by Asma bint Shameem
Offering Tahajjud prayer regularly is one of the best deeds a person can do.
It increases imaan, helps us to control our nafs, develops khushoo and strengthens our relationship with our Creator, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
🍃Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala praises those who regularly pray Qiyaam al-Layl.
“They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allaah) and praying, with fear and hope]”
(Surah al-Dhaariyaat:17)
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” (Muslim)
🍃And he said:
“You should pray qiyaam al-layl, for it is the custom of the righteous who came before you and it brings you closer to your Lord, and expiates sins and prevents misdeeds.”
(al-Tirmidhi- hasan by al-Albaani)
🍃He ﷺ also said:
“In Jannah there are apartments the outside of which can be seen from the inside and the inside of which can be seen from the outside.”
A Bedouin stood up and said: “Who are they for, O Messenger of Allaah?”
He said: “They are for those who speak good words, feed others, fast regularly and pray to Allaah at night when people are sleeping.”
(at-Tirmidhi -hasan by al-Albaani)
🌷Is Tahajjud the same as Qiyaam al-Layl and Taraaweeh?
Qiyaam al-Layl is the time one spends in ibaadah at night and “includes” prayers, dhikr, reading Qur’aan etc.
While Tahajjud is specifically the ‘prayer’ that we pray at night.
And Taraaweeh is just the name given to Tahajjud/Qiyaam that’s done specifically in Ramadhaan.
🌷How to pray Tahajjud?
The night prayer is to be read two by two rak’aat.
🍃When a person asked the Prophet ﷺ about how to pray the night prayer, he ﷺ said:
"The night prayers are two by two” (al-Bukhaari)
🌷How many rak’aat should I pray?
You can pray from two rak’aat to as many as you like.
That’s because there’s no ‘limit’ to the Night prayers.
Although the Prophet ﷺ himself did not pray more than eight rak’aat, when a man asked him about the night prayer, (in the hadeeth above), he ﷺ did not specify a fixed number for the Night prayer; rather he left the matter open.
So pray as many rak’aat as Allaah enables you to.
🌷What is the Time for Tahajjud?
The time for tahajjud starts right after ishaa prayers and lasts until fajr adhaan.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The night prayers are two by two, then if one of you fears that dawn may come, he should pray one rak‘ah, which will make what he has prayed odd-numbered.” (al-Bukhaari 946 and Muslim 749)
But the BEST time to pray Tahajjud is the LAST THIRD of the night.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Prayer at the end of the night is witnessed, and that is better.” (Muslim)
🍃And he ﷺ said:
“The closest that the Lord is to His slave is in the last part of the night, so if you can be among those who remember Allaah at that time, then do so.”
(at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani)
The last third of the night is the time when Allaah descends to the first heaven and calls out to us.
🍃Allaah says:
“Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
If Allaah Himself is calling, wouldn’t we and SHOULDN’T we respond?
But that does not mean that you cannot pray tahajjud during other parts of the night.
It is BEST comparatively to pray in the last third but you can also pray in the first third or the second third.
🌷How to calculate the last third of the night ?
Count the total number of hours from Maghrib (sunset) till fajr. If it is 12 hours then divide it by 3. The first third will be 4 hours from Maghrib, the second third will be the next four hours and the last third will be four hours before fajr.
🌷You can read tahajjud even a few minutes before fajr
So if it's difficult for you to wake up three four hours before fajr because of work, kids etc. no worries.
You can wake up half hour, one hour, even TEN minutes before fajr and read two rakat and that will count as tahajjud.
Of course the more you do the better it is.
But start with something that is CONSISTENT even though it may be small.
🍃Someone asked the Prophetﷺ:
“Which deed is dearest to Allaah? He said: “That which is done persistently, even if it is little.” (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
🌷Do I need to sleep before I can pray Tahajjud?
Although some ulama are of the opinion that sleeping before tahajjud is preferred and more rewarding, it’s not necessary that we sleep before we can pray Tahajjud.
Tahajjud can be prayed any time after ishaa even if you didn’t sleep before it.
So if you’re up after ishaa and you’re not sure that you’ll wake up before Fajr, why don’t you go ahead and read a few, even two rak’aat of Tahajjud before you sleep and earn the pleasure of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala ?
QUESTION
Can I read directly from the Mus’haf if I don’t know long surahs?
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to read from the Mus-haf directly.
Just hold the Mus-haf or place it on a table or something in front of you and read as much of it as you want in each rak’ah, directly from the Book.
This way, you get to pray Tahajjud AND read more of the Qur’aan at the same time Alhamdulillaah.
🍃Someone asked Imaam az-Zuhri about reading from the Mus-haf in prayers.
He said:
“The best ones among us used to read from the Mus-hafs…”
🍃Our Mother Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa told her freed slave Dhakwaan to lead her in praying qiyaam and he used to read from the Mus-haf. (Al-Bukhaari)
🌷How to wake up for Tahajjud?
sleep early
try to sleep and wake up around the same time every day
Take a short midday nap
4. eat dinner early at least a few hours before bedtime.
use two or three separate alarms
don’t be on your laptop or phone just before bedtime
make wudhu when you go to bed
say the bedtime adhkaar
make duaa to Allaah to help you wake up
stay away from sins during the day especially music
keep good company
have a ‘tahajjud buddy’ so you can wake each other up
drink 2-3 glasses of water at bedtime.
This way you will “have” to wake up (to use the bathroom) by the time fajr arrives.
be motivated for tahajjud by reading all the virtues and rewards for those who pray this noble prayer regularly.
Last but not least, be SINCERE in your intention to worship Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala and please Him.
🍃Someone asked al-Hasan al-Basri:
“Why do the mutahajjadeen (those who regularly pray Tahajjud at night) have the most beautiful faces?”
He said, “Because they spend time alone with the Most Merciful, so He adorns them with some of His light.”
Come....let us be among the mutahajjadeen…
Come….let us brighten our faces with the Light Of Allaah.
And Allaah knows best.
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