Short answer
There is no fixed dua from the Prophet ﷺ for the pause after every four rakat. In the Hanafi school it is mustahabb to sit for about the length of four rakat, and you may spend it in any dhikr, tasbih, Quran or silent prayer. The well-known tasbih beginning Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut is fine to say, but it is not a required sunnah.
Sitting for a rest (tarwiha) after every four rakat, and before witr, about as long as the four rakat, is mustahabb. During it people may make tasbih, recite, pray nafl individually or stay silent. No particular words are required.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The name taraweeh comes from tarwiha, a rest. The early Muslims prayed long rakat and sat after every four to recover. Aisha described the Prophet's ﷺ night prayer as four rakat of beautiful length, then another four, which matches this pattern of fours.
What to do in the pause. The Hanafi texts say the worshipper is free. The people of Makkah used to make a round of tawaf in the pause, and the people of Madinah prayed four extra rakat instead. Today you can:
- Say tasbih, tahmid, tahlil and takbir, or send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Make istighfar or your own dua.
- Recite or listen to the Quran quietly.
- Simply sit and rest.
The popular tasbih. Many masjids say a tasbih that begins Subhana dhil-mulki wal-malakut (Glory be to the Owner of the dominion and the kingdom). Later Hanafi books mention it, and its meaning is sound, so there is no harm in it. But it is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ, so do not treat it as a required part of taraweeh or think the prayer is lacking without it. Saying it quietly, each person alone, is closer to the spirit of the pause than a loud group chant.
After the last set, many people make dua before or after witr. For the full method, see how to pray taraweeh, and for general remembrance see the dhikr list.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:35
إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا ﴿٣٥﴾
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
Any remembrance of Allah in the pause is rewarded.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1147
Sahih... يصلي أربعا فلا تسل عن حسنهن وطولهن ثم يصلي أربعا ...
"He would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful and long they were, then pray four more."
The night prayer was prayed in units of four, which is the basis of the rest after every four rakat.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on witr and nawafil, section on taraweeh. Sitting after every four rakat is mustahabb, and people choose between tasbih, recitation, nafl or silence.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on nawafil, section on taraweeh. The pause after every four rakat is mustahabb and has no fixed dhikr.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.