Tarawih

Tarawih is an optional prayer that can be done only during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. This prayer can be done alone, in a group, at home, or in a mosque or other public meeting area. Typically, Muslims gather together and perform tarawih as a group, often amongst extended family members in one large house. Others may meet in their local mosque, a meeting hall, or even in an outdoor field. Depending on the country, the tarawih prayers might be done in mosque by men only, or by a mixture of men and women (although physically separated from each other). The total number of raka'ah varies, but with a minimum of eight. This is in accordance with the example of Muhammad who originally performed eight raka'ah in the mosque with his followers, but then after three days, decided to stay at home and perform the prayers with his family. He said he was afraid that if he continued to perform the prayers in the mosque, then his followers might come to think that they were compulsory and not optional.

After the death of Muhammad, the number of raka'ah was increased to twenty instead of eight by the second Caliph, Umar. Muslims now choose for themselves how many raka'ah to perform. In the main mosque in Mecca, the Imam (prayer leader) performs twenty raka'ah followed by a further three raka'ah known as witr prayers. The total number of people joining the tarawih prayers in the main mosque in Mecca may reach 3-4 million. They fill up all levels inside the mosque, the flat roof, outside in the courtyard, some nearby streets (which are closed off), and on occasions even using up space in the lobbies of some nearby hotels.

It is also customary for the Imam in Mecca’s main mosque to recite the entire contents of the Qur'an during the fasting month by reading approximately one section per day. This practice of reading the Qur'an completely is known as khatm (complete recitation)