Thousands of worshippers gathered at Mambaul Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Blitar on Tuesday night to participate in the ‘fast-paced Tarawih prayer,’ a tradition dating back to 1907.
This unique practice, introduced by KH Abdul Ghofur, completes 23 rak’ahs in just 10 minutes, making it one of the fastest Tarawih prayers in the world. Despite its rapid pace, scholars at the boarding school ensure that all pillars of prayer are properly fulfilled according to Islamic law.
The tradition continues to attract worshippers from across East Java, especially farmers and workers seeking a time-efficient way to engage in Ramadan prayers. While the fast-paced Tarawih lasts only minutes, another boarding school in the region contrasts this by holding an eight-hour-long prayer with a full recitation of the Quran.
For over a century, Blitar’s lightning-fast Tarawih has remained a unique and cherished part of Ramadan, drawing thousands eager to embrace both speed and spirituality in their worship.
