Five daily prayers are one of the five pillars of Islam. In addition to these five regular daily prayers, there are quite a few optional or voluntary prayers in Islam. Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer that is known as the highly virtuous prayer.
Tahajjud (تَهَجُّد) is an Arabic expression that can be translated as “to stay awake at night” or, more precisely, in reference to Islamic traditions as “to wake up at night after sleeping, for worship”. Traditionally, the word tahajjud refers to a prayer that is offered after Isha and before Fajr prayer, preferably during the last part of the night, on waking up after sleep.
Although Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer in Islam, it is one of the most emphasized Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. The Prophet used to offer this prayer consistently and also repeatedly instructed his companions to do so.
In this guide, we will explain the correct and preferred time to offer Tahajjud prayer, and the correct method of offering it.
Understanding What Is Tahajjud Prayer
To better understand what Tahajjud prayer is, the 79th verse of Surah Al-Isra can be referred to, which explains its virtues in the following words:
وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَتَہَجَّدْ بِہٖ نَافِلَۃً لَّكَ۰ۤۖ عَسٰۗي اَنْ يَّبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُوْدً
Translation – Say a supererogatory prayer at the hour of the first watch: Your Lord may raise you to a most exalted station.
The above Quranic verse explains the characteristics and virtues of Tahajjud prayer as follows:
- It is an additional (voluntary) prayer, and not an obligatory one.
- It needs to be performed in the later part of the night, after waking up from sleep.
- It is a highly virtuous prayer and may raise the status of the one who offers it to “maqam-e-mahmood” (the most exalted station).
The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ used to perform this prayer regularly during the night and also emphasized to his companions to offer Tahajjud prayer regularly. Hence, it is practiced by Muslims as the most emphasized Sunnah of the Prophet.
The Correct and Preferred Time for Tahajjud Prayer
As the name suggests, it is a prayer that is offered during the night (Qiyam-al layl). Islamic scholars, in the light of various Hadith references, have explained that Tahajjud prayer can be offered any time after Isha prayer but before the start of the timings of Fajr prayer. Additionally, it is also associated with the Witr prayer, which is traditionally offered after the Isha prayer.
Hadith 990 of Sahih Al-Bukhari explains the timings and connection between Witr and Tahajjud prayer as follows:
Translation
Once, a person asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about the night prayer. Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) replied, “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.
Similarly, Hadith 751b of Sahih Mulsim narrates as follows:
Translate
Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Make Witr the end of your night prayer.
Accordingly, the scholars recommend the correct timings and number of Raka’ahs of Tahajjud prayer as follows:
- Tahajjud prayer is the night prayer, hence needs to be performed after offering Isha prayer but before the start of the timings of Fajr prayer.
- Tahajjud prayer is offered after Isha prayer, whereas witr is offered after Tahajjud prayer.
- The preferred and highly virtuous time of Tahjjud prayer is the third and last part of the night prayer. The virtues of this part of the night are mentioned in Hadith 1145 of Sahih Al-Bukhari as follows:
Translation
Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking my forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?
- Tahajjud prayer is to be offered in the form of two Raka’ahs each, up to as many as one can offer during the night, in multiples of two. At the end of Tahajjud prayer, Witr prayer must be offered, traditionally in the form of three Raka’ahs to make it in odd numbers, as explained in Hadith 990 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, referred above.
How to Calculate the Third Part of the Night?
The third part of the night can be easily calculated by following the procedure mentioned below:
- Calculate the total time (in hours) from the start of the night (Maghrib Prayer) till the start of the time of Fajr Prayer. For example, if night starts at 6 PM and ends at 5 AM, the total number of hours comes to 11.
- As per the above example, the last third part of the night would start at around 1:30, which is the most recommended and preferred time to offer Tahajjud prayer.
Sleeping Before Tahajjud – Waking Up From Sleep for Tahajjud
Traditionally, the best practice of performing Tahajjud prayer is to sleep after Isha prayer and then wake up in the last third of the night to offer Tahajjud prayer. Although it is also a Sunnah practice to sleep first and then rise up for Tahajjud prayer, it is not a compulsion by any means. According to the majority of scholars, sleeping before offering Tahajjud prayer is important for differentiating it from Isha prayer, but it is not a compulsion to do so.
Hence, if for any reason one is unable to sleep after Isha prayer and offers Tahajjud prayer, it is a valid action. However, the best practice and the true spirit of Tahajjud prayer is to offer it after waking up from sleep, in the last third of the night.
The Correct Procedure to Perform Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud prayer is just like any other optional or voluntary prayer. The procedure of offering Tahajjud prayer can be summarized as follows:
- Sleep after Isha prayer and wake up for Tahajjud prayer in the last third of the night.
- Make Wudu.
- Make intention (Niyyah).
- Offer Tahajjud prayer two Raka’ahs at a time.
- Repeat as many times as you can, in multiples of two, i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, and so on. The Sunnah is to perform up to 8 Raka’ahs.
- Recite as much from the Quran as you can. The best practice is to recite long Surahs of the Quran if you have memorized them.
- Make supplication at the end of the Tahajjud prayer.
- After completing the Tahajjud prayer, offer the Witr prayer, which marks the completion of night prayer.
IMPORTANT – If a person does not intend to pray Tahajjud, it is better for them to offer Witr prayer after Isha. On the other hand, if one has performed Witr after Isha prayer and then offers Tahajjud prayer, they should not repeat Witr prayer after Tahajjud.
FAQs
- What is the most preferred time to offer Tahajjud prayer?
Tahajjud prayer should most preferably be offered during the last third of the night, but before the start of the Fajr time.
- Is it allowed to offer Tahajjud prayer without sleeping?
Yes, there is nothing wrong with doing so, but the best practice is to sleep and then wake up for Tahajjud prayer.
- Is Tahajjud prayer obligatory?
No, it is a voluntary prayer but highly virtuous.
- Is it necessary to offer Witr prayer after Tahajjud prayer?
Yes, it is highly recommended and also a Sunnah to offer Witr after Tahajjud prayer.
- How many Raka’ahs are there in Tahajjud prayer?
Tahajjud prayer can be offered in multiples of two, i.e., two Raka’ah at a time. There is no fixed number of Raka’ahs in Tahajjud. However, the Sunnah is to offer 8 Raka’ahs.
Conclusion
Prayer (Salah) is one of the best forms of worship, and offering five regular daily prayers is part of the five pillars of Islam. Tahajjud is a prayer that is considered the most virtuous type of prayer, after the five regular prayers. It is a voluntary or Nafl prayer and has been a known practice of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Accordingly, offering Tahajjud prayer holds great significance, not only being a highly recommended Nafl prayer but also in following the Sunnah of the Prophet.
This prayer is offered in the last third part of the night, after offering the Isha prayer but before the start of the Fajr prayer. Tahajjud prayer is concluded with Witr prayer. Tahajjud prayer needs to be offered in multiples of two Raka’ahs, such as 2, 4, 6, 8, and so on, whereas Witr comprises three Raka’ahs. However, if the time of Fajr prayer approaches, only one Witr Raka’ah can also be offered to make the total Raka’ahs of night prayer in odd numbers.
