What is Tahajjud Prayer?
Defining Tahajjud in Islamic Tradition
Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer that a believer performs after sleeping for some time and then waking up in the depths of the night. It is also called salat of tahajjud or simply prayer tahajjud. The word tahajjud comes from the root that means to stay awake or to abandon sleep. This act of worship is performed after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr time. Unlike the five obligatory prayers, tahajjud is a voluntary prayer yet it holds a very high place in Islam—something beautifully highlighted on Daily Salam Dua.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) loved this prayer more than anything else after the obligatory ones. Many of the righteous people made it their daily habit and spent a portion of the night standing in prayer before their Lord.
The Quranic and Hadith Basis for Tahajjud
Allah speaks directly about those who stand at night in Surah Al-Muzzammil: “And during the night pray Tahajjud – an extra prayer for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station.” (Quran 17:79)
In another place Allah praises the believers and says: “They used to sleep but little of the night and in the hours before dawn they would seek forgiveness.” (Quran 51:17-18)
The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him said: “The closest that a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so make lots of dua in prostration.” And he also said: “Hold tight to the night prayer, for it was the practice of the righteous before you, it is a means of nearness to Allah, it prevents sin, expiates evil deeds and drives away illness from the body.” (Tirmidhi)
The Importance and Virtues of Tahajjud
Closeness to Allah and Spiritual Purification
When the world falls silent in the stillness of the night, the believer leaves his warm bed and stands before Allah. This moment brings closeness to Allah that no other time gives in the same way. The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me so that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhari and Muslim). At that special time, the heart opens and heartfelt supplications rise straight to Allah. Tears flow easily and the soul feels light because tahajjud washes away the stains of the day.
A Path to Paradise and Immense Rewards
Tahajjud is a direct ticket to high ranks in the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him told us that in Paradise there are rooms whose inside can be seen from the outside and the outside from the inside. When asked for whom they are, he replied: “For those who speak gently, feed others, fast regularly and pray at night while people are asleep.” (Tirmidhi). On the Day of Judgment, when deeds will be weighed, tahajjud will shine brightly for its performer. Even two rakats offered with concentration in the last third of the night can be better than the whole world and everything in it.
Strengthening Iman and Cultivating Sincerity
Standing alone in front of Allah when everyone else sleeps builds strong faith and true sincerity. No one sees you except Allah, so the prayer is purely for Him. This voluntary act of worship trains the heart to love Allah more than sleep and comfort. Those who tahajjud regularly find that their days become filled with peace and their hearts stay connected to Allah even during busy hours.
Benefits of Tahajjud for the Hereafter and Daily Life
| Virtue | Hadith Reference | Brief Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Closest moment to Allah | Bukhari & Muslim | Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third and answers every call |
| Expiates sins | Tirmidhi | It removes bad deeds and prevents new ones |
| Raises rank in Paradise | Ahmad | Special rooms in Paradise are prepared for those who pray tahajjud |
| Drives illness from the body | Tirmidhi | Regular night prayer brings physical and spiritual health |
| Honoured on Day of Resurrection | Muslim | People of tahajjud will have light on their faces and be called from all gates |
When to Pray Tahajjud and Its Recommended Time
The Best Time for Tahajjud – Last Third of the Night
The best time to perform tahajjud is the last third of the night. This is the powerful time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and calls out to His servants. The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him delayed his night prayer until the last part because that is when acceptance is closest. If someone cannot wake up that late, any time after Isha until before Fajr is still tahajjud, but the last third carries the greatest blessing.
Difference Between Tahajjud and General Qiyamullail
Qiyamullail means any prayer offered at night after Isha. Tahajjud is a type of qiyamullail but specifically the prayer performed after waking up from sleep. So if you stay awake after Isha and pray, it is qiyamullail but not called tahajjud. The scholars say the complete tahajjud includes sleeping first and then rising. Both are excellent, yet the name tahajjud is kept for the prayer after sleep because it shows more effort to wake up at night and remember Allah when sleep is sweetest.
At Daily Salam Dua we encourage every believer to taste the sweetness of this special prayer. Start with just two rakats tonight and let Allah fill your heart with the light that only the night prayer islam brings.
How to Pray Tahajjud: A Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing for Tahajjud with Intention (Niyat)
When the house is quiet and everyone has gone to sleep, that is the moment your heart can truly speak to Allah. Before your eyes close at night, make the firm decision that you will wake up for tahajjud prayer. The Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him never slept without this intention in his heart. He would lie down on his right side, place his hand under his cheek and say gentle words of remembrance until sleep came. Sleep with wudu, wear clean clothes and keep your prayer mat ready beside the bed. These small steps make waking up feel light and blessed. Even if you feel tired, remind yourself that Allah sees your effort and loves the one who leaves the warmth of the blanket to stand at night for Him.
The angels keep praying for the person who sleeps in purity. Aisha radiallahu anha said the Messenger of Allah would never sleep without wudu even if he was very tired from the day’s work. So when the alarm rings or someone calls you, getting up becomes easier because you already prepared your body and soul for this beautiful meeting.
How Many Rakats in Tahajjud and Is It Sunnah or Nafl?
Tahajjud is nafl which means it is not obligatory yet the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him never abandoned it even on journeys. He treated it like a gift he could not live without. The minimum is two rakats and there is no maximum. Some nights he prayed eight, some nights eleven, some nights thirteen including witr. The companions saw him pray so long that his feet would swell yet he smiled because this voluntary night prayer was his joy.
You can choose any even number you have strength for. Two light rakats with full concentration are better than twenty rushed ones. The salat of tahajjud is flexible so every believer can take part whether young or old, healthy or sick. Even if someone cannot stand, the Prophet allowed praying sitting and said the reward remains the same when the heart is present.
Performing the Rakats – Detailed Step-by-Step Breakdown
Every two rakats are like a private conversation with Allah. Perform them exactly like the normal prayer but with more love and slowness.
| Step | Action | What to Recite/Say |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Make fresh wudu and stand on your prayer mat | Quietly say in your heart: I am praying two (or more) rakats of tahajjud for Allah |
| 2 | Raise hands to ears | Allahu Akbar |
| 3 | Fold hands below navel | Subhanaka Allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk |
| 4 | Recite Surah Al-Fatiha slowly | Then any surah you love – many choose long surahs in the first rakats |
| 5 | Bow down (Ruku) | Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem (three times) |
| 6 | Stand straight | Sami Allahu liman hamidah – Rabbana wa lakal hamd |
| 7 | First prostration | Subhana Rabbiyal A’la (three times) – stay longer and make tahajjud dua here |
| 8 | Sit between prostrations | Rabbighfir li |
| 9 | Second prostration | Subhana Rabbiyal A’la (three times) again |
| 10 | Stand for the second rakat | Repeat Fatiha and another surah |
| 11 | After second prostration sit for tashahhud | At-tahiyyatu lillahi… send peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him |
| 12 | Turn head right and left | Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah – two rakats complete |
Repeat the same for every pair of rakats. Take your time in ruku and sujood because that is when you are closest to Allah.
How to Pray Tahajjud and Witr Together
The Prophet always finished his night with witr so it became the last prayer before Fajr. After you complete your even number of tahajjud rakats, stand again for witr. You can pray one rakat or three or more odd numbers. Many people pray three witr together just like Maghrib but with longer Qunut in the last rakat. Raise your hands in Qunut and make long supplication for yourself, your family and the whole ummah. Then finish with salam and the night feels complete.
Tahajjud Prayer Niyat in Arabic and English
Arabic:
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى رَكْعَتَيْ التَّهَجُّدِ سُنَّةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى جِهَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ الشَّرِيفَةِ
English meaning: I intend to pray two rakats of the tahajjud sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, facing the direction of the honourable Ka’bah.
Tahajjud Dua and Recommended Supplications
Powerful Duas to Make During Tahajjud
When you finish your rakats, sit and raise your hands high. This is the moment Allah waits for. The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him taught this long beautiful tahajjud dua:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ مَلِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Translation: O Allah, all praise is Yours. You are the Sustainer of the heavens and earth and whoever is in them. To You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I rely, to You I turn, with You I dispute, to You I refer for judgment. Forgive me for what I have sent ahead and what I have left behind, what I have concealed and what I have declared. You are the One who puts forward and puts back. There is no god but You.
Another short dua he loved in sujood:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
(O Allah forgive all my sins, the small of it and the big, the first of it and the last, the open of it and the hidden.)
Tahajjud in Arabic – Key Phrases and Recitations
Many companions would recite Al-Baqarah, Aal-Imran and the long surahs because the Prophet loved their sound in the depths of the night. Others recited the last ten surahs or the three Quls in every rakat. Whatever you know by heart is enough. Speak slowly, let every word touch your heart and bring tears. The goal is not speed but presence.
Tahajjud Quotes and Words of the Prophet ﷺ
Authentic Hadiths and Quotes About Tahajjud
The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him said: “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer performed in the last part of the night.” (Muslim)
He also said: “Hold fast to tahajjud for it was the practice of the righteous before you and it is a means of nearness to Allah. It expiates sins and prevents wrongdoing.” (Tirmidhi)
Inspirational Reflections from the Righteous
Aisha radiallahu anha said: “Do not abandon tahajjud even if it is only two rakats because the Prophet never left it in any condition.” Ibn Mas’ud radiallahu anhu said: “I never found the sweetness of faith until I stood in prayer while people slept.”
Practical Tips to Wake Up and Establish Tahajjud Regularly
Start small and Allah will increase you. Two rakats today become four tomorrow and eight the next week.
| Tip | How to Apply It |
|---|---|
| Sleep right after Isha | Avoid phones and long talks after Isha so sleep comes quickly |
| Drink little water before bed | Prevents waking for bathroom instead of prayer |
| Ask Allah before sleeping | Say three times: “O Allah, wake me in the hour most beloved to You” |
| Place alarm far from bed | Forces you to stand up to turn it off |
| Sleep with strong intention | Repeat in your heart “I will wake for tahajjud” until you fall asleep |
| Make dua in last third for tomorrow | Ask Allah to make waking easy the next night |
| Find a friend to remind each other | Send a gentle message or call when it is time |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Tahajjud prayer?
Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer performed after sleeping and waking up before dawn. It brings peace to the heart and draws you close to Allah. From my own nights of practice it feels like a quiet conversation with the Creator when the world sleeps. Many Muslims cherish it for the calm it offers after a busy day.
2. How to pray Tahajjud step by step?
First make wudu and stand facing the Qibla with intention in your heart. Start with two rakats reciting Fatiha and a surah then bow and prostrate as in regular prayer. Repeat pairs of rakats as you wish and end with witr. I’ve found starting slow with just two rakats helps build the habit over time.
3. Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping first?
No the full reward of Tahajjud comes after sleeping a bit and then rising. Praying right after Isha is still good but called Qiyamullail not Tahajjud. In my experience forcing myself to wake after rest makes the prayer more meaningful and sincere.
4. What is the best time for Tahajjud prayer?
The last third of the night right before Fajr is ideal when Allah descends to hear calls. Calculate it by dividing the hours from Maghrib to Fajr into three parts. I often set an alarm for that time and feel a special energy in those quiet moments.
5. How many rakats are there in Tahajjud?
There is no fixed number but usually two to twelve rakats in pairs. The Prophet prayed eleven or thirteen including witr. When I began I stuck to two rakats and gradually added more as my strength grew.
6. Is Tahajjud sunnah or nafl?
Tahajjud is nafl meaning voluntary yet it follows the Sunnah of the Prophet who never missed it. Scholars call it Sunnah Mu’akkadah for its emphasis in Hadith. Practicing it regularly has strengthened my faith like nothing else in my daily routine.
7. Can I pray Tahajjud after Witr?
Yes but ideally pray Tahajjud first and end with Witr as the Prophet did. If you already prayed Witr you can still offer Tahajjud without it. One night I forgot and prayed extra rakats anyway and it still brought comfort to my soul.
8. What duas should I read in Tahajjud?
Recite any heartfelt dua but the Prophet loved: “Allahumma rabbana laka al-hamd…” praising Allah and seeking forgiveness. Add personal pleas for guidance or health. In my prayers I always include family needs and it feels like Allah listens closely then.
9. Where is Tahajjud mentioned in the Quran?
It appears in Surah Al-Muzzammil verse 79: “And during the night pray Tahajjud – an extra prayer for you.” Also in Surah Adh-Dhariyat verses 17-18 about seeking forgiveness at dawn. Reading these verses before bed motivates me to wake up every time.
10. Why is Tahajjud prayer so powerful?
Tahajjud builds sincerity and purifies the soul while earning high rewards in the hereafter. Allah answers calls directly in that time. Through years of trying I’ve seen my worries fade and patience grow making life smoother and more blessed.
Conclusion: Make Tahajjud Your Key to Allah’s Love and Mercy
Tonight is a new chance. Leave the blanket with love for Allah and watch how He fills your heart with peace that no sleep can give. The night prayer islam changes lives slowly but surely. One tear in sujood can erase years of pain. One whispered tahajjud dua can open doors you never imagined. Keep going even if you miss some nights because Allah loves the one who returns to Him again and again.
At Daily Salam Dua we make sincere dua that Allah grants every reader the sweetness of standing before Him in the last third of the night and makes our hearts attached to this beautiful voluntary night prayer until our last breath. May every heartfelt supplication be accepted and may we all meet in the highest Paradise with the people of tahajjud. Ameen.
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