Tahajjud Prayer: The Night Prayer of the Believers

Tahajjud prayer is the voluntary night prayer offered after sleeping and before Fajr.

It is the most virtuous prayer after the obligatory prayers and a time when Allah draws near to His servants.

Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ: “And from part of the night, pray with it as additional worship for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station” (Al-Isra 17:79).

This guide explains what Tahajjud is, its virtues, the best time to pray it, how many rak’ahs to pray, how to perform it step by step, what to recite, du’as for the night and practical tips for waking up consistently.

What Is Tahajjud?

The word tahajjud comes from the Arabic hujud, meaning sleep. Tahajjud means abandoning sleep to pray.

Scholars define it as voluntary prayer at night after sleeping.

The broader term qiyam al-layl (“standing at night”) includes any night prayer, whether before or after sleep, and Taraweeh in Ramadan is a form of qiyam al-layl.

Its ruling

Tahajjud was obligatory for the Prophet ﷺ according to many scholars, and is a highly emphasised Sunnah (sunnah mu’akkadah) for the ummah.

The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it, whether at home or travelling. If he missed it due to illness or sleep, he would pray twelve rak’ahs during the day.

Virtues of Tahajjud

The best prayer after the obligatory

“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer” (Muslim).

Allah descends

“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?” (Bukhari and Muslim).

A sign of the righteous

“They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:17-18).

“Their sides forsake their beds; they call upon their Lord in fear and hope… No soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes” (As-Sajdah 32:16-17).

Habit of the righteous

“Hold to the night prayer, for it was the practice of the righteous before you, it brings you closer to your Lord, expiates sins and prevents from wrongdoing” (Tirmidhi).

Honour of the believer

Jibril said to the Prophet ﷺ: “Know that the honour of the believer is his standing at night, and his dignity is his independence from people” (Tabarani, Hakim).

Paradise

“O people, spread the greeting of peace, feed the hungry, keep family ties and pray at night while people sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace” (Tirmidhi).

Strength for the day

Surah Al-Muzzammil describes night prayer as preparation for carrying a heavy message: “Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence of heart and tongue and more suitable for words” (73:6).

When to Pray Tahajjud

Tahajjud can be prayed any time after Isha until the start of Fajr, preferably after sleeping. The best time is the last third of the night, when Allah descends.

How to calculate the last third

1. Note the time of Maghrib (start of night) and Fajr.
2. Calculate the length of the night.
3. Divide by three.
4. Subtract one third from Fajr time.

Example: Maghrib at 6:00 pm and Fajr at 5:00 am gives an 11-hour night. One third is about 3 hours 40 minutes, so the last third begins around 1:20 am.

If waking in the last third is difficult, pray before sleeping or at any part of the night. The Prophet ﷺ prayed at the beginning, middle and end of the night at different times.

How Many Rak’ahs?

There is no fixed minimum except two rak’ahs (and Witr, which may be one). The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eleven rak’ahs, sometimes thirteen.

Aisha (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak’ahs in Ramadan or outside it” (Bukhari).

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The night prayer is two by two. When one of you fears the dawn, let him pray one rak’ah to make his prayer odd (Witr)” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Quality matters more than quantity. Two rak’ahs with long recitation and sincere du’a are better than many rushed ones.

How to Pray Tahajjud Step by Step

1. Wake up and say the du’a: “Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.”
2. Use the miswak as the Prophet ﷺ did.
3. Recite the last verses of Surah Aal-Imran (3:190-200), which the Prophet ﷺ recited upon waking.
4. Make wudu.
5. Begin with two light rak’ahs, as the Prophet ﷺ recommended.
6. Make the intention in your heart to pray Tahajjud for Allah.
7. Pray in sets of two rak’ahs, each like Fajr’s two rak’ahs.
8. Recite at length from what you know of the Quran.
9. Prolong ruku’ and sujud, making du’a in sujud.
10. End with Witr.
11. Make du’a and istighfar before Fajr.

Voice

The Prophet ﷺ advised a middle way between loud and silent recitation: “And do not recite too loudly in your prayer or too quietly, but seek between that a way” (17:110). Avoid disturbing others who are sleeping.

What to Recite

• Any surah you know well; long recitation is encouraged.
• The Prophet ﷺ once recited Al-Baqarah, An-Nisa and Aal-Imran in one rak’ah.
• Beginners can recite short surahs and gradually add more.
• Reciting from a mushaf in voluntary prayer is permitted by many scholars, which helps those who have memorised little.
• Reflect: the Prophet ﷺ would pause at verses of mercy to ask, at verses of punishment to seek refuge and at verses of glorification to glorify Allah.

Du’as for the Night

The opening du’a of the Prophet’s night prayer

“Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinn, wa lakal-hamd, anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinn… anta al-haqq, wa wa’dukal-haqq, wa liqa’uka haqq, wal-jannatu haqq, wan-naru haqq…” (Bukhari).

Du’a in sujud

“Allahumma inni a’udhu biridaka min sakhatik, wa bimu’afatika min ‘uqubatik, wa a’udhu bika minka, la uhsi thana’an ‘alayk, anta kama athnayta ‘ala nafsik” (Muslim).

Personal du’as

The last third is the best time to ask for anything: forgiveness, guidance, a spouse, children, healing, provision, success in exams or relief from debt. Ask in your own language with sincerity.

Tips for Waking Up for Tahajjud

1. Sleep early after Isha, as the Prophet ﷺ disliked talking after Isha without need.
2. Take a short afternoon nap (qaylulah).
3. Eat lightly at night.
4. Sleep in wudu and recite the sleep adhkar.
5. Make a sincere intention to wake up. “Whoever goes to bed intending to pray at night but sleep overcomes him until morning, what he intended is recorded for him, and his sleep is charity for him” (An-Nasa’i).
6. Use alarms and place the phone away from the bed.
7. Start small: two rak’ahs ten minutes before Fajr.
8. Avoid sins during the day. A man told Al-Hasan al-Basri that he could not pray at night. He said: “Your sins have shackled you.”
9. Wake your spouse: “May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays and wakes his wife, and if she refuses he sprinkles water on her face” (Abu Dawud), and likewise for a wife who wakes her husband.
10. Be consistent: a few rak’ahs every night are better than many occasionally.

Witr: Closing the Night Prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make the last of your prayer at night Witr” (Bukhari and Muslim). Witr can be one, three, five, seven, nine or eleven rak’ahs.

The most common way is three rak’ahs, either as two followed by one, or three together with one tashahhud at the end.

Du’a al-Qunut

Many Muslims recite Qunut in Witr, especially in the last rak’ah.

The Prophet ﷺ taught Al-Hasan ibn Ali the following: “Allahummahdini fiman hadayt, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a’tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu la yadhillu man walayt, tabarakta rabbana wa ta’alayt” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).

If you prayed Witr before sleeping

If you prayed Witr after Isha and then woke for Tahajjud, pray in twos and do not repeat Witr: “There are not two Witrs in one night” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).

If you fear not waking

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fears he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of it. Whoever is eager to get up at the end of it, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, and that is better” (Muslim).

Tahajjud for Women and Busy Parents

Night prayer is equally recommended for women.

A mother of young children who wakes for a crying baby may use those moments for two rak’ahs or for istighfar and du’a. If she cannot pray, her intention and remembrance are still rewarded.

Spouses can take turns caring for children so that each can pray.

A 30-Day Tahajjud Plan

Gradual progress makes the habit lasting. If you miss a night, do not give up; resume the next night.

A Four-Week Plan to Apply What You Learned About tahajjud prayer

Knowledge sticks when it is turned into a routine. Here is a simple four-week plan to build on this guide.

• Week one: Re-read this article slowly and write down the three points that were newest to you. Share one of them with a family member, because explaining an idea is one of the best ways to understand it.
• Week two: Connect the topic to your daily Quran reading. Each day, look for one verse or phrase in your portion that relates to tahajjud prayer, and note it in a small notebook.
• Week three: Ask questions. Bring anything that is still unclear to a qualified teacher, and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes a habit.
• Week four: Review your notebook, choose one practical change and commit to it for the next month. Small, consistent actions are more beloved to Allah than large efforts that do not last.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.”

Apply that principle here, and this topic will become part of your life rather than something you read once and forgot.

The Sweetness of the Night

Many who begin Tahajjud describe a sweetness they never found elsewhere. Persist through the difficult first weeks, and that sweetness will make waking up easier.

Keep a small du’a list beside your prayer mat so that, when you wake, you remember the needs of yourself, your family, friends and the ummah.

Many of the greatest answers to prayer have come in the stillness of the last third of the night, when the believer stands alone before his Lord.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tahajjud prayer?

A voluntary night prayer prayed after sleeping and before Fajr.

What is the best time for Tahajjud?

The last third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven.

How many rak’ahs is Tahajjud?

A minimum of two; the Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eleven including Witr.

Must I sleep before Tahajjud?

Strictly, tahajjud is after sleep, but night prayer before sleeping is still qiyam al-layl and rewarded.

Can I pray Tahajjud if I missed Isha?

Pray Isha first. Obligatory prayers come before voluntary ones.

Final Thoughts

Tahajjud prayer is a private meeting with Allah while the world sleeps. In the stillness of the last third of the night, du’as are answered, sins are forgiven and hearts find peace.

Start tonight with just two rak’ahs before Fajr. Ask Allah for what you need most, and let this quiet hour become the source of strength for every day that follows.