Tahajjud

🌙

The night prayer of the beloved servants

Tahajjud

صَلَاةُ التَّهَجُّدِ

Time

After Isha and any sleep, before Fajr. The best time is the last third of the night.

Rak'ahs

Minimum 2 rak'ahs, no maximum (typically 2, 4, 6 or 8), followed by Witr

Overview

Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer prayed in pairs of two rak'ahs after having slept. It was obligatory upon the Prophet ﷺ and is the most beloved of the voluntary prayers.

Virtue

"‘Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, saying: 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 & Muslim)"

How to perform

1

Sleep some part of the night after Isha. Set an intention before sleeping to wake up for Tahajjud.

2

On waking, wipe the face, recite the last verses of Surah Al-'Imran (‘Inna fi khalqis-samawati wal-ard...’), and use the miswak.

3

Make wudu with care and begin with two light rak'ahs (Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ).

4

Pray in pairs — two rak'ahs at a time. Lengthen the recitation, ruku' and sujud as much as you can.

5

Between pairs, sit briefly, make du'a and dhikr.

6

Conclude with an odd-numbered Witr (1, 3, 5 or 7 rak'ahs).

7

Pour your heart out in du'a in the last third of the night — this is the hour of divine descent.

Opening du'a of the night prayer

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ

Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinn. Wa lakal-hamd, anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinn. Wa lakal-hamd, antal-haqq, wa wa'dukal-haqq, wa liqa'uka haqq, wa qawluka haqq, wal-jannatu haqq, wan-naru haqq, wan-nabiyyuna haqq, wa Muhammadun (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) haqq, was-sa'atu haqq.

"O Allah, all praise is for You. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them. All praise is for You; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them. All praise is for You. You are the Truth, Your promise is true, meeting You is true, Your word is true, Paradise is true, the Fire is true, the Prophets are true, Muhammad ﷺ is true, and the Hour is true."

Notes

  • 💡 If you cannot pray at night, praying Witr after Isha still counts.
  • 💡 Quality > quantity — a few sincere rak'ahs are better than many rushed ones.