Qiayam al-Layl in Ramadan after `Isha’ is called Tarawih because righteous people before our time used to rest after every four rak'at as their prayers were lengthy. If a Muslim does not pray Tarawih, there is no sin on him for that, whether he has an excuse or not, because it is not obligatory. Rather Tarawih is sunnah mu’akkadah, a confirmed practice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Narrated Zaid bin Thabit: The Prophet (ﷺ) took a room made of date palm leaves mats in the mosque. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed in it for a few nights till the people gathered (to pray the night prayer (Tarawih) (behind him.) Then on the 4th night the people did not hear his voice and they thought he had slept, so some of them started humming in order that he might come out. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "You continued doing what I saw you doing till I was afraid that this (Tarawih prayer) might be enjoined on you, and if it were enjoined on you, you would not continue performing it. Therefore, O people! Perform your prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the compulsory congregational) prayer." (See Hadith No. 229,Vol. 3) (See Hadith No. 134, Vol. 8) Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7290; Book 96, Hadith 21; Vol. 9, Book 92, Hadith 393
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Tarawih) prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever performs (optional Tarawih) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah's reward, will have his past sins forgiven." [Muslim]. Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1188; Book 8, Hadith 198
The Prophet did not assign any number for tarawih prayer because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The night prayers are two (rak‘ahs) by two, then if one of you fears that dawn is about to break, he should pray one rak‘ah, so as to make what he has prayed odd-numbered.” So he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not specify a particular number of rak‘ahs. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever prays qiyam with the imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him the qiyam of a (whole) night.” (An-Nasa’i and authenticated by Al-Albani)
It was also narrated that Ubayy bin Ka'b said: "In the first rak'ah of witr, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High;" in the second; "Say: O you disbelievers!" and in the third; "Say: He is Allah, (the) One." (Grade: Sahih) Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1700; Book 20, Hadith 103; Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1701
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مِنَ الْوَتْرِ بِـ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } وَفِي الثَّانِيَةِ بِـ { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } وَفِي الثَّالِثَةِ بِـ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ }
Tarawih prayer is one of the remarkable specialties of Ramadan nights; for the whole month, Muslims line up at night to observe a number of optional rak'at and listen to and reflect on the recitation of the Qur’an. It is a very blessed and highly spiritual experience.
Women fill prayer areas during Ramadan
It is better for a woman to pray in her house than in the mosque, whether that is an obligatory or supererogatory (nafil) prayer, including Tarawih prayer.
1. A woman’s praying in her house is better for her than her praying in the mosque, whether it is an obligatory or supererogatory prayer, Tarawih or otherwise.End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah – vol. 1 (7/201)
2. A woman may pray Tarawih at home according to whatever she is able to do, paying attention to the Sunnah as much as possible.
If she has memorized the entire Book of Allah and she is able to make the prayer lengthy, then she may pray eleven rak‘ahs, or thirteen, praying two by two, then praying Witr at the end.
If she cannot make her prayer lengthy, then she should pray two by two, whatever Allah has decreed that she should pray, then when she thinks that she has done as much as she is able to, she should pray Witr at the end, with one rak‘ah.
3. A woman does not have to have memorized the Qur’an in order to pray Tarawih in her house; rather if she has memorized it, or a goodly amount of it, she may pray with whatever she has memorized of the Qur’an.
4. If she was not able to memorize enough to help her pray at home, there is no blame on her, or on any man, if they pray reading from the Mus-haf (printed copy of the Qur’an). Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If there is a need to read from the Mus-haf, for one who is an imam leading the prayers, or a woman who is praying Tahajjud at night, or a man who has not memorized the Qur’an, there is nothing wrong with that. End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (8/246)
5. If there are a number of women in the house, there is nothing wrong with her leading them in praying in congregation. She should stand in the middle of the row, and recite whatever she is able to, and if she reads from the Mus-haf there is nothing wrong with that. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is better for a woman to pray in her house, even if there is a mosque in which Tarawih prayers are held, and if she prays in her house, there is nothing wrong with her leading other women in the house in prayer. In this case, if she has only memorized a little of the Qur’an, she may read from the Mus-haf. End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen.
6. There is nothing wrong with a woman praying Tarawih or other prayers in the mosque, with the congregation of men, especially if that will be more effective in encouraging her to offer a lengthy prayer, and will help her to do that regularly, even if offering prayers – both obligatory and supererogatory – at home is better for her – in principle – than her offering prayers in the mosque.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the Islamic ruling on a woman praying Tarawih in the mosque?
He replied: The basic principle with regard to a woman’s prayer is that her home is preferable and better for her, but if she thinks that there is an interest to be served by praying in the mosque, so long as she covers herself properly, because that is more motivating for her, or because she can benefit from listening to lessons, then there is nothing wrong with that, praise be to Allah. It is also good because of what it involves of great benefits and encouraging people to do righteous deeds.
He was also asked: Is it permissible for a woman to pray Tarawih in the mosque with the men?
He (may Allah have mercy on him) replied: Yes, it is mustahabb for her to do that if she fears that she will be lazy at home, otherwise her house is better. But if there is a need for that, there is nothing wrong with it. The women used to offer the five daily prayers with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), although he said: “Their houses are better for them.”
But some women may feel lazy or unmotivated at home. So if she goes out to the mosque, fully covered and observing hijab, and avoiding any wanton display, with the aim of praying and listening to people of knowledge, then she will be rewarded for that, because this is a righteous aim. End quote from Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (9/489)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: It is better for her to pray Taraweeh at home, but if praying in the mosque is more motivating for her and helps her to focus better, and if she prays at home she fears that she may neglect her prayer, then in this case the mosque may be better. End quote from al-Liqa’ ash-Shahri.
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Sunnah, Islam QA, The Book of Ramadan, http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/15477