11-27-2003, 08:44 PM
تَرَاوِيح taraaweeh
It is the plural of the word تَرْوِيحَة tarweehah which means ‘A single rest’, and therefore means ‘lots of single rest’.
Thus, the prayer known as salaat al-taraaweeh is so-called because there is a little break or period of rest after each pair of rak’ahs, and sometimes a longer one after every four rak’ahs.
Another related word is راحة raahah which refers to rest, or ease, and also جلسة الاستراحة jalsat al-istiraahah which is the extremely short period of sitting in prayer between performing the prostration {Sujood} and coming up to the standing position {Qiyaam}.
Wallaahu a3lam.