How many rakahs is taraweeh?

Why the numbers differ

Taraweeh is the night prayer (qiyam) of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ was once asked about the night prayer and said it is prayed as two rakahs at a time, and that if you fear the dawn is near, you end with one rakah as witr (Sahih al-Bukhari 990). He did not set a limit.

Aisha described how he usually prayed. She said that he never exceeded eleven rakahs in Ramadan or in other months, praying four, then four, then three (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147). Many Muslims follow this and pray 8 rakahs of taraweeh plus 3 of witr. Others follow the practice that became common in later generations, which is 20 rakahs plus witr. That is why you will see different counts in different mosques.

The common counts

• 8 rakahs plus witr (11 in total): based on Aisha's report. Often prayed with long recitation.
• 20 rakahs plus witr (23 in total): the common position of the Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, and the usual practice in Mecca. Often prayed at a steadier pace.
• 36 rakahs: the historical practice in Madinah, favored by the Maliki school.

Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night, usually 1 or 3 rakahs. Scholars respect all these counts, so no one should be criticized for praying more or fewer. See What is taraweeh and do I have to pray it?

What should a beginner do?

You don't need to memorize a number. Here are some simple guidelines:

• Go with what your mosque prays. Follow the imam, and stand and bow with him, even if you don't know the words yet.
• Stay until the end if you can. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, it is recorded for him as if he prayed the whole night (Jami at-Tirmidhi 806).
• It's fine to do less. If you are tired, new or fasting a long day, leave after 8 rakahs or after any set of two. You can pray witr at home before you sleep or before Fajr.
• At home, start small. Pray 2 or 4 rakahs with short surahs you know, and end with witr. See Can I pray taraweeh at home?

Quality over quantity

A calm 8 rakahs with understanding and presence may be better for your heart than 20 in a rush. Choose what you can do regularly all month. If a busy day or a big match tempts you to skip it altogether, see Can I skip taraweeh to watch a match?