Tahajjud Prayer...is also known as Qiyamul-layl...The
tahajjud prayer is a night prayer which is performed by getting up at night
after having a sleep a while after isha prayer. It was obligatory upon every
Muslim before five daily prescribed prayers became an obligation during the
first periods of Islam.
tahajjud prayer is a night prayer which is performed by getting up at night
after having a sleep a while after isha prayer. It was obligatory upon every
Muslim before five daily prescribed prayers became an obligation during the
first periods of Islam.
And with the event of miraj (The night of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh)
miraculous journey to heaven (the 27th of Rajab)), when the five daily
prescribed prayers’ being obligation has been stabilized, the tahajjud prayer
has been changed into a nafila worship (a supererogatory and rewarded worship),
yet in order to be a peculiar tradition for prophet, it had become an obligatory
worship for only Our Prophet (pbuh). And this is revealed in the chapter of Isra,
79th verse. Since Our Prophet (pbuh) had specific worships on some matters such
as charity and alms, there was some worship which was peculiar to him, either.
And the tahajjud prayer was one of them.
In his famous work, Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq elaborates on the
subject as follows:
Ordering His Messenger to perform Tahajjud, Allah Almighty says what means:
*{And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you;
maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.}* (Al-Israa’ 17:79)
This order, although it was specifically directed to the Prophet, also refers to
all Muslims, since the Prophet is a perfect example and guide for us in all
matters.
Moreover, performing Tahajjud Prayers regularly qualifies one as one of the
righteous and makes one earn Allah's bounty and mercy. In praising those who
perform the late night Prayers, Allah says what means:
*{And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and
standing.}* (Al-Furqan 25:64)
Next to these Qur’anic verses, there also exist a number of hadiths that
reinforce the importance of Tahajjud.
`Abdullah ibn Salam reported:
“When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, the people
gathered around him and I was one of them. I looked at his face and understood
that it was not the face of a liar. The first words I heard him say were: ‘O
people, spread the salutations, feed the people, keep the ties of kinship, and
pray during the night while the others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in
peace.’” (At-Tirmidhi.)
Salman Al-Farsi quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Observe the night Prayer; it was the practice of the righteous before you and
it brings you closer to your Lord and it is penance for evil deeds and erases
the sins and repels disease from the body.” (At-Tabarani)
Etiquette of Prayer
The following acts are recommended for one who wishes to perform the Tahajjud
Prayer:
* Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention to perform the Prayers. Abu
Ad-Darda' quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the
night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for
him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of
mercy) for him from his Lord.” (An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)
* On waking up, it is recommended that one wipes the face, use a toothbrush, and
look to the sky and make the supplication which has been reported from the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Abu Hudhaifa reported:
"Whenever the Prophet intended to go to bed, he would recite: (With Your name, O
Allah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say:
(All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die
(sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection.)" (Al-Bukhari)
* One should begin with two quick rak`ahs and then one may pray whatever one
wishes after that. `A’ishah said:
“When the Prophet prayed during the late-night, he would begin his Prayers with
two quick rak`ahs.” (Muslim)
* It is recommended that one wakes up one's family, for Abu Hurairah quoted the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“May Allah bless the man who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his
wife and who, if she refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may
Allah bless the woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her
husband and who, if he refuses, sprinkles water on his face.” (Ahmad)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“If a man wakes his wife and prays during the night or they pray two rak`ahs
together, they will be recorded among those (men and women) who (constantly)
make remembrance of Allah.” (Abu Dawud.)
* If one gets sleepy while performing Tahajjud, one should sleep. This is based
on the hadith narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who quoted
Allah’s Messenger as saying:
“When one of you gets up during the night for Prayer and his Qur’anic recital
gets mixed up to the extent that he does not know what he says, he should lie
down.” (Muslim.)
miraculous journey to heaven (the 27th of Rajab)), when the five daily
prescribed prayers’ being obligation has been stabilized, the tahajjud prayer
has been changed into a nafila worship (a supererogatory and rewarded worship),
yet in order to be a peculiar tradition for prophet, it had become an obligatory
worship for only Our Prophet (pbuh). And this is revealed in the chapter of Isra,
79th verse. Since Our Prophet (pbuh) had specific worships on some matters such
as charity and alms, there was some worship which was peculiar to him, either.
And the tahajjud prayer was one of them.
In his famous work, Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq elaborates on the
subject as follows:
Ordering His Messenger to perform Tahajjud, Allah Almighty says what means:
*{And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you;
maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.}* (Al-Israa’ 17:79)
This order, although it was specifically directed to the Prophet, also refers to
all Muslims, since the Prophet is a perfect example and guide for us in all
matters.
Moreover, performing Tahajjud Prayers regularly qualifies one as one of the
righteous and makes one earn Allah's bounty and mercy. In praising those who
perform the late night Prayers, Allah says what means:
*{And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and
standing.}* (Al-Furqan 25:64)
Next to these Qur’anic verses, there also exist a number of hadiths that
reinforce the importance of Tahajjud.
`Abdullah ibn Salam reported:
“When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, the people
gathered around him and I was one of them. I looked at his face and understood
that it was not the face of a liar. The first words I heard him say were: ‘O
people, spread the salutations, feed the people, keep the ties of kinship, and
pray during the night while the others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in
peace.’” (At-Tirmidhi.)
Salman Al-Farsi quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Observe the night Prayer; it was the practice of the righteous before you and
it brings you closer to your Lord and it is penance for evil deeds and erases
the sins and repels disease from the body.” (At-Tabarani)
Etiquette of Prayer
The following acts are recommended for one who wishes to perform the Tahajjud
Prayer:
* Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention to perform the Prayers. Abu
Ad-Darda' quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the
night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for
him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of
mercy) for him from his Lord.” (An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)
* On waking up, it is recommended that one wipes the face, use a toothbrush, and
look to the sky and make the supplication which has been reported from the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Abu Hudhaifa reported:
"Whenever the Prophet intended to go to bed, he would recite: (With Your name, O
Allah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say:
(All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die
(sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection.)" (Al-Bukhari)
* One should begin with two quick rak`ahs and then one may pray whatever one
wishes after that. `A’ishah said:
“When the Prophet prayed during the late-night, he would begin his Prayers with
two quick rak`ahs.” (Muslim)
* It is recommended that one wakes up one's family, for Abu Hurairah quoted the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“May Allah bless the man who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his
wife and who, if she refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may
Allah bless the woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her
husband and who, if he refuses, sprinkles water on his face.” (Ahmad)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“If a man wakes his wife and prays during the night or they pray two rak`ahs
together, they will be recorded among those (men and women) who (constantly)
make remembrance of Allah.” (Abu Dawud.)
* If one gets sleepy while performing Tahajjud, one should sleep. This is based
on the hadith narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who quoted
Allah’s Messenger as saying:
“When one of you gets up during the night for Prayer and his Qur’anic recital
gets mixed up to the extent that he does not know what he says, he should lie
down.” (Muslim.)
Recommended Time for Tahajjud
Tahajjud may be performed in the early part of the night, the middle part of the
night, or the latter part of the night, but after the obligatory `Isha’ Prayer
(night Prayer)
While describing the Prophet’s way of performing Prayer, Anas (may Allah be
pleased with him) said:
“If we wanted to see him praying during the night, we could see him praying. If
we wanted to see him sleeping during the night, we could see him sleeping. And
sometimes he would fast for so many days that we thought he would not leave
fasting throughout that month. And sometimes he would not fast (for so many
days) that we thought he would not fast during that month.” (Al-Bukhari, Ahmad
and An-Nasa’i.)
Commenting on this subject, Ibn Hajar says:
“There was no specific time in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) would perform his late night Prayer; but he used to do whatever was easiest
for him.”
Best Time for Tahajjud
It is best to delay this Prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu
Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night,
inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking
something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I
may forgive him?’” (Al-Bukhari)
`Amr ibn `Absah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
“The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter
portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah the Exalted
One at that time, then do so.” (At-Tirmidhi)
The Number of Rak`ahs in Tahajjud
Tahajjud Prayer does not entail a specific number of rak`ahs that must be
performed, nor is there any maximum limit that may be performed. It would be
fulfilled even if one prayed just one rak`ah of Witr after `Isha’.
Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“The Messenger of Allah ordered us to pray during the night, a little or a lot,
and to make the last of the Prayer the Witr Prayer.” (At-Tabarani and Al-Bazzar)
What should we recite at night prayers?
Our Prophet, used to recite long chapters during qiyam (standing up position in
a prayer) at the night prayers. Those were the chapters such as Baqarah, Nisa or
Al-Imran. And he used to keep long the rukuh (bowing position in a prayer) and
prostrations as well. He used to think about the deep meaning of the verses.
Following the prayers, he often used to supplicate concisely, remember Allah,
and aplenty used to repent and ask for forgiveness.
Here, the criterion should be as follows: We should choose a recital which we
can apply it any time and suitable with our time and potential. However, even if
we do not it every time, when we are convenient, we can recite long chapters.
For example, as one may recite a short chapter or several verses at every rakah,
also s/he may recite a page or the chapters such as Ya’sin, Fatih, Rahman,
Tabarake or Amme
Tahajjud may be performed in the early part of the night, the middle part of the
night, or the latter part of the night, but after the obligatory `Isha’ Prayer
(night Prayer)
While describing the Prophet’s way of performing Prayer, Anas (may Allah be
pleased with him) said:
“If we wanted to see him praying during the night, we could see him praying. If
we wanted to see him sleeping during the night, we could see him sleeping. And
sometimes he would fast for so many days that we thought he would not leave
fasting throughout that month. And sometimes he would not fast (for so many
days) that we thought he would not fast during that month.” (Al-Bukhari, Ahmad
and An-Nasa’i.)
Commenting on this subject, Ibn Hajar says:
“There was no specific time in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) would perform his late night Prayer; but he used to do whatever was easiest
for him.”
Best Time for Tahajjud
It is best to delay this Prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu
Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings be upon him) as saying:
“Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night,
inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking
something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I
may forgive him?’” (Al-Bukhari)
`Amr ibn `Absah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
“The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter
portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah the Exalted
One at that time, then do so.” (At-Tirmidhi)
The Number of Rak`ahs in Tahajjud
Tahajjud Prayer does not entail a specific number of rak`ahs that must be
performed, nor is there any maximum limit that may be performed. It would be
fulfilled even if one prayed just one rak`ah of Witr after `Isha’.
Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“The Messenger of Allah ordered us to pray during the night, a little or a lot,
and to make the last of the Prayer the Witr Prayer.” (At-Tabarani and Al-Bazzar)
What should we recite at night prayers?
Our Prophet, used to recite long chapters during qiyam (standing up position in
a prayer) at the night prayers. Those were the chapters such as Baqarah, Nisa or
Al-Imran. And he used to keep long the rukuh (bowing position in a prayer) and
prostrations as well. He used to think about the deep meaning of the verses.
Following the prayers, he often used to supplicate concisely, remember Allah,
and aplenty used to repent and ask for forgiveness.
Here, the criterion should be as follows: We should choose a recital which we
can apply it any time and suitable with our time and potential. However, even if
we do not it every time, when we are convenient, we can recite long chapters.
For example, as one may recite a short chapter or several verses at every rakah,
also s/he may recite a page or the chapters such as Ya’sin, Fatih, Rahman,
Tabarake or Amme
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