How to Pray Tahajjud and Its Benefits

Introduction

Tahajjud (تهجد) — also called qiyam al-layl, salat al-layl — is the voluntary night prayer that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would raise after waking from his rest. It is considered the most sublime corroboration of love for Allah: when a servant leaves his bed and rest to converse alone with his Lord.

Allah describes:

"And in part of the night, pray Tahajjud as an extra for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station." (Quran 17:79)

The time of Tahajjud

The best time for Tahajjud is the last third of the night — the hour before dawn — because Allah descends to the lowest heaven, as the Qudsi hadith relates:

"Our Lord, blessed and exalted be He, descends every night to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night and says: 'Whoever calls upon Me, I will answer him; whoever asks of Me, I will give him; whoever seeks My forgiveness, I will forgive him'' (Bukhari 1145, Muslim 758).

• Tahajjud may be prayed at any time between Isha and the birth of Fajr time, but it is preferable after sleeping and then waking — the word tahajjud specifically means "abandoning sleep for prayer".
• If this is difficult, you may pray before sleeping, though you lose the merit of overcoming sleep.

How to pray Tahajjud

Number of rak'ahs

Tahajjud is prayed two by two. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The night prayer is two by two, two by two; and if you fear dawn, pray one rak'ah that makes odd (witr) what you have prayed" (Bukhari 472, Muslim 749).

The most attested practice of the Prophet was 8 rak'ahs plus 1 of witr = 11 rak'ahs. On some nights he prayed 13. There is no fixed minimum or maximum; two rak'ahs fulfil Tahajjud.

Recitation

Recitation in Tahajjud may be long — the Prophet ﷺ would recite extensive surahs. In one narration, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: "The Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Baqarah in the first rak'ah and Al-Imran in the second, and this lasted until the light of dawn appeared" (Muslim 773). It is not obligatory, but the Muslim may choose according to his capacity and time.

Prolongation

Tahajjud was a constant practice of the Prophet ﷺ. Aisha said: "He would perform Tahajjud until his feet swelled. I said to him: 'Messenger of Allah, why do you do this when Allah has forgiven your past and future faults?' He replied: 'Should I not be a grateful servant?' (Bukhari 1130).

Witr — the closure of night prayer

Witr (وتر — odd) is prayed at the end of Tahajjud. It is a single rak'ah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has prescribed for you a prayer that is better for you than red camels: Witr" (Abu Dawud 1418, sahih).

The Qunut du'a

In the middle of the witr rak'ah, before or after ruku (depending on schools), the Prophet ﷺ taught Hasan ibn Ali the Qunut du'a:

"O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, preserve me among those You have preserved, bless me among those You have blessed, protect me from the evil You have destined, for You decree and none decrees upon You...

(full version in Abu Dawud 1425, sahih).

Benefits of Tahajjud

1. It is the best voluntary prayer after the obligatory: "The best prayer after the obligatory is the prayer of the night" (Muslim 1163).
2. It is the sign of the righteous and a tradition of previous prophets.
3. It is strength for body and heart — the Quran describes the quality of sincere believers: "They forsake their beds to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided" (Quran 32:16).
4. It is armour against sin — when the soul becomes accustomed to night worship, the day's sins weaken.
5. It guarantees response: the Qudsi hadith of divine descent promises response to whoever calls in these hours.

Distinction from Tarawih

Tarawih is Tahajjud in congregation during Ramadan — it was institutionalised by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and is traditionally prayed just after Isha. Individual Tahajjud throughout the year may be prayed in the last third of the night, which is its optimal time.

Practical tips

• Start with 2 rak'ahs minimum and add gradually.
• Recite what is easy for you; the Quran is first.
• If you wake to the adhan of Fajr, pray Witr first if it is your habit.
• If you sleep before praying Tahajjud, you may "pray it upon waking with the night's intention" (Bukhari 592) — its compensatory intention during the day.
• Sleep early and reduce screen use at night to make waking easier.

Conclusion

Tahajjud is the clearest proof of love for Allah — leaving the bed at the sweetest point of rest is the most persuasive language of the heart. A brief rak'ah before dawn, with the letters of the Quran on the lips and tears in the eyes, is worth a thousand hours of the day.