Taraweeh Prayer Niyyah, Dua and Munajat: Arabic, Meaning, Method

When Ramadan arrives, mosques fill with worshippers for Taraweeh. Many people then ask how to make the Taraweeh niyyah, which dua to recite after every four rak'ahs, and when to make the munajat (closing supplication). This guide gives the Taraweeh intention, the popular dua and the munajat in Arabic with transliteration and meaning. It also explains which of these are established in hadith and which are simply customary, so you can practise with understanding.

For whether your fast is valid without Taraweeh, its history and the number of rak'ahs in detail, see our article "Is Your Fast Valid Without Taraweeh?". Here the focus is on the intention, duas, munajat and the method of praying.

What Taraweeh is and its virtue

Taraweeh means "rests". The prayer takes its name from the short rest taken after every four rak'ahs. It is prayed every night of Ramadan after the fard and sunnah of Isha and before Witr. Most scholars consider it an emphasised sunnah (sunnah muakkadah) for both men and women.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever stands in prayer at night in Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari 37). During the caliphate of Umar (RA), people were gathered behind one imam for Taraweeh in congregation, a practice that continues today (Bukhari, Book of Tarawih).

The Taraweeh niyyah: Arabic, transliteration and meaning

First, one point should be clear: niyyah is the resolve of the heart. If you know in your mind "I am praying two rak'ahs of Taraweeh", the intention is made. Saying it aloud in Arabic is not required. Many people are used to saying it, though, so the common Arabic wording is given below.

Arabic niyyah:

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ التَّرَاوِيْحِ سُنَّةُ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيْفَةِ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Transliteration: Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi ta'ala rak'atay salatit-taraweehi sunnatu rasulillahi ta'ala mutawajjihan ila jihatil-ka'batish-sharifah, Allahu akbar.

Meaning: I intend to pray, for Allah, two rak'ahs of the Taraweeh prayer, a sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, facing the noble Ka'bah. Allahu akbar.

Making the intention in your own language

If you are not comfortable with the Arabic, you can simply resolve in your heart: "I am praying two rak'ahs of Taraweeh sunnah behind this imam, facing the qiblah. Allahu akbar." If praying alone, leave out "behind this imam". What matters is knowing in your heart which prayer you are praying.

How to pray Taraweeh: step by step

1. Complete the four rak'ahs fard and two rak'ahs sunnah of Isha.
2. Make the intention for two rak'ahs of Taraweeh and say the opening takbir.
3. Pray like any two-rak'ah sunnah prayer, reciting al-Fatihah and another surah or verses in each rak'ah.
4. End with salam after two rak'ahs, and continue two rak'ahs at a time.
5. Rest briefly after every four rak'ahs; you may do dhikr, send salawat or recite Quran.
6. After 8 or 20 rak'ahs, pray Witr.

The popular dua after every four rak'ahs

Many mosques in Bangladesh recite this tasbih after every four rak'ahs.

Arabic:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوْتِ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْجَبَرُوْتِ، سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِيْ لَا يَنَامُ وَلَا يَمُوْتُ، سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ

Transliteration: Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut, subhana dhil-'izzati wal-'azamati wal-haybati wal-qudrati wal-kibriya'i wal-jabarut, subhanal-malikil-hayyil-ladhi la yanamu wa la yamut, subbuhun quddusun rabbuna wa rabbul-mala'ikati war-ruh.

Meaning: Glory be to the Owner of the dominion and the kingdom; glory be to the Possessor of might, greatness, awe, power, grandeur and majesty; glory be to the Living King who neither sleeps nor dies; most glorious, most holy, our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the Spirit.

What scholars say about this dua

This tasbih is not found in any reliable hadith. A fatwa from Darul Uloom Trinidad says an individual may recite it because its words glorify Allah, but it must not be considered sunnah or part of Taraweeh, and those who do not recite it should not be blamed. Other scholars dislike making it a fixed collective ritual. In short, Taraweeh is completely valid without it.

The Taraweeh munajat: Arabic, transliteration and meaning

Many people recite the following at the end of Taraweeh or after every four rak'ahs.

Arabic:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ، يَا خَالِقَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا عَزِيْزُ يَا غَفَّارُ يَا كَرِيْمُ يَا سَتَّارُ يَا رَحِيْمُ يَا جَبَّارُ يَا خَالِقُ يَا بَارُّ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أَجِرْنَا مِنَ النَّارِ يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

Transliteration: Allahumma inna nas'alukal-jannata wa na'udhu bika minan-nar, ya khaliqal-jannati wan-nar, bi rahmatika ya 'azizu ya ghaffaru ya karimu ya sattaru ya rahimu ya jabbaru ya khaliqu ya barr, Allahumma ajirna minan-nar, ya mujiru ya mujiru ya mujir, bi rahmatika ya arhamar-rahimin.

Meaning: O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire. O Creator of Paradise and the Fire, by Your mercy, O Mighty, O Forgiving, O Generous, O Concealer of faults, O Merciful… save us from the Fire, O Protector, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

This munajat is also not reported in hadith specifically for Taraweeh. Asking for Paradise and refuge from the Fire is, of course, an excellent dua at any time. You may recite it or make dua in your own words. Many scholars find it convenient to make dua after Taraweeh and Witr, but there is no fixed time.

Which surahs to recite: the short-surah method

In khatm Taraweeh the imam completes the whole Quran over Ramadan. Taraweeh with short surahs is commonly called "surah Taraweeh" in Bangladesh. Many people use the last 10 surahs of the Quran, from al-Fil to an-Nas:

After the first 10 rak'ahs the same order is repeated for the next 10. This is only a method to make memorisation easier, not a requirement. Any surah or verses will do. Combining several surahs in one rak'ah or repeating the same surah is also fine.

Common mistakes about Taraweeh

• Believing the prayer is invalid without an Arabic niyyah: the intention is in the heart.
• Treating the four-rak'ah dua as compulsory: it is not established in hadith.
• Praying too fast: without calm in ruku' and sujud the prayer loses its beauty, and recitation should be clear.
• Arguing over the number of rak'ahs: both 8 and 20 are recognised scholarly views; quarrelling over them is wrong.

Final word

The Taraweeh niyyah is made in the heart; if you say it aloud, any language is fine. You may recite the popular dua after four rak'ahs and the munajat, but remember they are not conditions or sunnahs of Taraweeh. What really matters is praying attentively, out of faith and hope of reward. Revise the method and surahs before Ramadan 2027 arrives so you can make the most of every night.