Every Ramadan, whether it be due to strict parents or self willingness, a large portion of the teenage population prays Taraweeh. I am a teen who falls in the former category. This special prayer, held before Isha and after Maghrib, consists of twenty rakaats. If one can ensure he prays all throughout the month, he or she will have finished the Holy Quran. All seriousness aside, here are some of the types of people that I’ve noticed throughout the years.The FootballersSkinny kids, always showing up to Taraweeh in an Arsenal or Barcelona t-shirt. Most of them don’t seem too happy to be there.The 8ersThey leave after eight rakaats. If you have an adult with you, these are the kids you really envy.The smart 8ersLeave after eight rakaats, and goes to eat ice cream. They come back for the last two so that nobody checks or notices.The 10ersLeave after 10 rakaats because all the “8ers” have gone so no one cares.The ghostAttends the first Taraweeh, disappears till Eid salah 30 days later. Reminds me of someone. Okay now that I think about it, it's probably myself. The OCD unclePatrols the back row and sends all the youngsters in to the next row, but doesn't go himself.Ruku warriorGoes into ruku during third rakaat of Witr. Oh boy, this guy is so ridiculed when he sees everyone else standing.ClownLaughs at the guys who went into ruku during Witr. They tend to stand back up after sejdah on the last rakaat (oh the irony).Marriage seekerWill ask you after every Taraweeh if you’ve found him a wife yet. “I'm a young musallee with a large fortune. However I am single and I wish to be settled in a family and perform my duties as a Muslim.” Don’t fall for that and give him the number of an unmarried woman. Trust me when I say this, you’ll regret it.BelcherBurps and knocks out row after row, rakaat after rakaat. Nobody knows what he has for iftar. ScreamerThe alif in his aameen is longer than the entire Taraweeh. This guy has a very loud voice too.ReverserBegins praying Taraweeh in the front row and keeps going back after every round. They finish Taraweeh in the last row for a swift exit. Smart.CampersOn the first Taraweeh, they come at Asr to put their prayer mats on specific spots beneath the fans; nobody dares to move it. Thats their position now for the entire month.Young talentHe’s the little kid who makes his mark all the way in the front row, but the chairmen and elders keep pushing him back till he's in the fourth. Probably the most enthusiastic person in the mosque. What a shame.HeadbuttersRight after sejdah, something is bound to happen. You know where I’m going with this...brother behind you gets a little to close and headbutts you in the backside. This is motivation to finish the rest of your prayers, of course.Mid-rakaat nappersThe ones who do an extra long sejda but you just know deep inside they're having a quick 30 second nap.ChiropractorAlways straightening the rows. Surprisingly, when you look back after completing prayers, they aren’t there anymore.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
