Tahajjud is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah (SWT). This special prayer helps Muslims draw closer to Allah, seek forgiveness for their sins, and become a means of receiving Allah’s mercy. However, many people often ask: What exactly is Tahajjud? How to pray Tahajjud? What is the time for Tahajjud namaz? In this article, we will discuss all these questions in detail, so that every believer can understand the importance of Tahajjud and learn the correct way to perform it.
What is Tahajjud Prayer?
Tahajjud, also known as Qiyam al-Layl, is a special voluntary prayer that Muslims perform during the night before Fajr (dawn) prayer. The word “Qiyam al-Layl” means “standing in the night.”
The believers wake up from their sleep at night to stand before Allah (SWT), weeping with humility, seeking forgiveness for their sins, and making heartfelt duas (supplications).
Although Tahajjud is not obligatory like the five daily prayers, it holds great importance in Islam. It is a way to gain closeness to Allah, earn His pleasure, and invite His mercy into one’s life.
Significance of Tahajjud in the Light of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith
Quran About Tahajjud
The Qur’an highlights the status of those who sacrifice their sleep for worship:
Allah (SWT) says:
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ – وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ –
“They used to sleep but little by night, and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.”
— Surah Al-Dhariyat 51:17–18
Allah ﷻ praises those who pray at night in the Qur’an:
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًۭا وَقِيَـٰمًۭا-
They are (those who) spend a good portion of˺ the night, prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord.
— Surah Al-Furqan 25:64
Hadiths About Tahajjud
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ
“The most excellent prayer (after what is obligatory) is the prayer offered during the middle of the night.”
— Sahih Muslim 1163
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself used to pray Tahajjud regularly and would never leave it, except when he was unwell.
Narrated by Hazrat Aisha RA:
“In my house, he (Prophet (p.b.u.h) ) never passed the last hours of the night but sleeping.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1133
Time for Tahajjud Prayer
The time for Tahajjud begins after the Isha prayer and lasts until the Fajr prayer. During this period, anyone who wakes up from sleep can perform the Tahajjud prayer.
However, the best time for offering Tahajjud is the last third of the night. The latter part of the night is a blessed time when duas are accepted, sins are forgiven, and one can gain closeness to Allah (SWT). This has been clearly mentioned in the Hadith, where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
“Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758
How to pray Tahajjud
The step-by-step method for performing the Tahajjud prayer is described in various authentic narrations. Here it is;
Make Niyyah (Intention)
After performing the Isha prayer, before going to sleep, make a sincere intention in your heart that you will wake up to pray Tahajjud for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, and then go to sleep.
Wake Up and Perform Wudu (Ablution)
Wake up at any time of the night before Fajr. However, it is best to wake up in the last third of the night. After waking up, perform a proper wudu (ablution) in preparation for Tahajjud prayer.
Pray two rak‘ahs at minimum
The Tahajjud prayer is offered in units of two rak‘ahs.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The night prayer is offered as two Rak`at followed by two Rak`at and so on and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one Rak`ah and this will be a Witr for all the Rak`at which he has prayed before.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 990, Sahih Muslim 749
Number of Rak‘ahs
The minimum number of rak‘ahs for Tahajjud is two. Beyond that, a person may pray as many as they are able. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would usually pray eight rak‘ahs of Tahajjud, and then conclude with three rak‘ahs of Witr prayer, completing his night prayer in this way.
Narrated `Aisha:
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer eleven rak`at and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Qur’an) before he would lift his head. He used to pray two rak`at (Sunna) before the Fajr prayer and then used to lie down on his right side till the call-maker came and informed him about the prayer.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1123
End with Witr Prayer
It is Sunnah to conclude the night prayer with Witr.
Benefits of Tahajjud Prayer
1. Closeness to Allah
When a person sacrifices their sleep at night and stands before Allah (SWT) solely for His pleasure, it brings them closer to their Lord. While others are asleep, this servant is humbly bowing and weeping before their Creator, strengthening their bond of love and devotion with Him.
2. Forgiveness of Sins
Those who wake up at night to worship Allah (SWT) and seek His pleasure are blessed with His mercy. Allah accepts their duas (supplications) and forgives their sins, granting them a fresh chance to live with a purified heart.
3. Way to Paradise
Those who spend their nights in the remembrance of Allah and remain engaged in His worship are promised Paradise. This has been mentioned in the Hadith.
Abdullah ibn Salam (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‘O people! Spread (the greeting of) Salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam.”
— Sunan Ibn Majah 3251