How Many Rakats Is Taraweeh? 8 vs 20 — The Full Answer

Ramadan comes and the question comes with it: 8 rakats or 20 rakats? Your mosque does 20. Your friend says the Prophet only prayed 8. Someone else says only 8 is sunnah. Another says 20 is the way of the companions.

Here is the honest answer: both positions are established in Islamic scholarship, and neither side should claim the other is praying taraweeh "wrong."

What matters is understanding the evidence, following your school's position with confidence, and building a taraweeh practice that actually changes Ramadan for you.

The Short Answer

8 rakats: Based on Aisha's report that the Prophet never exceeded 11 rakats in night prayer (8 taraweeh + 3 witr). This is the position of many hadith scholars, the Hanbali school, and scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah.

20 rakats: Based on the practice organized by Umar ibn al-Khattab and observed by the companions in congregation. This is the position of the Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi schools.

Both are acceptable. If your mosque prays 20, pray 20. If your family or community prays 8, pray 8. What is certain is that taraweeh itself is a powerful act of worship that the Prophet strongly encouraged.

The Evidence — What the Texts Actually Say

Aisha narrated:

"The Messenger of Allah did not exceed eleven rakats in Ramadan or at any other time. He would pray four, and do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray four, and do not ask about their beauty and length, then he would pray three."

— (Bukhari 2013, sunnah.com)

This hadith is the strongest direct evidence for the number of rakats the Prophet prayed. 8 + 3 witr = 11.

For 20 rakats, Ibn Abd al-Barr reports with a good chain that when Umar gathered the people on Ubayy ibn Kaab and Tamim al-Dari to lead them in prayer, they prayed 20 rakats. The companions of the Prophet were present and did not object — which scholars call tacit approval (ijma sukuti).

The Prophet ﷺ said: "You must follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me." (Abu Dawud 4607) Scholars who prefer 20 rakats cite this — Umar's practice as Caliph has prophetic endorsement.

The key point: this is a real scholarly disagreement with authentic evidence on both sides. It is not a case of one side being clearly right and the other wrong.

The Details — Practical Taraweeh Guide

Structure of Taraweeh

Taraweeh is prayed in pairs of 2 rakats, with a brief rest between each set (which is what taraweeh means — "rest"). After completing the rakats, witr is prayed to close the night.

8-rakat format:

• 4 sets of 2 rakats (8 total)
• Brief rest after each set
• End with 3 rakats of witr

20-rakat format:

• 10 sets of 2 rakats (20 total)
• Rest after each set, often with brief dhikr or dua
• End with 3 rakats of witr

When Is Taraweeh Prayed?

Taraweeh is prayed after Isha prayer and before Witr. In many mosques, Isha is prayed, then the congregation transitions directly into taraweeh, ending with witr. The entire night prayer in Ramadan is sometimes called qiyam Ramadan.

The best time for taraweeh is after Isha, at whatever pace allows for quality recitation. The Prophet ﷺ warned against hurrying through prayer to the point where the back is not straight in ruku.

What Is Recited in Taraweeh?

There is no required surah for taraweeh. In many mosques, a hafiz (one who has memorized the entire Quran) recites the Quran in portions over the 29-30 nights of Ramadan, completing it by Laylatul Qadr. This is one of the most beautiful Sunnah traditions — you can hear the entire Quran recited in Ramadan.

If you are praying at home, recite whatever Quran you know. The quality of presence matters more than the length of recitation.

Do Not Let Doubt Win — Build the Taraweeh Habit

The most common way taraweeh habit fails in Ramadan: the first night you miss, you feel behind, and by the second week it is gone. For a broader look at what makes Ramadan the unique opportunity it is, see virtues of Ramadan.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan out of faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven." — (Bukhari 2008, sunnah.com)

The condition is faith and expectation of reward — not perfect attendance. Missing a night does not undo the nights you have prayed. Go back the next night.

Practical strategies for consistency:

• Set a firm intention at the beginning of Ramadan. Writing it down increases commitment.
• If you cannot make the full 20 at the mosque, pray 8 at home — that is the Prophet's own number.
• If you are too exhausted for even 8, pray 2 rakats of taraweeh and 1 witr. You prayed taraweeh.
• Track your Ramadan nights. Seeing your own streak changes how you show up.

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Quick Reference: Taraweeh At a Glance

Common Questions

What if my mosque prays 20 but I can only stay for 8 — should I leave after 8? If the imam will continue, it is better to stay with the congregation as long as you are able. Scholars note that praying behind the imam for taraweeh carries additional reward. If you genuinely cannot stay, leaving after completing your 8 is valid.

Is it true that leaving before the imam finishes taraweeh means you miss the reward of a full night? The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever prays qiyam with the imam until he finishes, the reward of a full night's prayer is written for him." (Tirmidhi 806) This is specifically about staying to the end of witr. If your imam prays witr at the end of 20 rakats and you left after 8, you do not get this specific reward — but you still get the reward of what you prayed.

Can women pray taraweeh at home while their children are asleep? Yes, and many scholars consider this highly praiseworthy. Praying taraweeh at home while caring for family is a valid form of worship. It removes the barrier of childcare and still grants the spiritual benefit of night prayer in Ramadan.

Is it permissible to lead taraweeh in a small gathering at home? Yes. The Prophet himself led the companions in a small taraweeh gathering in the mosque before stopping out of fear it would become obligatory. Organizing a small family taraweeh is encouraged and has prophetic precedent. See how to be consistent in prayers for building consistent salah habits year-round.

What about Laylatul Qadr — should I do more rakats then? The last 10 nights, and especially the odd nights (21, 23, 25, 27, 29), are when the Prophet ﷺ would increase his worship. Many scholars recommend increasing the length of each rakat's recitation on these nights rather than adding more rakats, though adding more is also permissible. See dua for laylatul qadr for the specific supplications to make on those nights, and dua for completing Ramadan for the end of the month.

Closing — The Number Is Not the Point

8 or 20 — the number matters less than showing up.

Taraweeh is Ramadan's nightly renewal. It is the act of standing in the dark and choosing worship over rest. It is the completion of each day of fasting with gratitude and remembrance.

Whether you stand for 8 rakats or 20, what Allah sees is whether you came — whether you stood in faith expecting His reward.

Come. Stand. Let the Quran reach you.

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