I am finding Tarawih very difficult!

[Bewal Express]

In recent yrs i have made more of an effort to read Tarawih but i find it increasingly difficult. I find that my mind wonders everywhere as the Koran is read. I wish i could understand what was being read but like everyone else there except our Mufti, i understand a word here or there but 99% by-passes me. The question i keep asking myself is-is it pious to read Tarawih when i dont understand what is being read.

[BD-fan]

Salaam Brother,
May be reading the Quran's translation (for that day) after Asr Prayers would help you better. It is an Arabic Quran. For us non-Arabs, may Allah Subhawa tala make it easy on us. Mimicing helps. The reward of Tarawhi is only known to Allah Subhana wa tala on how many times He would multiple of a regular sunnah prayers.

[Golden arm]

on a side not, please see taraveh is not FARD, so dont go for every taraveh, infact this is what Prophet did.

[Bewal Express]

Its just that if the mind is wondering constantly-how can that be a pious act?

[Badsha]

Kabir, the best way is to maybe read the translation of the passage he is going to read before hand.


I think the problem you have is very common, thinking of making a system where the ticker of translation goes infront of us during tarawih.

[Bewal Express]

I also think that the tragedy is that Hafiz reading the Quran also doesn`t really understand what he is reading. Arabic should be taught properly in all mosques, not just by rote learning. I can imagine Tarawih being a great experience if i could understand Arabic.

[Cosmic]

Do you guyz think that even arabs understand it then you guyzzzz are wrong???????????.

[Badsha]

The arabic in Quran is quite different from normal day arabic.


Well maybe not quite different but different. Quranic Arabic is like classic urdu or old English

[Bewal Express]

If a recall a story from Dr Zakir correctly-An imam from Pakistan went to some Arab country and read an Ayat from the Koran in which Hazrat Yousef was thrown into the well but due to the fact that he couldn`t understand what he was reading he forgot to bring him out again(please correct its wrong) but it reminds me of non Arabic imams and their followers.

[amateurdentist]

well what i do is.
ask my imam what passage he is going to read in the next tarawih. then i read that passage with translation before and after zuhr and asr(it takes only 10 minutes) and then during tarawih i keep a small Quran in my pocket and read from it along with the imam.
try that i think your mind will not wander

[FusedBulb]

Originally Posted by kabir000 In recent yrs i have made more of an effort to read Tarawih but i find it increasingly difficult. I find that my mind wonders everywhere as the Koran is read. I wish i could understand what was being read but like everyone else there except our Mufti, i understand a word here or there but 99% by-passes me. The question i keep asking myself is-is it pious to read Tarawih when i dont understand what is being read.

Please know that listening to Quran EVEN if you don't understand the meaning is a good deed in itself and it definitely earns you hasanaat (sawaab). Ask yourself, isn't it good to listen to Quran attentively rather than surfing the net, wasting time watching a movie, hanging out on street with friends etc?

So for starters, don't quit going to mosque and stop attending taraweeh just because shaitaan has put this "waswasa" (Confussion) in your heart that sorta discourages you from attending taraweeh.

There are few things you can do. Always remember ,,, Allah looks at your intention and how honestly have you tried to follow Quran and Sunnah to please Him. Perhaps none of us can bring 100% Islam in our lives ... it's all about how honestly have we tried. Meekness, docility and humblesness is the key here ... you don't wanna go on extremes in the name of "trying".

So keep in trying and don't quit taraweeh even though you don't understand.
As the brother said above .. ask the imam as what juz (para) are they going to recite and then read or listen to it's translation on your way driving back n forth to Mosque. There are many free smart phone Quranic recitation and translation apps.

There is; however, another extremely important issue related to it.
IF attending full 20 rakaat taraweeh is making you sleep deprived to a point that God forbids you are missing out on Fajr prayer then please remember that Fajr is FARZ (Mandatory) while taraweeh is Sunnah.
You can reduce it to 8 rakaat taraweeh so that you get enough sleep to get up for Fajr. 8 Rakaat will also give you break and give you an easy to start to listen to translation and learn little by little every day. But if you can do 20 rakaat taraweeh and also get for Fajr than Ballay he Ballay.

Finally, a very important thing as a reminder to myself, you and all those who are reading this ...

To protect your heart from Shatiaan indulgences to put "Waswasa" (confusions) in your heart, receite " LA HOLA WALLAH QUWWATA ILLAH BILLAH" one 100 times every day in serenity and with concentration.

You will see the difference only a few days ... you will find your soul to be feather light yet powerful enough to keep you on the path of Allah ... Wallah alam.

[khan-92]

To make our prayers full of concentration and sincerity we need to make dua to Allah.
Regarding tarawih best tip is to read the translation before hand what will be read in tarwaee Insha'Allah this should help you concentrate more and after Ramadhan make intention to learn arabic.
Listening to Qu'ran is also a very rewarding act even if you do not understand what is being recited so do not lose hope.

[pakistanalltheway]

Originally Posted by Badsha Kabir, the best way is to maybe read the translation of the passage he is going to read before hand. I think the problem you have is very common, thinking of making a system where the ticker of translation goes infront of us during tarawih.

Lol I was thinking about this the other day . How about an ear piece that translates like they use at the UN .

[pakistanalltheway]

You don't have to be Arab to understand . Our old hafiz was good he understood everything and he displayed emotion . He has been reading the taraweeh for 20 + years and the retarded masjid comitee go and kick him out . Now we have 2 Arabs who are good but the the old Hafiz is so popular the masjid has halved .
BTW what I do is read the English translation before hand or watch the live taraweeh from Makkah that has subtitles in English .

[PetroDollars]

The reason why people read the quran and namaz in arabic is because its sunnah, unfortunately what they dont understand is that it was the language at the time of the prophet and they understood it like we understand english or urdu, therefore what they are doing is not sunnah and only will be sunnah once they learn arabic which is the old one and modern day arabic.

[Justcrazy]

To understand Quran in true sense you need to learn Arabic, there is no shortcut. Even you read the translation before hand , I guess it will be difficult to follow.

I really doubt that too many people understand what is been read in Taraweeh.

[cric_craze]

The best way to benefit from taraweeh in my opinion is listen to the recitation or recite it in arabic reading english translation along. You will pick up words when you hear them being reciting in taraweeh. You make this a habit, Inshallah your love for the Quran will increase.

Tanzil.net is a great website, find a reciter you prefer and move your cursor over the verse and the english translation will appear. Ask the imam or someone where you pray taraweeh what para/juz they are on. Hope it helps.

[Bewal Express]

I know its too late for me but the teaching in mosques needs to improve and not stuck in the past. All mosques should teach Arabic like languages are taught in Schools.