Tahajjud Prayer (Night Vigil)

What is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer performed after waking from sleep in the latter part of the night. It is the most virtuous of the voluntary prayers and a hallmark of the sincere and the righteous. Standing before God in the stillness of the night, when others sleep, is a deeply private act of devotion praised throughout the Quran.

The Honour of the Night Prayer

The Quran addresses the Prophet ﷺ directly: "And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will raise you to a praised station" (17:79). It describes the righteous: "They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness" (51:17-18).

The Best Voluntary Prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer" (Muslim 1163). He also taught that God descends (in a manner befitting His majesty) to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, saying: "Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him?" (Bukhari 1145).

How to Pray Tahajjud

• Performed after sleeping, in the latter part of the night before Fajr
• The last third of the night is the most virtuous time
• Prayed in pairs of two rakahs, with no fixed maximum
• A time when supplication is especially answered
• Often concluded with the Witr prayer

The Best Time for Tahajjud

Tahajjud may be prayed at any point in the night after Isha and a period of sleep, but the most virtuous time is the last third of the night, just before the pre-dawn (suhoor) hours. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends each night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" (Bukhari 1145). This makes the last third the most blessed time for supplication.

The Dua for Tahajjud

When the Prophet ﷺ rose for the night prayer, he would open with this supplication (part of a longer narration in Bukhari 1120):

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ

Transliteration: Allāhumma laka al-ḥamd, anta nūru as-samāwāti wa al-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka al-ḥamd, anta qayyimu as-samāwāti wa al-arḍi wa man fīhinn.

Meaning: "O Allah, to You belongs all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. And to You belongs all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them."

After the prescribed recitation, the worshipper should make abundant personal dua in the last part of the night — one of the times when supplications are most readily answered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Tahajjud and Tarawih?

Both are night prayers. Tarawih is specific to the nights of Ramadan and prayed in congregation after Isha; Tahajjud is prayed throughout the year after waking from sleep, usually individually, in the last part of the night.

How many rakahs is Tahajjud?

There is no fixed number. The Prophet ﷺ often prayed it in sets of two rakahs; one may pray as many as one is able, with focus and devotion.