Best Practices to Begin and End Tarawih - Dua al-Khatam

Q: Are there any best practices you would recommend when beginning tarawih prayer on the first night and concluding it on the last?

A: It is recommended to begin tarawih on the first night with Surah al-Qalam, meaning Surah al-ʿAlaq (Iqraʾ bismi rabbika [96:1]) after al-Fātiḥah, as it was the first revelation of the Qur’an.

After performing the prostration of recitation, one should stand and continue reciting from Surah al-Baqarah, as explicitly stated. There appears to be a supporting narration for this practice.

The completion of the Qur’an should take place in the last rakaʿah of tarawih on the last night. After completing its recitation, before bowing (rukūʿ), the Imam should make a long supplication (duʿāʾ) while raising his hands as explicitly stated.

Regarding supplication after completing the Qur’an, a widely reported supplication includes:

اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي بِالْقُرْآنِ وَاجْعَلْهُ لِي إمَامًا وَنُورًا وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً اللَّهُمَّ ذَكِّرْنِي مِنْهُ مَا نُسِّيت وَعَلِّمْنِي مِنْهُ مَا جَهِلْت وَارْزُقْنِي تِلَاوَتَهُ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَاجْعَلْهُ لِي حُجَّةً يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

“O Allah, have mercy on me through the Qur’an, make it my guide, a light, guidance, and mercy for me. O Allah, remind me of what I have forgotten from it, teach me what I am ignorant of, and grant me the ability to recite it by day and by night. Make it a proof in my favor, O Lord of the worlds.”

No explicit mention of this duʿāʾ was found in the words of the scholars, but when Imam Aḥmad was asked about what to supplicate with, he replied, “Whatever you wish.”

The preferred approach when it comes to such supplications is to use authentic, transmitted supplications, since the Prophet (peace be upon him) was granted comprehensive speech (jawāmiʿ al-kalim) and did not leave any need for additional supplications beyond what he taught.

Source: Sharh al-Muntaha & Kashshaf al-Qina