There is no single compulsory Taraweeh dua prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to be recited after every four rak’ahs. During the short break in Taraweeh, you may make personal dua, perform dhikr, send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ or simply rest before continuing the prayer.
A commonly recited Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh, beginning “Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut”, is used in many Muslim communities. It may be recited as general remembrance, but it should not be treated as a compulsory Sunnah formula that every Muslim must say.
For UK Muslims preparing for Ramadan, this guide explains the Taraweeh dua in Arabic and English, its meaning, when it may be recited, what the authentic Sunnah establishes and what you can say instead.
What Is Taraweeh Prayer?
Taraweeh is the special night prayer performed during Ramadan after Isha.
The Arabic word Taraweeh is connected with the idea of rest because worshippers traditionally pause between sets of prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed Ramadan night prayer in congregation for several nights. When increasingly large numbers of people gathered, he did not come out to lead them on the following night because he feared that the prayer might become obligatory upon the Ummah. This incident is authentically recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. (Sunnah.com)
Taraweeh therefore remains a highly recommended form of worship rather than one of the five obligatory daily prayers.
In Hanafi fiqh, which many UK mosques follow, Taraweeh is generally classified as Sunnah Mu’akkadah.
Is There an Authentic Fixed Dua for Taraweeh?
This is where many Muslims become confused.
You may have grown up seeing a poster on the mosque wall containing a long Taraweeh dua and been told to read it after every four rak’ahs.
However, there is no authentic hadith establishing one particular dua that must be recited after every four rak’ahs of Taraweeh.
UK Hanafi guidance from Darul Ifta Birmingham says that resting after every four rak’ahs is considered Mustahab in Hanafi jurisprudence and that the time can be used for tasbeeh, tahleel, dua or durood. It also mentions the well-known Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh as something that may be recited. (IslamQA)
Other scholars similarly emphasise that a particular wording should not be treated as a prescribed ritual from the Prophet ﷺ when there is no authentic evidence establishing it as such. (Islamweb)
The balanced approach is simple:
You may recite the commonly known Taraweeh tasbeeh, but do not believe that your Taraweeh is incomplete if you do not recite it.
Common Taraweeh Dua in Arabic
The following is commonly known as Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh:
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزَّةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَنَامُ وَلَا يَمُوتُ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ نَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Again, this is a commonly recited form of remembrance, not a compulsory dua established specifically for Taraweeh by an authentic Prophetic narration.
Taraweeh Dua Transliteration
Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut,
Subhana dhil-‘izzati wal-‘azamati wal-qudrati wal-kibriya’i wal-jabarut.
Subhanal-malikil-hayyilladhi la yanamu wa la yamut.
Subbuhun quddusun rabbuna wa rabbul-mala’ikati war-ruh.
La ilaha illallah, nastaghfirullah.
Nas’alukal-jannata wa na’udhu bika minan-nar.
You do not need perfect Arabic pronunciation before attending Taraweeh.
Take time to learn gradually and, more importantly, understand what you are saying.
Taraweeh Dua English Meaning
In simple English, the words mean:
Glory belongs to the Owner of sovereignty and dominion. Glory belongs to the Possessor of honour, greatness, power, majesty and might. Glory belongs to the King, the Ever-Living, who neither sleeps nor dies. Our Lord is Most Pure and Most Holy, the Lord of the angels and the Spirit. There is no god except Allah; we seek Allah’s forgiveness. We ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire.
The meaning contains praise of Allah, seeking forgiveness, asking for Jannah and seeking protection from Jahannam.
These are all good things to ask Allah for.
The important distinction is simply that this particular collection of words should not be presented as though the Prophet ﷺ commanded Muslims to recite it specifically after every four rak’ahs.
When Is the Taraweeh Dua Recited?
In communities where the Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh is used, it is commonly recited during the short rest after four rak’ahs.
A typical 20-rak’ah congregation might therefore look like:
4 rak’ahs → short rest
4 rak’ahs → short rest
4 rak’ahs → short rest
4 rak’ahs → short rest
4 rak’ahs → complete Taraweeh
The prayer itself is normally performed two rak’ahs at a time.
During the breaks, you do not have to recite one particular text.
You may:
- make dua
- say Astaghfirullah
- say SubhanAllah
- say Alhamdulillah
- say Allahu Akbar
- recite salawat
- remember Allah quietly
- reflect on the Qur’an
- rest before the next set
Islamic Relief UK’s scholar-reviewed 2026 Taraweeh guide similarly describes short breaks between sets of four while emphasising Taraweeh as a voluntary Ramadan night prayer.
Do I Have to Read the Taraweeh Dua After Every Four Rak’ahs?
No.
Your Taraweeh remains valid if you do not recite the commonly printed Taraweeh dua.
This is particularly important for people attending Taraweeh for the first time who become worried because everybody around them appears to know a long Arabic passage.
Do not allow that to discourage you from attending the prayer.
During the break you can simply say:
SubhanAllah
Alhamdulillah
Allahu Akbar
Astaghfirullah
or make your own personal dua.
The purpose of the pause is not to test how much Arabic you have memorised.
Can I Make My Own Dua During Taraweeh?
Yes.
You can ask Allah for anything permissible and beneficial.
For example, make dua for:
- forgiveness
- stronger faith
- your parents
- your children
- good health
- halal provision
- guidance
- marriage
- relief from difficulties
- deceased relatives
- the Muslim Ummah
- Jannah
- protection from the Fire
Personal dua can also be made in English or another language you understand outside the formal recitation of Salah.
Sincerity matters more than trying to repeat words you do not understand.
What Is a Good Dua to Read During the Last Ten Nights?
One particularly important authentic dua for the final nights of Ramadan is:
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Transliteration:
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni.
Meaning:
O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me.
Aishah (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ what she should say if she recognised Laylat al-Qadr, and he taught her this supplication.
This dua is authentically connected with Laylat al-Qadr, rather than being a fixed formula specifically for the pause after four rak’ahs of Taraweeh.
If you are preparing for the coming Ramadan, our Ramadan 2027 London timetable includes the expected odd nights, Sehri and Iftar times for London.
Is Taraweeh Dua the Same as Dua-e-Qunoot?
No.
This is another common misunderstanding.
Taraweeh and Witr are separate prayers, although Witr is commonly prayed after Taraweeh in many mosques.
Dua-e-Qunoot is associated with Witr according to the relevant fiqh rulings.
The commonly recited Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut is instead usually said during the breaks between sets of Taraweeh in communities that follow this practice.
Do not mix the two together.
Is There Anything Authentic to Recite After Witr?
Yes.
There is an authentic narration that the Prophet ﷺ would say:
سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ
Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus
Meaning: Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy.
He would say it three times after completing Witr, lengthening the final repetition.
This is useful to know because, unlike the commonly printed Taraweeh tasbeeh, this remembrance has an explicit Prophetic report connected with the completion of Witr.
How Many Rak’ahs Is Taraweeh: 8 or 20?
This question often causes unnecessary disagreement.
Muslim communities follow different scholarly approaches.
Islamic Relief UK’s current scholar-reviewed guidance describes Taraweeh as being prayed in sets of two and gives examples including 8, 12 or 20 rak’ahs.
In Hanafi jurisprudence, which is followed by many British mosques, 20 rak’ahs is the established traditional practice. Darul Ifta Birmingham likewise gives 20 rak’ahs as the Hanafi position.
For an ordinary worshipper, the most productive approach is to follow the congregation and scholarly tradition of the mosque you attend rather than spending Ramadan arguing about rak’ah counts.
The purpose of Taraweeh is worship.
Why Did Umar (RA) Organise Taraweeh in Congregation?
After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, the concern that Taraweeh might become obligatory no longer existed.
During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), people were praying Ramadan night prayer in different small groups.
Umar organised worshippers behind one imam, helping establish the organised congregational form that became familiar throughout Muslim communities.
This should not be described as Umar inventing Taraweeh.
The Prophet ﷺ had already prayed Ramadan night prayer in congregation. He stopped continuing it every night because he feared it might become obligatory.
Umar therefore organised an already established form of worship into a regular congregation.
What Is the Reward for Praying Taraweeh?
One of the strongest motivations for Taraweeh comes from the words of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sahih al-Bukhari records that whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with sincere faith and hope of Allah’s reward will have previous sins forgiven.
This changes the focus of Taraweeh.
It is not simply about:
“How quickly can I finish 20 rak’ahs?”
or:
“Did I memorise the Taraweeh dua?”
It is about standing before Allah with faith and seeking His reward.
A shorter prayer performed with attention and sincerity is more meaningful than spending the entire night distracted by what everybody else is doing.
Can I Pray Taraweeh at Home?
Yes.
Taraweeh can be prayed at home as well as in the mosque.
The Prophet ﷺ himself performed Ramadan night prayer both in connection with congregation and privately.
For many UK Muslims, congregational Taraweeh provides valuable community support and the opportunity to listen to longer portions of the Qur’an.
However, circumstances may sometimes make home prayer more practical, including:
- illness
- caring for young children
- caring for elderly relatives
- transport difficulties
- work commitments
Do not assume that missing the mosque means you must abandon Ramadan night prayer completely.
Pray what you are able to.
Do I Need to Complete the Whole Qur’an During Taraweeh?
No individual worshipper is required to personally recite the entire Qur’an in Taraweeh for the prayer to be valid.
Many mosques aim to complete a full Qur’an recitation over Ramadan, particularly during longer congregational Taraweeh.
In Hanafi guidance, completing a Qur’an recitation during the month’s Taraweeh is strongly valued, but consideration should also be given to the congregation and their ability.
If you are praying at home and only know shorter surahs, you can still pray Taraweeh.
Do not wait until you have memorised large portions of the Qur’an before beginning.
How Can UK Muslims Prepare for Taraweeh?
Taraweeh can feel physically demanding during the first few nights, particularly if you have not regularly prayed longer night prayers.
A few simple preparations help:
Try to avoid eating an extremely heavy Iftar immediately before heading to the mosque.
Drink enough water between Iftar and Isha.
Wear clean, comfortable clothing.
Arrive early rather than rushing into the prayer.
Put your phone on silent.
Learn the meaning of the Qur’an being recited where possible.
If your mosque performs 20 rak’ahs, do not treat the short breaks as opportunities for long conversations that disturb worshippers around you.
And remember that you do not need to spend every pause reading from a Taraweeh dua card.
Use the moment for remembrance, reflection or a short rest.
When Is Ramadan 2027 in the UK?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in February, although the final date remains dependent on the moon-sighting method followed by your community.
You can see the expected UK dates in our guide on when Ramadan 2027 begins and the best time to book Umrah.
Preparing early gives you time to adjust your sleep, work and prayer routine before Taraweeh begins.
Planning Ramadan Umrah With Hajj Umrah Travels?
Performing Umrah during Ramadan allows pilgrims to experience Taraweeh, Qiyam and the atmosphere of the Holy Mosques during one of the most spiritually significant periods of the year. If you have not performed Umrah before, our step-by-step Umrah guide and our guide on how to prepare spiritually before your journey to Makkah are worth reading before you book.
Demand for flights and hotels usually increases as the final ten nights approach, so booking early can provide more choice over your travel dates, hotel distance and trip length. It is also worth checking how much Umrah costs and weighing that against the best time of year to perform Umrah if your dates are flexible.
If you are considering travelling from the UK, explore our Ramadan Umrah Packages or contact Hajj Umrah Travels to discuss your preferred dates and accommodation.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing to remember about Taraweeh dua is that there is no compulsory supplication that must be recited after every four rak’ahs.
The familiar “Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut” Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh is commonly recited in many communities and may be used as general remembrance, particularly within traditions where scholars permit it.
But it should not become a source of anxiety.
If you do not know it, you can use the break to make dua, recite dhikr, send salawat or simply rest.
Taraweeh is ultimately about standing before Allah during the nights of Ramadan with faith, sincerity and hope for His reward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taraweeh Dua
Is there a compulsory dua after every four rak’ahs of Taraweeh?
No. There is no authentic hadith prescribing one compulsory dua after every four rak’ahs. Some Muslim communities recite the well-known Tasbeeh-e-Taraweeh during the break, while others make personal dua or dhikr.
What is the commonly recited Taraweeh dua?
It begins with “Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut” and contains praise of Allah, seeking forgiveness, asking for Paradise and seeking protection from the Fire. It is commonly recited but should not be treated as obligatory.
When should Taraweeh dua be recited?
If you choose to recite it, it is commonly read during the rest after every four rak’ahs. You may also use this time for other dhikr, durood or personal dua.
Can I make dua in English between Taraweeh rak’ahs?
Yes. Outside the formal recitation of Salah, you may make personal dua in English or another language in which you can express yourself sincerely.
Is Taraweeh 8 or 20 rak’ahs?
Different scholarly traditions and mosques follow different practices. Many UK Hanafi mosques perform 20 rak’ahs, while some congregations perform 8. Taraweeh is prayed in sets of two.
What should I recite after Witr?
An authentically reported remembrance after Witr is “Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus”, recited three times.
