Salat al-Tahajjud

The Quranic Command

“And rise during the night except a little — half of it, or subtract from it a little, or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation. Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word. Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.” (73:1-6 — Surah al-Muzzammil)

“And from the night, arise [for prayer] as an additional [act of devotion] (nafila) for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station.” (17:79)

The maqam mahmud (praised station) mentioned in 17:79 is understood by most scholars as the station of shafa’a al-kubra (the greatest intercession) — the Prophet’s intercession for all of humanity on the Day of Judgment. Tahajjud is the path to this station.

“[They] used to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn, they would ask forgiveness.” (51:17-18) — describing the muttaqin (the pious, who will enter Paradise).

The Prophet’s Tahajjud

The Prophet’s tahajjud is described in multiple narrations:

‘A’isha’s description: “The Prophet used to pray at night until his feet would swell. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this while Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?’ He said: ‘Should I not be a grateful servant?’” — Bukhari

The length: The Prophet would typically pray 8 rak’as of tahajjud followed by 3 rak’as of Witr (the odd-rak’a night-closing prayer). Ibn ‘Abbas narrated the Prophet’s tahajjud as 11 rak’as total (8 + 3). — Bukhari

The quality: The Prophet would recite long portions of the Quran — sometimes a single surah spanning multiple rak’as. He never rushed.

Consistency: The Prophet never abandoned tahajjud. When travel or illness interrupted his night prayer, he would make it up (qada’) during the day.

The Time of Tahajjud

Technical definition: Tahajjud is prayed after sleeping and then waking — distinguishing it from qiyam al-layl (general night prayer) which can be prayed before sleeping.

The preferred time: The final third of the night — approximately the last 1.5-2 hours before Fajr.

The Prophet (SAW): “Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me so that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?’” — Bukhari, Muslim

The divine’s “descent” in this hadith is understood as an intensification of divine nearness and attentiveness — the final third of the night is the moment when the divine’s mercy is most accessible.

The most beloved night: The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) in the final ten nights of Ramadan is the zenith of tahajjud opportunity — “better than a thousand months” (97:3).

See also: Laylat Al Qadr, Ramadan Guide

How to Perform Tahajjud

The method follows the general method of voluntary prayer (two rak’as at a time):

Set an alarm or intention the night before to wake in the final third of the night
Make wudu
Pray a minimum of 2 rak’as (there is no maximum; the Prophet prayed up to 13 rak’as including Witr)
Recite Surah al-Fatiha + another surah in each rak’a (longer surahs are preferred)
End the night prayer with Witr: at least 1 rak’a with the du’a’ al-Qunut
If possible, sit in tafakkur or du’a’ after the final Witr until Fajr

The du’a’ at the start of tahajjud: Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet would begin tahajjud with:

“Allahumma laka al-hamd, Anta Qayyim al-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Wa laka al-hamd, Anta Noor al-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Wa laka al-hamd, Anta al-Haqq, wa wa’duka al-Haqq…”

“O Allah, to You is all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You is all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You is all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is truth…” — Bukhari

See also: Morning Evening Adhkar, Dhikr, Muhasaba

Witr: The Closing Prayer

Al-Witr (the Odd-Number Prayer) is the conclusion of the night prayer — minimally 1 rak’a, most commonly 3, also 5, 7, or 9. The Prophet (SAW): “Make Witr the last of your night prayers.” — Bukhari, Muslim

In the 3-rak’a form:

Rak’a 1: al-Fatiha + Surah al-A’la (87)
Rak’a 2: al-Fatiha + Surah al-Kafirun (109)
Rak’a 3: al-Fatiha + Surah al-Ikhlas (112) [and optionally al-Falaq + al-Nas]

Du’a’ al-Qunut: In the final rak’a’s ruku’ (bowing) or after ruku’, the du’a’ al-Qunut is recited:

“Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a’tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt. Fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk…”

“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me wellness among those You have granted wellness, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have given me, protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For You decree and nothing is decreed against You…” — Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi (from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib)

The Spiritual Station of Tahajjud

Tahajjud is the prayer of intimacy — not the prayer of communal obligation (Salah) but the private meeting with the divine that the Prophet prioritized above all voluntary acts.

Why the night?: The Quran says (73:6): “The hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue].” At night, the distractions of the world are gone — the soul is alone with the divine. The sincerity of a prayer prayed at 3 AM when no one sees is different from the sincerity of a prayer prayed at noon in the mosque.

The Ismaili dimension: In the Ismaili tradition, tahajjud is the time of the believer’s most intimate contact with the Imam through du’a’. The Imam’s spiritual reality is most accessible when the world is silent — the “night” of sitr is when the sincere seeker’s tahajjud-prayer reaches its destination most directly.

Salat al-Tahajjud — The Night Vigil Prayer