Spiritual and physical Importance of Taraweeh in Ramadan

Ramadan is the holy month when all Muslims around the world fast and pray more To the Almighty. Through the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims try out their best to have the most out of it.

As they pray the obligatory and the non-obligatory prayers, and Taraweeh is one of the non-obligatory prayers, especially during Ramadan. So in this article, we will discuss Taraweeh’s origin, and why it is important for Muslims.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, the month when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Mohammed PBUH. and Fasting during Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

Fasting does not only exist in Islam but rather other religions urge people to fast due to the tremendous health benefit of fasting. Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan because of two main health reasons:

• Spiritual health:
  Fasting, praying, and performing religious practices provide you with peace of mind and heart. Fasting makes you feel connected with your creator and therefore you will overcome all sorts your s of anxieties and depression

• Physical health:
  Fasting is the time you give your body a break from all the junk you eat daily, and has countless benefits that range from losing weight, lowering blood pressure, and cholesterol, burning fat, and so forth.

Also, there are many Lessons learned from Ramadan like compassion where you get to put yourself in the shoes of fewer fortunes and unprivileged. Besides patience, temptations resisting, building self-control and willpower, and controlling urges to sins.

What is Taraweeh?

Taraweeh prayer is not obligatory to offer. The Prophet (SAW) practiced Taraweeh only for 3 days and that is only 8 Rakat at the time of Tahajjud.

This practice has been introduced by Hazrat Umar (RA) when he saw multiple people l are offering salah separately so he suggested offering 20 Rakat salah post Isha behind one imam only.

But once in Ramadan when the Prophet (P.B.U.H) saw this then he appreciated it. And also as per saying that one should follow the teaching of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and sahaba so it is also recommended to offer 20 Rakat of Taraweeh.

about the steps of Taraweeh, it is as similar to any other Nafl salah with the intention of Taraweeh:

1. For offering this prayer one must have offered Isha first. Taraweeh needs to be offered in pairs of 2 Rakata with 2 salam and has to take waqfa (rest) after each pair.
2. The rest should be at least for the time required for completing 4 Rakata salah. This resting time should be spent in zikr or reciting the Quran starting with the dua of Taraweeh.
3. In this way, the entire Taraweeh of 8 Rakat or 20 Rakat has to be completed with the rest after each 4 Rakat.

so, please know that the word Taraweeh itself means that it is a prayer offered after getting relaxed or with a relaxed mind and body.

So it is incorrect that people pray very quickly just for the sake of completing 20 or more Rakat. It is better to pray 8 Rakat slowly and easily while pondering over the meaning of the Quran.

importance of Taraweeh prayer

Any Prayer lets you feel connected with your creator and gives you a feeling of security that He’s got your back and is always near you.

Prayers help you stay grounded, and have gratitude and remind you that you are a part of God and living His values on earth. Above all prayers open the communication line for God to also speak to you.

So we can brief the significance of the Taraweeh prayer in the following points:

1. Taraweeh prayer is the significance of Ramadan besides fasting, where Islam gathers Muslims to meet together to confront Allah’s orders.
2. Achieving the ultimate rewards in the holy month, by performing two kinds of Ibadah in Ramadan, fasting and the night prayers.
3. In the Masjid, Muslims accommodate themselves to the masjid morals, as they become quieter and have more self-control abstaining from personal conflicts.
4. Night prayer makes Muslims get used to praying in the Masjid regularly even after Ramadan.
5.  Gives you a reward that exceeds the individual prayers by 27 times.
6. Night prayer or Qiyam is considered to be a great religious act any Muslim could do.
7. Listening to a proper Quran reciter gives us a chance to learn the correct pronunciation of Quran letters and to understand the word of Allah better.
8. Night praying with Imam gives Muslims the reward of Qiyam for the whole night in Ramadan.
9. Have the chance to get religious sessions that most mosques hold between Rakats of Taraweeh.

So every Muslim should feel grateful and self-satisfied with what Allah has ordered.

Taraweeh physical benefits to prayers

Taraweeh has many physical benefits besides spiritual benefits, starting from Wudu to the physical movement in Salat.

In general, praying increases body energy, and vitality and reduces laziness, as when we pray, we increase the movement of every part of the body through bowing, prostrating, and standing up straight in a frequent manner.

Also, the Taraweeh prayer improves the psychological effect of Muslims, as praying strengthens the relationship with Allah making Muslims feel relieved.

Other physical benefits of Taraweeh are as the following:

• Night praying reduces depression and tension.
• Has a role in regulating body metabolism, which helps in better blood circulation in the veins due to the frequent movement of body parts.
• Praying increases body fitness and strengthens the stomach muscles, and also it may help in losing weight as the movement of the body parts diminish fats.
• This Prayer widens the chest muscle and facilitates normal breathing, as Muslims keep in a straight position for a long time, especially in the night prayers.
• Praying needs ablution which in return helps keep Muslims clean all day by washing their face, hands, and legs 5 times daily.

Taraweeh is a win-win chance for all Muslims of its spiritual, emotional, and physical importance. Although it is not an obligatory prayer it is still Sunnah that we should observe for our profit in Ramadan.