Tahajjud Prayer

Tahajjud is a highly recommended voluntary prayer performed in the last third of the night, after waking from sleep. It is one of the most spiritually rewarding acts of worship and a mark of closeness to Allah.

"And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is obligatory for you. Perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station." (Al-Isra 17:79)

Niyyah (Intention)

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالٰى صَلَاةَ التَّهَجُّدِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ۞

Neveytu en u salliye lillahi teala salatett-teheccüdi rak'ateynı lillahi teala, Allahu ekber.

How to Perform

Tahajjud is prayed in pairs of 2 rak'ahs, with salam after each pair. There is no fixed number — the Prophet ﷺ commonly prayed 8 rak'ahs followed by Witr. Elongate the recitation, ruku and sujud as much as you are able — the last third of the night is when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and answers supplications.

Timing

Tahajjud begins after the Isha prayer and ends at the start of Fajr. The best time is the last third of the night — approximately 90 minutes before Fajr.

Opening Dua

The Prophet ﷺ began Tahajjud with this dua (narrated by Ibn Abbas, Bukhari & Muslim).

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

Allahumme lekel hamdu ente nurus semavati vel ardi ve men fiyhinn. Ve lekel hamdu ente kayyimus semavati vel ardı ve men fiyhinn. Ve lekel hamdu entel hakku ve va'dukel hakku ve likauke hakkun ve kavluke hakkun vel cennetu hakkun ven naru hakkun ven nebiyyune hakkun ve Muhammedun hakkun ves saatu hakkun. Allahumme leke eslemtu ve bike amente ve aleyke tevekkeltu ve ileyke enabtü ve bike hasemtu ve ileyke hakemtu, fagfir li ma kaddemtu ve ma ahahhartu ve ma esrertu ve ma a'lentu entel mukaddimu ve entel mu'hhiru la ilahe illa ente.

Note: (اِقْتَدَيْتُ بِالإِمَامِ) is used only for the fard prayer when praying in congregation (with an imam).