant me well-being, and pardon me

9. Perform the second sujud

 Afterwards, return to the prostration position to complete the second Sujud and repeat the recitation as mentioned previously. Upon fulfilling the mentioned integrals (arkān), we have completed the first raka’at.

10. Return to the standing position

Return to the standing position as you recite the Takbiratul Intiqal and repeat the steps from 4 to 9 again to fulfil the second raka’at.

11. Recite the final Tasyahhud

At the end of your 2nd raka'at, sit on your left leg while the left foot is placed and briefly exposed below your right leg. Keep your right foot upright just as in the picture shown above. Complete the prayer by reciting the final Tasyahhud; 

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ ِللهِ. اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ 

“At-tahiyyātul mubārakatuṣ-ṣalawātuth ṭayyibātu lillāh. Assalāmu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuhu. Assalāmu ‘alainā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣālihīn.

 Raise your right index finger. And say:

أَشْهدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ

Asyhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasuulullāh

 Continue with the selawat: 

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ علَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ 

Allahumma ṣalli 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'alā āli Muhammad, kamā ṣallaita 'ala 'āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Hamīdun Majīd. Allahumma bārik 'alā Muhammadin, wa 'alā āli Muhammad, kamā bārakta 'alā āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Hamīdun Majīd

O Allah, bestow your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you bestowed your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praised and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praised and Glorious

12. End with the salam

Turn your head to both of your sides, starting from the right, such that your cheek can be seen by anyone behind you, and say 

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ الله

Assalamu alaykum wa-rahmatullah

Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you

By giving the salam, we have therefore completed one set of terawih prayer. 

Each terawih prayer consists of two raka’at. If you intend to pray 8 raka'at of terawih prayer, do 4 sets of 2 raka'at. If you intend to do 20 raka'at of terawih prayer, do 10 sets of terawih Prayer. 

Read: How to Pray in Islam: Step-By-Step Guide to Solat for Beginners

13. Do the witr prayer

After completing the terawih prayer, it is encouraged to end the night with the witr prayer. Witr can also be performed after completing Qiyam al-Layl which refers to other supererogatory (sunnah) prayers that are done towards the end of the night or after waking up from sleep. This was mentioned by the Prophet s.a.w.:

“Make the last of your prayers at night the witr prayer."

(Sahih Bukhari)

Witr prayer should be performed in an odd number of raka'at and is usually done in 3 raka'at. This is done by performing two raka’at of the same steps mentioned with the salam, and then followed by one raka’at with the salam to complete the three raka’at of the Witr prayer. The maximum number of raka’at for the sunnah witr prayer is 11 raka’at.

14. Read recommended zikir and supplications

There are supplications that are often read in mosques after every terawih prayer. However, if you do not read them, it does not invalidate the prayer. Nonetheless, reciting them is definitely encouraged. (Read Page 36 of Contemporary Irsyad Series - Ramadan edition)

What is important for us is to make full use of this blessed time and position to sincerely supplicate to Allah s.w.t. and express our love, hope, fear, regret, heart and soul to The One Who Hears, is Kind and Most Merciful to His servants.

However, it is understandable that we sometimes find it hard to think of what to dua. For the supplications that are often read after terawih and witr prayers, you may refer to this list of beautiful duas for Ramadan.

May this step-by-step guide on how to perform the terawih prayer benefit us. May this Ramadan be a more meaningful one, and may Allah s.w.t. accept our humble deeds. Ameen.

Allah knows best.

There are many benefits of praying in a congregation. To get your terawih questions answered, Ustaz Irwan Hadi, together with Ms Marina Yusoff and her family, share how you can do your terawih prayer at home: