Zuletzt aktualisiert am 17. July 2026
Tahajjud is a voluntary Islamic night prayer performed after Isha and before Fajr, ideally during the last third of the night. A worshipper makes wudu, sets a silent intention, and prays a minimum of two rak’ahs in pairs, reciting the Quran quietly before concluding with Witr.
Tahajjud, also called Qiyam-ul-Layl, is a nafl (voluntary) night prayer offered between Isha and Fajr. The best time is the final third of the night. Perform wudu, make your niyyah silently, then pray two rak’ahs at a time, reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and further Quran. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed eight rak’ahs of night prayer plus three Witr. Make du’a during sujood, then close the night with an odd-numbered Witr. Reviewed July 2026.
What is the Tahajjud prayer?
Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer in Islam, known as Qiyam-ul-Layl, offered after the obligatory Isha prayer and before the Fajr adhan. Tahajjud requires waking from sleep, making it distinct from optional prayers offered before bed.
The word Tahajjud derives from the Arabic root hajada, meaning to stay awake at night. A nafl prayer is a supererogatory act of worship that carries reward without being obligatory, unlike the five daily fard prayers. Because Tahajjud is not compulsory, its merit rests on sincerity and consistency rather than obligation.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) observed Tahajjud throughout his life, and Islamic scholars across the four Sunni schools regard it as the most virtuous voluntary prayer. The prayer follows the standard two-rak’ah format used in all Islamic prayers, so no new movements are learned; only the timing and intention change.
When should you pray Tahajjud?
The best time for Tahajjud is the last third of the night, the period just before dawn (Fajr). The valid window opens after Isha and closes when the Fajr adhan is called, though the final third carries the greatest reward according to authentic hadith.
Dividing the night into thirds gives a practical schedule. Count the hours between the Maghrib (sunset) prayer and the Fajr (dawn) prayer, then split that span into three equal parts. The final part is reserved for Tahajjud, and it is the moment described in Sahih al-Bukhari when the Lord’s mercy is nearest to those who call upon Him.
Consider a worked example. If Maghrib falls at 6:00 pm and Fajr begins at 6:00 am, the night lasts twelve hours. Each third is four hours, so the last third runs from roughly 2:00 am until 6:00 am. In the United Kingdom, where summer nights are short and winter nights are long, the exact hour shifts through the year, so worshippers should check a local prayer timetable rather than fix a single clock time.
A worshipper who cannot wake for the final third may pray Tahajjud in the first or second part of the night, and the prayer remains valid. Those who fear they will not wake are advised to combine their Witr with Isha before sleeping, following the Prophet’s guidance recorded in Sahih Muslim.
The most common obstacle to Tahajjud is not knowledge of the steps but simply waking up. A practical habit that many British Muslims adopt is sleeping earlier after Isha and setting an alarm for the final third rather than for Fajr, giving a 20 to 30 minute margin to make wudu and settle. Starting with two rak’ahs once or twice a week builds the habit far more reliably than attempting eight rak’ahs every night and abandoning it within a fortnight.
How do you pray Tahajjud step by step?
You pray Tahajjud by waking in the night, performing wudu, making a silent intention, and offering rak’ahs in pairs exactly as in any two-rak’ah prayer. The sequence below sets out The 7-Step Tahajjud Method used by worshippers who follow the Prophetic practice.
- Wake during the night after some sleep, ideally in the last third, and clear the mind for worship.
- Perform wudu (ablution) with care, washing the required limbs to attain ritual purity.
- Make the niyyah (intention) silently in the heart to pray Tahajjud for the sake of Allah.
- Begin with Takbir, raising the hands and saying “Allahu Akbar” to enter the prayer.
- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by another portion of the Quran in each rak’ah, keeping the voice low.
- Complete ruku and sujood, the bowing and prostration, and use the sujood to make personal du’a.
- Finish with Tashahhud and Salaam after every pair of rak’ahs, then seal the night with an odd-numbered Witr.
Prayers are offered two rak’ahs at a time, and a worshipper may repeat the pair as many times as desired before praying Witr. The recitation may be any surah after Al-Fatihah; longer chapters reflect greater devotion, but a short surah is entirely acceptable for those learning or short on time.
How many rak’ahs should you pray for Tahajjud?
Tahajjud has a minimum of two rak’ahs and no fixed maximum, and it is prayed in pairs. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) typically prayed eight rak’ahs of night prayer followed by three rak’ahs of Witr, totalling eleven.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet did not exceed eleven rak’ahs in Ramadan or outside it. Other narrations mention thirteen. A worshipper beginning the practice can offer just two rak’ahs and still gain the full merit of night prayer, then increase gradually. Witr, an odd-numbered prayer of one, three, five or more rak’ahs, concludes the night and was never abandoned by the Prophet, even while travelling.
Why is Tahajjud significant in Islam?
Tahajjud is significant because the Quran and the Sunnah single it out as the most meritorious voluntary prayer and a means of drawing near to Allah. Both scripture and Prophetic tradition tie night prayer to spiritual elevation and answered supplication.
References in the Holy Quran
The Quran addresses night prayer directly. Surah Al-Isra (17:79) instructs the believer to rise for additional prayer, promising a praiseworthy station (maqam mahmud). Surah Al-Furqan (25:64) praises those who spend the night in prostration, and Surah At-Tur (52:49) mentions glorifying Allah in the night. These verses frame Tahajjud as an act of hope and closeness rather than fear alone.
“And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” (Quran, 17:79)
Hadiths highlighting its importance
Sahih al-Bukhari (1145) records that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, asking who is calling so that He may answer. Sahih Muslim reports the Prophet’s statement that the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer. Together these narrations establish Tahajjud as the highest voluntary worship and explain why generations of scholars, including Imam al-Shafi’i, structured their nights around it.
What are the spiritual benefits of Tahajjud?
Tahajjud offers forgiveness of sins, nearness to Allah, and greater self-discipline, according to the Quran and authentic hadith. The prayer combines physical effort, quiet reflection, and private supplication, which strengthens both faith and character.
Night prayer is described as a habit of the righteous that expiates wrongdoing and repels sin. Because Tahajjud demands rising from sleep, it builds resilience and self-control that carry into daily life. The stillness of the last third of the night removes distraction, allowing focused du’a. Hadith teaches that within each night there is an hour when supplication is answered, which is why the sujood of Tahajjud is a valued moment for personal prayer.
Our Take
Many Tahajjud guides frame the prayer as an elite act reserved for the exceptionally pious, and that framing quietly discourages beginners. The Prophetic model points the other way. Consistency of a small amount is favoured over an unsustainable burst, and even two rak’ahs once a week counts as establishing night prayer. The genuine difficulty is behavioural, not devotional: sleep discipline and a realistic alarm decide success far more than knowing an extra surah. Our view is that anyone in the United Kingdom can begin this month by shifting bedtime after Isha, choosing one or two nights, and praying two rak’ahs. Ambition can grow towards the eleven rak’ahs of the Sunnah once the waking habit holds.
- Tahajjud is prayed after Isha and before Fajr, with the last third of the night as the best window.
- The minimum is two rak’ahs, prayed in pairs, with no fixed maximum.
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed eight rak’ahs plus three Witr, totalling eleven.
- The 7-Step Tahajjud Method: wake, wudu, niyyah, Takbir, recite, ruku and sujood, Tashahhud and Salaam.
- Wudu and a silent intention are required; the prayer is voluntary (nafl), not obligatory.
- Quran 17:79, 25:64 and 52:49, plus Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, establish its virtue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Tahajjud be prayed every night?
Yes. Tahajjud may be prayed every night, and daily consistency is encouraged. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised that the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if small, so a modest nightly amount is better than an occasional large effort.
Do you need to sleep before praying Tahajjud?
Yes. Tahajjud specifically means night prayer offered after waking from sleep. Voluntary prayer performed before sleeping is called Qiyam-ul-Layl in a general sense but is not classed as Tahajjud, which requires rising during the night.
Is Witr part of Tahajjud?
Witr is a separate odd-numbered prayer that concludes the night’s worship. It is offered after Tahajjud when the two are combined, though Witr can also be prayed straight after Isha for anyone who fears missing the night prayer.
Which surahs should you recite in Tahajjud?
Any surah after Surah Al-Fatihah is acceptable. Longer chapters reflect greater devotion during the quiet hours, but short surahs such as Al-Ikhlas are valid, especially for beginners or those with limited memorisation.
Is Tahajjud obligatory in Islam?
No. Tahajjud is a nafl (voluntary) prayer, not one of the five obligatory daily prayers. It was obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but remains recommended, not compulsory, for the wider Muslim community.
Sources
The following authoritative references support the guidance in this article.
- The Holy Quran – Surah Al-Isra (17:79), Surah Al-Furqan (25:64) and Surah At-Tur (52:49) on the merit of night prayer.
- Sahih al-Bukhari – hadith 1145 on Allah’s descent in the last third of the night, and reports of the Prophet’s eleven rak’ahs.
- Sahih Muslim – the Prophet’s statement that the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer, and guidance on Witr.
- Sunnah.com – searchable collections of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim with English translations of the hadith cited above.
- Islamic Relief UK – accessible UK guidance on Qiyam-ul-Layl, prayer timings and voluntary worship.
