[Q 587] Practice of Completing Qur’an in Taraweeh

QUESTION:

What is reason by reading 3 iklhas and doing surah fatiha and some surah baqrah when doing katam is it sunnah if so can you provide source

ANSWER:

During Tarawih (Taraweeh – special night prayers in Ramadan), at the time of completing the Qur’an, it is Mustahab (recommended) to recite Surah al-Fatihah and Mu‘awwidhatayn (last two surahs: al-Falaq and an-Nas) in the 19th rak‘ah, and in the 20th rak‘ah to recite Surah al-Fatihah and a portion of Surah al-Baqarah (for example up to “أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ”). However, if someone does not do this and suffices upon Surah an-Nas, the completion of the Qur’an is still valid.

The basis of this comes from some Ahadith (sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), among which are the following:

حضرت عبداللہ بن عباس رضي الله تعالى عنهما narrates that a man asked: O Messenger of Allah! Which action is most beloved to Allah? He صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: «الحال» and «المرتحل» (the one who settles and the one who departs). He asked: What does that mean? He صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: “The one who recites the Qur’an from beginning to end, and whenever he finishes, he starts again.”

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 2948)

حضرت أُبَيّ بن كعب رضي الله تعالى عنه narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, when he completed قل أعوذ برب الناس, would begin again with Surah al-Fatihah, then recite Surah al-Baqarah until “أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ”, then make the supplication of completing the Qur’an and thereafter stand.

(Jami‘ al-Bayan fi al-Qira’at al-Sab‘ by Abu ‘Amr al-Dani, 4/1747)

Based on these narrations, the scholars (‘Ulama – Islamic scholars) have written that after completing the Qur’an in Tarawih, one should immediately begin another recitation so that this blessed cycle continues and does not stop. However, it should be clear that this act is Mustahab (recommended). If one does not do so and suffices upon Surah an-Nas, the completion of the Qur’an is still achieved.

Similarly, reciting Surah al-Ikhlas three times is done with the intention of attaining the reward of a complete Qur’an, because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم stated that Surah al-Ikhlas is equal to one-third of the Qur’an. Thus, reciting it three times brings the reward equivalent to one full Qur’an. Also, repeating a single verse in a Nafl (optional) prayer is proven from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. Since Tarawih is a Nafl (optional) prayer, repeating Surah al-Ikhlas in it is permissible without dislike. However, in Fard (obligatory) prayers, repeating a surah without excuse is Makruh (disliked).

Regarding the virtue of Surah al-Ikhlas, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:
«﴿قل هو الله أحد﴾ ثلث القرآن»
Translation: Surah al-Ikhlas is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.

(Shu‘ab al-Iman, vol. 4, p. 147)

In Bahar-e-Shari‘at, it is mentioned regarding reciting Surah al-Ikhlas three times in Tarawih:
“When the completion is done, it is better to recite ﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ﴾ three times, even if it is in Tarawih. However, if the completion occurs in a Fard prayer, then it should not be recited more than once.”

(Bahar-e-Shari‘at, vol. 1, part 3, p. 551)

Furthermore, Sadr al-Shari‘ah رحمه الله states in Fatawa Amjadiyyah:
“Since Surah al-Ikhlas carries the reward equal to one-third of the Qur’an, reciting it three times has been regarded as Mustahab (recommended) so that the reward of the entire Qur’an may be obtained.”

(Fatawa Amjadiyyah, vol. 1, p. 242)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 22nd March 2026.