Re: Is taraweeh enough?
Asalaamu Alaikum, Good question. I guess the simple answer is that it is down to us as individuals as to how much we can do and manage in terms of worship. Allah wants ease for us and also the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) recommended that we do only what is within our ability. But these blessed ten nights (the first of which begins tonight) should be an exception for us to that rule because these are the most blessed 10 nights of the whole year. So even if we do not worship Allah throughout any night of the whole year then we should at least devote ourselves to him during these blessed 10 nights.
In the Uk (I can only speak for the UK). The nights are currently very short indeed. Therefore by the time Taraweeh finishes we only have around 3 hours of worship time (Which does not take into account the time taken to prepare and eat Suhoor) which is not much time at all. Therefore it is even more important that we maximise this very short time as we can gain immense rewards in a very short amount of time.
Firstly to answer your question then it is not necessary to know huge amounts of Qur'an by heart in order to stand for prayer all night long. One may read short Surah's in different orders as it is a Nawafil prayer. It is best to mix up the Sura'hs recited so that we may concentrate on our prayer rather than to recite the same over and over. One should also have a tafseer (Meanings of the Qur'an) books that one may understand the Sura's that are being recited. This is the best way to gain (Khushu) or awareness of Allah during prayer.
The Sajda (prostrations) may also be longer and we can actually make dua in Arabic in our prostrations during Tahajjud because it is a voluntary prayer. So one may cry and beg of Allah in Arabic during Sajda or just keep saying Asthaghfirullah if one does not know of many Dua's. Of course the best Dua to recite during these ten blessed nights is the one recommended to us by the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam):
Dua for Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power)
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’ ‘
O Allah You are The One Who forgives greatly, and loves to forgive, so forgive me. [at Tirmidhi]
So we must keep reciting this Dua especially in our Sajdas during Tahajjud prayer. We should beg of Allah and keep reciting this Dua.
We should recite much Qur'an with the meanings because one of these blessed 10 nights was when the Qur'an was revealed. Then we should ponder and contemplate over the meanings of the words.
It is also recommended to pray Salaatul Tasbih during these blessed 10 nights. Here is how to pray it:
How to pray Salaatul Tasbih:
The following tasbih is recited seventy-five times in each rakah totalling 300 in the 4 rakaat.
Subhaanallaahi walhamdu lillaahi walaa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar
** The method of this Salah is as follows:**
•After beginning the salah by saying Allah-u-Akbar recite the thana '(Subhanakallah huma), Sura al-Fatiha and a Sura followed by the above tasbih 15 times.
•Then go into Ruku and after reciting the usual tasbih for rukurecite the above tasbih 10 times.
•After standing up from ruku recite the usual Rabbana Lakal Hamd and thereafter recite the tasbih 10 times.
•Then go into Sajda and after reciting the usual tasbih for sajda recite the above tasbih 10 times.
•Then sit up from sajda and recite the tasbih 10 times between the two sajdas.
•Thereafter go into sajda again and after reciting the usual tasbih for sajda recite the above tasbih 10 times.
•Then sit after the 2nd sajda (i.e. before standing up for the second rak`ah) and recite the tasbih 10 times.
This adds up to 75 times in one rakah. Do the same for the remaining 4 rakaat.
** The following is a good Worship routine maximising all the possible forms of Worship: **
Worship schedule for the Last blessed 10 Nights of Ramadan:
8 points to consider in the worship routine:
1 - Do I'tikaf: The best way of catching the blessed night of Power is to remain in I'tikaf which both men and women can do. If it is not possible for one to remain in I'tikaf for the whole of the 10 days and nights then one should try to remain in I'tikaf as many days and nights as is possible. It is also possible to make intention of Nawafil I'tikaf each and every time one enters the Masjid in order to gain rewards for the time spent in the Masjid.
2 - Worship all the 10 nights: Try to worship the whole of the 10 nights or at least as one can manage as that is the best way to catch the unimaginable and incomprehensible rewards of Laylatul Qadr. Each and every good deed from Maghrib until Fajr on Laylatul Qadr is rewarded a minimum of over 83 years of worship rewards. Subhanallah that is longer than most of us will live!
3 - Best Dua of the last 10 nights: Recite as much of the Dua for Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power) as is possible throughout these 10 nights. For this Dua literally wipes out sins rather than just mere forgiveness of sins
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’ ‘
O Allah You are The One Who forgives greatly, and loves to forgive, so forgive me. [at Tirmidhi]
4 - **Give charity: **Give some charity during these 10 nights as any good act like charity during Laylatul Qadr is rewarded like one has done it for over 83 years!
5 - EAT LIGHT: as one is going to stay up until Fajr and the more one eats the harder it will be to stay up and the less productive one will be!
6 - Hydrate well: Keep some water with you at all times. This well help you stay up, feel energised and refreshed and have a clearer mind
7 - There must be NO time wasting during these blessed nights: Complete whatever one has to complete in the day but leave the nights free for worship.
8 - No time wasting: We must make firm intention that during these blessed 10 nights that we will take part in NO idle talk and NOT watch TV, or play Games, or spend time on Social Media. There is 355 days in the year for all that. This is just 10 nights! Utter loss and regret for those of us who waste these blessed 10 nights!!!
The following is a possible worship routine for the last 10 blessed nights of Ramadan which can be adjusted according to the times in ones own country:
**09:30 - 10:00 pm - **Open fast with dates and water and Pray Maghrib (Men with congregation and women at home). After that pray the 2 Sunnah and as many Nawafil (Voluntary) prayers in sets of 2 raka'ahs as one can manage.
Bonus: Each Fard prayer during Ramadan is immense reward as it is but during Laylatul Qadr will be rewarded like one prayed it for over 83 years! Such rewards cannot be comprehended.
10:00 - 10:15 pm - Eat light in order to have optimum energy for worship. Avoid heavy and fried foods which will make one lethargic.
*Bonus: * The lighter the stomach the more worship. The more worship the more reward!
10:15 - 10:30 pm - Get ready and prepared to pray Isha and Tarawee. Make Ghusl or Wudu. Pray 2 Rakat Tahiyyatul Wudu after every Wudu. Wear ones best clothes and put on Attar and use Miswaak and comb hair, beard etc.
Bonus 1: Looking ones best actually has a significant impact in making one more productive! These are the nights of maximum productivity! So look & smell good to be more productive!
Bonus 2: Walk to the Masjid if you are not in I'tikaf. Each and every step is rewarded like you have been walking to the Masjid for over 83 years! Subhanallah!
10:30 pm - 12:00 am - Pray Isha & Taraweeh. Men with congregation and women may also pray in the Masjid in order to hear recitation of Qur'an, if the facilities are available and there is no danger of free mixing. Pray 2 rakat Tahiyyatul Masjid upon arriving at the Masjid and 4 Rakat of Sunnah before the 4 Fard of Isha.
Bonus: Praying Taraweeh during the night of power will bring rewards of over 83 years for each and every letter recited by the Imam and for each and every prostration (Sajda).
12:00 - 12:30 am - As soon as Taraweeh is finished then prepare for worship until Fajr. Make Fresh Wudu or Ghusl if one wants. Drink water to hydrate. If one is hungry then eat (LIGHT).
Either stay at the Masjid or go home immediately not partaking in any idle talk and go straight to the spot where there will be no disturbances and begin worship immediately being firm in remaining free of any disturbances. NO PROCRASTINATION during these blessed 10 nights!
Bonus: The less time we waste the more time we have for worship. The more time we have for worship the more we can gain unimaginable rewards during these blessed 10 nights!
12:30 - 1:30 am - Recite Qur'an with its tafseer (Meanings of the Qur'an) and contemplate and ponder over the words of Allah.
Bonus: In one of these nights was the auspicious night that the Noble Qur'an was revealed. So surely we should spend most of this night reciting the Qur'an. Each and every letter is normally rewarded as 10 good deeds. During Ramadan this is increased further but during Laylatul Qadr each letter will be rewarded like one has recited it for over 83 years. Subanallah!
1:30 - 2:00 am - Salaatul Tasbih (See above how to pray). Or continue reciting Qur'an with Tafseer and recite the Laylatul Qadr Dua as much as possible for wiping out sins.
Bonus: Salaatul Tasbih contains a Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) which is one of the best glorifications of Allah:
Subhaanallaahi walhamdu lillaahi walaa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar
This is recited 300 times during this prayer. So can you imagine the rewards of reciting this prayer during Laylatul Qadr? Subanallah!
2:00 - 2:45 am - 8 Rakats of Tahajjud prayer with long Sajdas reciting as many Sura'hs as one knows by memory. Before hand reading the meanings of the Surahs that are going to be recited in order to gain Khushu and feel the Surah's being recited in ones heart.
** Bonus: ** The best Nawafil (voluntary) prayer is Tahajjud and it is a prayer in order to get closer to Almighty Allah which can be prayed after Isha until just before Fajr begins. The best recitation of the Qur'an is that done during Tahajjud prayer. So one should recite as much of the Qur'an as one has memorised and in the long prostrations ask and beg of Allah in Arabic for forgiveness and mercy and surely Allah will never turn away his slaves who beg of him during this prayer.
2:45 - 3:00 am - Eat Suhoor slightly earlier so as to spend the last half an hour in Dua as Dua just before Fajr is the best and most accepted Dua and any Dua on Laylatul Qadr is accepted without doubt.
Bonus: Prepare Suhoor in the day and put it away in the fridge as nothing should get in the way of our worship during these blessed nights. Preparing Suhoor before hand leaves us with more time to worship. As I keep saying: The more time we have for worship the more unimaginable and incomprehensible rewards we can gain!
3:00 am until Fajr begins. Devote the last half an hour in Dua. Beg and cry unto Allah, by praising and glorifying him using his beautiful names asking for his mercy, forgiveness and for our parents, families and ourselves. Ask for anything ones heart desires. Include Dua's for the Ummah. Surely Allah will accept each and every sincere Dua during these blessed 10 nights more so more than any night of the year on the Night of power!
Bonus: Make a Dua list and be sure to cover everything you can think of so that your mind does not go blank during making Dua on these blessed nights. So if we have made a Dua list before hand then we can make the best Dua which will cover everything and during these blessed nights Duas are readily accepted and if we catch the Night of power during these 10 nights then our Duas will be accepted without a doubt. Subhanallah!
Repeat this schedule for each and every night of worship during the last 10 nights of Ramadan and know that at least one of the nights we will gain the rewards like we did each and every worship for over 83 years. Subhanalklah that is longer than most of us will live!
