Dua for Taraweeh: Prayers to Say During Ramadan Nights

You show up for Taraweeh. You stand in row after row. The imam recites, the rakahs pass, and somewhere around rakah six or seven, your feet start to ache and your mind starts to drift.

You are physically present. But are you actually there?

Taraweeh is one of the most unique opportunities in the Islamic year — a voluntary prayer that the Prophet started, that the Companions continued, and that Muslims around the world repeat every Ramadan night. It is a gift. And like most gifts, you only get full value from it if you actually open it.

The difference between Taraweeh as a ritual you get through and Taraweeh as a spiritual experience is dua. Here is how to use it.

The Duas

The dua recited between four rakahs (traditional practice):

This recitation is found in many Hanafi and Maliki congregations, recited during the rest period:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ

Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut, subhana dhil-izzati wal-azamati wal-haybati wal-qudrati wal-kibriyaa'i wal-jabarut.

"Glory to the One who possesses sovereignty and the kingdom of the unseen. Glory to the One who possesses might, greatness, awe, power, majesty, and omnipotence."

This is a declaration of Allah's majesty — a recalibration between sets of prayer that reminds you why you are standing there.

The dua for Laylatul Qadr — say this in the last ten nights:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.

"O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me." — (Tirmidhi 3513)

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet: if I find Laylatul Qadr, what should I say? This was his answer. Four words about Allah's nature, one request. It is the most concentrated supplication of Ramadan.

In sujood during each rakah:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The closest a servant is to his Lord is while in prostration, so make much dua." (Sahih Muslim 482)

After completing the compulsory part of sujood (Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la), say:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي

Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wahdin-ni wajbur-ni wa'afin-i warzuqni warfa'ni.

"O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, strengthen me, grant me well-being, provide for me, and elevate me." — (Abu Dawud 850)

The Story Behind It

Taraweeh began quietly. In the first Ramadan after the Prophet's migration to Madinah, he prayed at night. Some Companions joined him. Then more. On the third night, so many gathered that the mosque was packed. On the fourth night, the Prophet did not come out.

In the morning, he explained:

فَخَشِيتُ أَنْ تُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَعْجِزُوا عَنْهَا

"I feared that it would be made obligatory upon you and you would be unable to do it." — (Bukhari 1129)

He stopped to protect them. But the prayer itself — the standing at night in Ramadan — was something he loved. He said:

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

"Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven." — (Bukhari 37)

Iimanan — with faith. Wahtisaban — hoping for reward, seeking the face of Allah, not habit or social obligation. The forgiveness comes when those two conditions are met. And the way you meet them is through active presence — which is where dua comes in.

How to Make Taraweeh Deeper This Ramadan

The problem most people have with Taraweeh is passive attendance. They show up, they follow the imam, they go home. Physically present, spiritually absent. The nafs does this — it lets you fulfill the form while avoiding the substance.

Before Taraweeh: Set an intention:

Sit for one minute before the prayer starts. Ask yourself: what do I want from tonight? Make a specific intention — "Tonight I am asking Allah to forgive X, to help me with Y, to grant Z for someone I love." Then carry that intention into every sujood.

During the break periods:

The rest periods between every four rakahs are not for your phone. They are your personal dua window. Use them. Lower your eyes, turn your heart to Allah, and ask. Nothing fancy. Just honest asking.

In every sujood:

Your nose is on the ground. You are physically at the lowest point a human can be. The Prophet said this is the closest you will get to your Lord in this life. Do not waste it on Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la alone. Add personal dua. Say what you cannot say standing.

In the last ten nights — maximize Laylatul Qadr:

The Laylatul Qadr dua — Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun — should become automatic in the last ten nights. Say it in every sujood. Say it between rakahs. Say it at home after Taraweeh. You do not know which night is the Night of Power. The only strategy that makes sense is to say it every night and let Allah decide which one counted.

Make This Ramadan Your Most Consistent One

DeenBack helps you track your Taraweeh attendance, your nightly duas, and your Ramadan goals — so that the consistency you build this month becomes a foundation for the rest of the year.

Free download. Premium features available in-app.

Related Duas

Dua for Laylatul Qadr: Go deeper on the Night of Power with our dedicated dua for Laylatul Qadr guide — covering all the supplications for the most blessed night of the year.

Duas for Witr: Taraweeh ends with Witr. Read the duas for Witr guide to understand what to say in qunoot and how to make your Witr the most sincere part of the night.

Dua for Ramadan: For the broader spiritual practices of the month, see the dua for Ramadan guide — duas for the whole month, not just the nights.

Common Questions

How many rakahs is Taraweeh? Does the number change what dua I say?

The most common practice is 20 rakahs (with rest after every four), though 8 rakahs is also established from authentic hadith. The duas do not change based on the number of rakahs — they are made throughout, in sujood and in the rest periods. Focus on quality over quantity.

I fall asleep during Taraweeh. Is there any point going?

Yes. Going with the intention of worship has value even if your body struggles. The Prophet said consistent deeds are the most beloved to Allah even if they are small (Bukhari 6464). Showing up every night — even if you fade at rakah twelve — is better than the perfect night you keep planning to have. Also: adjust your Suhoor and Iftar timing. Eating heavy meals before Taraweeh is one of the main reasons people cannot stay focused.

I do not understand Arabic. Can I still benefit from Taraweeh?

Deeply. You can make personal dua in your own language during sujood and between rakahs. You can also follow the meaning of the recitation using a translated Quran and learn the surahs the imam is likely to recite. Even without Arabic, the physical act of standing with the community in the night of Ramadan carries its own blessing and builds a spiritual atmosphere that benefits you regardless of full linguistic comprehension.

Closing

Ramadan nights are limited. The month arrives, it runs, and it ends. You will never get these specific nights back.

The way to not waste them is to stay present — through intention before you start, dua in every sujood, and the Laylatul Qadr supplication on your lips every night in the last ten.

Show up. Lower your forehead. Ask. Mean it.

The One who forgave qiyam ul-layl is listening tonight.

Track Your Ramadan Nights With Intention

DeenBack helps you build the habit of Taraweeh and nightly dua — turn this Ramadan into a foundation you can build on for years to come.

Free download. Premium features available in-app.