The intention to perform tarawih prayer is an important part of worship in the month of Ramadan. Performing tarawih prayer is very much a sunnah. The opportunity to perform tarawih prayer is only in the month of Ramadan. The reward is also very great. Apart from that, tarawih is a means of getting closer to Allah. You can perform tarawih prayer alone or in congregation. Many Muslims choose to pray in congregation at the mosque. However, if you are unable to do so, you can also perform tarawih prayers at home. So, how do you recite the intention for tarawih prayers? What is the difference between praying alone and in congregation? Check out the following explanation.
Definition of Tarawih Prayer
Taraweeh prayer is a night prayer that is performed specifically during the month of Ramadan. The word “tarawih” comes from Arabic, it is the plural form of “tarwihah”, which means “rest once”. Why is it called ‘tarawih’? Because there is a break between the prayer units. Tarawih prayer is done for two units of prayer. Then, continue praying for another two units of prayer. The number of units varies. Some pray eight units, others 20 units. After that, witr prayer closes the tarawih prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays at night in the month of Ramadan with faith and full of hope, their past sins will be forgiven” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). This hadith shows the great virtue of praying tarawih. Each rak’ah is full of blessings and forgiveness.
Read also: Hajat Prayer: Its Virtues, Procedures, and Prayers After Prayer
Intention for Taraweeh Prayer Alone
If performing taraweeh prayer alone, the intention is quite simple. The following is the intention for taraweeh prayer alone:
أُصَلِّيْ سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“Ushalli sunnatat tarawihi rak’ataini lillahi ta’ala.”
It means: “I intend to pray the two-rakah tarawih sunnah for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”
The companion can read the intention in his heart before takbiratul ihram. Then perform the prayer with devotion and sincerity.
Intention of praying tarawih in congregation
Islam strongly encourages congregational tarawih prayers. Prophet Muhammad also performed it with his companions. The following is the recitation of the intention to pray tarawih in congregation:
أُصَلِّيْ سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مَأْمُوْمًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“Ushalli sunnatat tarawihi rak’ataini ma’muman lillahi ta’ala.”
It means: “I intend to pray the two-rakah tarawih sunnah as a follower for the sake of Allah.”
If the Companion wants to be the imam in the tarawih prayer, the intention is slightly different, as follows:
أُصَلِّيْ سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِمَامًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“Ushalli sunnatat tarawihi rak’ataini imaaman lillahi ta’ala.”
It means: “I intend to pray the two-rakah sunnah tarawih as an imam for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”
Read also: 4 Practices After the Fajr Prayer That You Don’t Want to Miss
Shariah Foundation for Taraweeh Prayer
In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty says, “And get up some of the night and pray tahajud as an additional act of worship for you. May your Lord raise you to a praiseworthy place.” (Surah Al-Isra: 79)
Based on the interpretation of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, on some nights, especially the last third of the night, wake up to perform tahajud prayer as an additional form of worship for you, O Prophet Muhammad. May your Lord lift you to a praiseworthy place, which is a great position when you intercede on the Day of Judgment.
Say also, O Prophet Muhammad, “O my Lord, put me in the right place in the right way, both in worldly and afterlife matters, and take me out in the right way, in worldly and afterlife matters. Give me from Your side the power to help me face my enemies.”
This verse relates to the event of the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina. It contains an order for the Prophet to ask Allah to enter Medina in the right way and to leave Mecca in the right way as well. There is also another interpretation that explains that the purpose of this verse is for us to enter the grave properly and to come out of it properly on the day of resurrection.
Interpretatively, the evidence of the verse QS. Al-Isra: 79 does describe night prayers in general, it can also be interpreted as praying tahajud. However, tarawih prayers are also included in the category of night prayers. Therefore, its virtue is very great.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever establishes prayer at night in Ramadan with full faith and hope for reward, will be forgiven for their past sins” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).
Therefore, it is a great loss if we do not perform tarawih prayer. Because we may not be able to enjoy the month of Ramadan again next year.
Read also: How to give sadaqah at Fajr?
The Procedure for Performing the Intention of Taraweeh Prayer
Taraweeh prayer has an easy procedure. Here is the sequence:
- Intention before takbiratul ihram.
- Takbiratul ihram.
- Recite Al-Fatihah and short surahs.
- Ruku’ and sujud.
- Salam after two rak’ahs.
- Repeat again up to 8 or 20 rak’ahs.
- Close with witr prayer for three rak’ahs.
Usually, some mosques perform tarawih prayer for 20 rak’ahs. However, when performed at home, some people choose only 8 rak’ahs. Both are allowed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did both.
The Virtue of Tarawih Prayer and Reading the Intention of Tarawih Prayer
Taraweeh prayer has many virtues, including erasing past sins, becoming a way to attain God’s forgiveness, drawing closer to God, and perfecting the worship of fasting. Taraweeh is not just physical worship, but also a time to reflect and improve oneself.
Read also: Prayer of Repentance, a Step Towards a Clean Heart and Allah’s Forgiveness
Prayer After Taraweeh Prayer
After finishing the taraweeh prayer, friends can recite the following prayer:
Allâhummaj’alnâ bil îmâni kâmilîn. Wa lil farâidli muaddîn. Wa lish-shlâti hâfidhîn. Wa liz-zakâti fâ’ilîn. Wa lima ‘indaka thâlibîn. Wa li ‘afwika rajîn. Wa bil-hudâ mutamassikîn. Wa ‘anil laghwi mu’ridlîn. Wa fid-dunyâ zâhdîn. Wa fil ‘âkhirati râghibîn. Wa bil-qadlâ’I râdlîn. Wa lin na’mâ’I syâkirîn. Wa ‘alal balâ’i shâbirîn.
Wa tahta liwâ’i muhammadin shallallâhu ‘alaihi wasallam yaumal qiyâmati sâ’irîna wa alal haudli wâridîn. Wa ilal jannati dâkhilîn. Wa minan nâri nâjîn. Wa ‘alâ sariirl karâmati qâ’idîn. Wa bi hûrun ‘in mutazawwijîn. Wa min sundusin wa istabraqîn wadîbâjin mutalabbisîn. Wa min tha’âmil jannati âkilîn. Wa min labanin wa ‘asalin mushaffan syâribîn. Bi akwâbin wa abârîqa wa ka’sin min ma’în. Ma’al ladzîna an’amta ‘alaihim minan nabiyyîna wash shiddîqîna wasy shuhadâ’i wash shâlihîna wa hasuna ulâ’ika rafîqan.
Dâlikal fadl-lu minallâhi wa kafâ billâhi ‘alîman. Allâhummaj’alnâ fî hâdzihil lailatisy syahrisy syarîfail mubârakah minas su’adâ’il maqbûlîn. Wa lâ taj’alnâ minal asyqiyâ’il mardûdîn. Wa shallallâhu ‘alâ sayyidinâ muhammadin wa âlihi wa shahbihi ajma’în. Birahmatika yâ arhamar râhimîn wal hamdulillâhi rabbil ‘âlamîn.
Meaning
“O Allah, make us people of perfect faith, who fulfill obligations, who keep up the prayer, who pay zakat, who seek what is with You, who hope for Your forgiveness, who hold on to guidance, who turns away from falsehood, who is austere in the world, who enjoys the hereafter, who is content with Your qadla (Your provisions), who is grateful for favors, who is patient in all misfortunes,
who is under the banner of our great leader, the Prophet Muhammad, on the Day of Judgment, who visits the pool (of the Prophet Muhammad), who enters Paradise, who survived the fires of hell, who sits on the bed of glory, who marries the angels, who wears various silks, who eats the food of heaven, who drinks milk and pure honey with glasses, cups, and bowls with the people whom You favor from among the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
They are the best of friends. That is the favor (blessing) of Allah, and it is sufficient that Allah is All-Knowing. O Allah, make us on this glorious and blessed night among the happy and accepted, and do not make us among the wretched and rejected. May Allah bestow His mercy upon our master Muhammad, as well as upon all his family and companions. Blessed are You, O Most Merciful of the merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. (See Sayyid Uthman bin Yahya, Maslakul Akhyar, Al-‘Aidrus Press, Jakarta)
Read also: Paying Zakat Fitrah at the Beginning of Ramadan, Makruh? Here are the 5 Times of Payment
Competing in Goodness
Taraweeh prayer is a special worship during the month of Ramadan. The intention to pray Taraweeh is a condition of validity before starting. Both praying alone and in congregation have their virtues. Make sure you read the intention correctly, and perform this special worship wholeheartedly. The month of Ramadan is a month full of blessings. It is a special month for competing in worship and saving for charity. You can also perform the practices of almsgiving and zakat with Dompet Dhuafa. May this Ramadan bring blessings to us all.
