Tahajjud prayer is one of the most beautiful things a Muslim can add to his daily routine that can be done in the last third of the night.We can show in detail What time is the last third of the night. He can wake up half an hour before dawn to pray, supplicate, and read the Quran, because of its spiritual and mental benefits and strengthens the relationship between us and God Almighty. The Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) said: The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.
What is the exact time for Tahajjud?
Some people asked “l offer my Tahajjud salah 10 min before the Fajr salah that is right or not “
I’ll tell you my Muslim brother, all you need.
- The beginning of the Tahajjud prayer is by finishing the Ishaa prayer until the end of the night (before dawn). The best time for the Tahajjud prayer is the last third of the night. God Almighty descends to the lowest heaven and says: Is there anyone who calls, so I may respond to him? Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness so I may forgive him? Is there anyone who asks? So please give it to him.
- One of the best habits, we can add after Tahajjud salah, that brings us closer to God is to read the Quran and recite it in the language in which it was revealed, If you have a passion for discovering more about Quran, We can help you to know more detail about Our Quran Memorizing Course
Read more about: What Did Muhammad Said Before He Died
What time is the last third of the night?
The best time for Tahajjud salah is at ⅓ at night, about 15 minutes from fajr time. Can you know now How much one-third of the night to know the time for Tahajjud salah;
- To know the correct time to wake up for the Tahajjud prayer, take an example if the Isha call to prayer is called at 8 pm and Fajr at 5 am, meaning the difference between them = is 9 hours, 9/3 = 3 so from 8 to 11 is considered the first part, from 11 to 2 second, from 2 to 5 the third and that’s is the best time.
- If you cannot wake up from 2 am to 4 am, you can wake up half an hour before dawn to pray Tahajjud, recite the Qur’an, and recite dhikr until dawn.
Read more: Laylatul Qadr Surah in English
How to Perform the Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud prayer is one of the most revered voluntary acts of worship in Islam. It offers an intimate opportunity to seek closeness to Allah, ask for forgiveness, and make personal supplications during the tranquility of the night. In this guide, we’ll explore how to properly perform the Tahajjud prayer, its significance, and the benefits it provides to a Muslim.
1. Preparing for Tahajjud
Before engaging in Tahajjud, there are a few essential steps to ensure you approach it with the right mindset and physical readiness:
- Make Wudu (Ablution): Ensure you are in a state of physical purity. Wudu is a pre-requisite for prayer, and it helps bring focus and serenity to your act of worship.
- Sleep Briefly: While there is no fixed requirement for how long you should sleep, it’s ideal to sleep for a short period before waking up for Tahajjud. The Prophet (PBUH) often took a brief nap after Isha and would wake up in the last part of the night to pray.
- Set an Alarm: If you struggle to wake up for Tahajjud, it might be helpful to set an alarm or have someone wake you up. Ask Allah to make it easy for you to perform this prayer consistently.
Read about: Understanding the Wudu Steps in Order
2. Intention (Niyyah)
Intention is key in any act of worship in Islam. When you wake up for Tahajjud, make a clear intention in your heart that you are performing the prayer for the sake of Allah. You do not need to verbally declare the intention, but it should be in your heart that you are seeking Allah’s pleasure and mercy.
3. How to Perform Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud can be performed in any number of rak’ahs (units of prayer), but the most common practice is to pray in pairs of two rak’ahs. Here is a basic guide on how to perform the prayer:
- Start with Takbir: Begin your prayer by saying “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). This marks the start of your prayer.
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha: In every rak’ah, start by reciting Surah Al-Fatiha (the Opening) and then recite another short Surah or verses from the Qur’an.
- Perform Ruku’ (Bowing): After the recitation, bow down in ruku’ and praise Allah by saying “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” (Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great).
- Sujud (Prostration): After ruku’, go into prostration. In this position, you are closest to Allah, so it’s an excellent time to make personal supplications (du’a).
- Recite Additional Du’a: It’s recommended to make du’a during the prostration and after the prayer. Tahajjud is a special time when Allah promises to respond to the supplications of those who sincerely seek His help.
- Complete the Prayer: After completing the desired number of rak’ahs, finish the prayer with Tasleem (saying “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah” while turning your head to the right and then to the left).
4. Recommended Number of Rak’ahs
There is no strict limit to how many rak’ahs you can pray for Tahajjud. However, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is known to have prayed 11 or 13 rak’ahs, including the Witr prayer.
- Two Rak’ahs: Many people begin with two rak’ahs to ease into the practice of night prayer.
- Increase Gradually: As you become more accustomed to waking up for Tahajjud, you may gradually increase the number of rak’ahs. A common practice is to pray 4, 6, 8, or 12 rak’ahs, depending on one’s ability.
- End with Witr: The prayer should always be concluded with the Witr prayer, which is a single rak’ah. Witr is often seen as the most significant rak’ah and serves as a way to conclude your night prayer.
5. Significance of Tahajjud
Tahajjud is not only a physical act of worship but also holds immense spiritual significance:
- Close Connection with Allah: In the stillness of the night, when most people are asleep, you have the chance to stand before Allah and seek His mercy.
- Forgiveness and Mercy: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud (David) and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud. He used to sleep half of the night, pray one-third of it, and fast every other day.” (Sahih Muslim). The night prayer is a powerful means of seeking forgiveness for past sins.
- Increased Rewards: Tahajjud is one of the most rewarding prayers. Allah promises to reward those who perform this prayer, and it is a means of elevating a person’s rank in the Hereafter.
6. Supplications During Tahajjud
One of the main benefits of performing Tahajjud is the opportunity to make heartfelt du’a. Some scholars advise that you ask Allah for whatever you need—be it guidance, health, success, or forgiveness. You may recite specific supplications or ask in your own words.
Some common du’as include:
- اللهم اغفر لي (Allah, forgive me)
- اللهم ارزقني العلم النافع (O Allah, bless me with beneficial knowledge)
- اللهم اجعلنا من أهل الجنة (O Allah, make us among the people of Paradise)
7. Tips for Consistency in Tahajjud
- Start Small: If you are new to Tahajjud, begin by praying two rak’ahs and gradually increase the number of rak’ahs over time.
- Go to Bed Early: To help ensure you wake up, aim to sleep early so you are well-rested and can wake up for prayer.
- Make Du’a for Consistency: Ask Allah to make it easy for you to consistently perform Tahajjud and to keep your heart sincere in your worship.
Read more: Dua for Making Things Easy
Is the Tahajjud prayer considered obligatory for every Muslim?
Tahajjud prayer is a Sunnah from the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and the meaning of Tahajjud is for a person to get up from sleep to pray. There is also no specific number of rak’ahs for it. Still, it should be eleven or thirteen rak’ahs, following the example of the Prophet, and sometimes with seven, and other times with five rak’ahs, made with two rak’ahs and two rak’ahs, then the Witr prayer at the end.
What are the benefits of praying at 3 am?
Have you ever woken up with a burning desire to pray and worship?
- There are many emotional and mental benefits related to calmness, as the person becomes calmer and improves the process of concentration and awareness.
- Spiritual communication begins to grow and we become closer to God, which involves sincerity in worship.
- The person becomes more grateful for all the blessings around him and more focused on the beauty around him.
- One of the most beautiful things a person feels is getting closer to God, where there is no noise of daily life around him, so he is connected to his heart, soul, and mind
- It also urges us to develop habits, such as the habit of discipline, as it requires a strong will to wake up in the middle of the night.
Maybe like to read: Benefits of Reading Quran at Night
How many rakats are in Tahajjud?
Someone asked “Can l pray 2 rakat only for Tahajjud and then 1 rakat Witr “
The answer is yes; As there is no maximum limit for Tahajjud salah but the minimum number is 2 Rakat.
Imitating the Sunnah of our Master Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), as we know from the hadiths, the Prophet used to pray 11 rak’ahs (8 rak’ahs of Tahajjud and 3 rak’ahs of Witr). Every Muslim can increase the number of Rakats according to their ability, and he can pray for himself and other Muslims.
What surahs to read in Tahajjud
We must conjure the intention of performing the Tahajjud prayer, then perform the Tahajjud prayer in two rak’ahs, following the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him). He used to recite the following surahs after each rakat :
- In the first rak’ah, after reciting Al-Fatihah, Surah Al-Kafirun is recited
- In the second rak’ah, after reciting Al-Fatihah, he recites Surah
- You can read whatever larger surahs of the Quran you can, such as Surat Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-Imran, if you have the ability.
There is no specific surah that the person praying must recite during the Tahajjud prayer. The Muslim recites what he can of the Quran, two Rakats by two Rakats, and then at the end the Witr prayer. Explore more about our Islamic culture and Hadith through Islamic Studies Course
Read more: 5 Surahs to Recite Daily
Does Allah accept any Dua in Tahajjud?
The period of Tahajjud prayer is one of the most beautiful times that makes this period special, as God Almighty descends to the lowest heaven and responds to whomever He wills and forgives whomever He wills and pardons, which allows us to seek forgiveness and pray for ourselves and all Muslims. The calm of the night increases our humility and closeness to God Almighty and increases communication between us.
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The intention of prayer and supplication
We must remember the intention, make it submissive to God, and specify the supplication that we ask God after praising Him, thanking Him, asking for His forgiveness, and performing the Tahajjud prayer two by two.
After completing the obligatory Rakats, we can add more for whoever wishes, and it is sincere for God. Then we prolong the prostration, pray to God, and praise Him, for the blessings we have received, or pray for someone in the back of the unseen and for our Muslim brothers.
Tahajjud prayer and night prayer
The difference between them is subtle, as the night prayer includes the worship performed after the evening prayer and before dawn, whether prayer, reading the Quran, or supplication.
Tahajjud prayer refers to the night prayer, which a Muslim performs after waking up from sleep. He must sleep and wake up in the last third of its prayer, so the Tahajjud prayer is considered part of the night prayer.
Conclusion
The Tahajjud prayer is one of the most beautiful voluntary prayers for a Muslim, which is performed in the time between Isha and Fajr, especially in the last third of the night. It is a Sunnah from our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace). Tahajjud is waking up from sleep at night to perform the prayer and is not limited to a specific type of supplication, so the Muslim prays in it. Whatever he wants.