*Women's Tarawih Prayer: Rules and Method*

In Ramadan, after the obligatory Isha prayer and its Sunnah prayers, performing twenty Rakats of Tarawih prayer until the last fast is a Sunnah Mu'akkadah (emphasized Sunnah) for both men and women, not obligatory. Its time lasts until before dawn. Therefore, if the Tarawih prayer is missed, it cannot be made up. However, one who abandons it without a valid excuse is disobedient and sinful.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), the Tabi'in (followers), the Taba' Tabi'in (followers of the followers), the Mujtahid Imams (scholars), and the righteous predecessors (may Allah have mercy on them) have consistently performed Tarawih prayers. Women should not perform Tarawih prayers in congregation, but rather individually at home after the obligatory Isha prayer and its Sunnah prayers, performing twenty Rakats of Tarawih prayer (two by two), and then perform Witr prayer. This is because it is more rewarding for women to perform Tarawih prayers alone at home. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) considered it more virtuous for a woman to perform her prayer in her home, and even in the innermost part of her home. In light of the Prophet's wishes and blessed hadiths, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) agreed that women should perform their prayers at home. Therefore, in this age of trials, the same ruling applies to women: they should perform their prayers at home, as this brings them greater reward and blessings. Hence, it is not correct for women to go outside the home to participate in congregational Tarawih prayers in a mosque or any other place.

*How to perform Tarawih if you do not memorize the Quran?*
It is not a condition to be a Hafiz (memorizer of the Quran) to perform Tarawih. Performing Tarawih is Sunnah for both Hafiz and non-Hafiz. Women should perform it themselves (individually) in their homes. There is no specific method for the prayer. Like Nafl prayers, Tarawih is performed two Rakats at a time, and there is no specific sequence of Surahs (chapters). If someone does not even memorize twenty Surahs, they should recite the last ten Surahs from "Alam Tara Kaifa" to "An-Nas" for ten Rakats, and then repeat the same Surahs for the remaining ten Rakats.


*Can Tarawih prayer be performed in four Rakats at a time?*
It is preferable and Sunnah to say Salam (peace be upon you) after every two Rakats in Tarawih. However, if Salam is said after four Rakats, the prayer will be valid, provided that one sits for the duration of Tashahhud (testification) after the second Rakat. However, performing four Rakats at a time is not preferable, and doing so intentionally is Makrooh (disliked).  
Therefore, without any compulsion or illness, one should not perform four Rakats at a time, but rather complete the twenty Rakats of Tarawih by saying Salam after every two Rakats.

*The Dua (supplication) recited after every four Rakats*
The famous Dua recited after every four Rakats of Tarawih is not found together in any narration or hadith, nor is there any Dua mentioned in the hadiths specifically related to Tarawih prayer. However, some jurists have arranged it for the convenience of the general public by combining Duas mentioned in various narrations, and its words are as follows:

"«Subhana dhil Mulki wal Malakut, Subhana dhil 'Izzati wal 'Azamati wal Qudrati wal Kibriya'i wal Jabrut, Subhanal Malikil Hayyil ladhi la yamut, Subbuhun Quddusun Rabbul Mala'ikati war-Ruh, La ilaha illallahu nastaghfirullah, nas'alukal jannata wa na'udhu bika minan-nar»".

It should be clear that reciting the aforementioned Dua is not obligatory. Therefore, the worshipper can recite other Tasbihs (glorifications), Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and recite the Holy Quran after completing every four Rakats.

*The ruling on one who abandons Tarawih prayer*
Tarawih is Sunnah Mu'akkadah (emphasized Sunnah). One who abandons it without a valid excuse is disobedient and sinful. The Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Companions, the Tabi'in, the Taba' Tabi'in, the Mujtahid Imams, and the righteous predecessors have consistently performed Tarawih prayers.


And Allah knows best.