How to pray Tahajjud namaz? The best thing I ever did, or that my mom taught me in my childhood, was to pray Tahajjud once. To this day, deep down in my heart, there is immense attraction, love, and serenity toward this Tahajjud Namaz. In the middle of the night, when almost every other person is in the state of minor death according to Islam, we call it sleep.
You stand in front of the Almighty, the most merciful, the all-loving, and the all-caring, the always listening, the most forgiving Allah. And you raise your hand and tell your problems to your creator. I still wonder how all my problems go away even before I’m done praying this Tahajjud Namaz. This is so true that Allah loves us more than we can Imagine and to be honest I have tears in my eyes while I write this.
My dear pious brothers and sisters, the one thing I would want to tell you before I begin on how to pray Tahajjud is something that no one will tell you or very few people know about; it is that this special Tahajjud Namaz is directly proportional to our acts. What I mean to say here is that no one can, on their own, decide to pray this Namaz until the Creator, the king of kings himself, invites us to pray Tahajjud.
This leads us to one other thing, I guess, which you will get to know is that let’s say you have been praying Tahajjud for three months continuously. Then there happens a mistake from you, in which, let’s say you shouted at your parents or did something wrong which is considered a sin according to Islam.
Then, my brother, you won’t be able to pray Tahajjud that day, or maybe for a week or month, until you repent in front of Allah and ask Him to let you pray, and you won’t do it again.
This Tahajjud Namaz is very special, my brothers and sisters. In order to become what Allah wants us to become, we must acquire Taqwa and have Tawakkul on Allah.
Let’s now get into the easiest step for all of you, brothers and sisters, to begin and be close to the mercy of Allah.
Tahajjud time
The time of night prayer starts after midnight, though it is recommended that Tahajjud is performed as close as possible to dawn before Fajr Salah. For those of us, getting up that early for any reason is impossible. They can also perform this night prayer before going to bed.
In Islamic tradition, it’s believed that during the last third of the night. Allah descends to the lowest heaven and asks if there is anyone seeking forgiveness or with any wish to be fulfilled. This time is special for Dua’s and prayers.
Once you start praying Tahajjud, you will get to know everything inshAllah! Why? Of course, you are trying to get close to the creator of the heavens and earth, and how can you think if you try to get close to Him, he will not come close to you?
When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond ˹with obedience˺ to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided ˹to the Right Way˺
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Easiest way for Tahajjud prayer
How to pray Tahajjud step-by-step
I have laid down the step-by-step process for everyone. I hope it will help. Just remember that Allah is the most merciful, and try your best to make the most of your first Tahajjud. Please remember me in your Dua’s.
| Tahajjud | Rakah’s | Dua to Recite |
|---|---|---|
| Tahajjud (Namaz-e-Shab) | Total 8 rakah’s prayed like Fajr. | 1st Rakah: Surah Ikhlas (optional) . 2nd Rakah: Surah al-Kafirun (optional). |
| Namaz e Shafa | Offered after Tahajjud. Consists of 2 rakahs. In this there would be no Qunoot. | 1st Rakat: Recite Surah al-Ikhlas or Surah al-Falaq (optional) after Surah al-Faatehah. 2nd Rakat: Surah al-Nas after Surah al-Faatehah. |
| Namaz e Witr | Offered after Namaz e Shafa. Consists of 1 rakah. | Surah al-Faatehah, Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, Surah al-Nas (each repeated three times). |
Step 1: Salatul-Layl consists of eleven Rak’ahs. You perform the first eight Rak’ahs in pairs of two Rak’ahs each. You do this with the intention of Namaz-e-Shab.
- 1 Rakah: Recite Surah al-Ikhlas after Surah al-Faatehah.
- 2 Rakah: Recite Surah al-Ikhlas after Surah al-Faatehah
Step 2: Then, once you have completed praying Namaz-e-Shab, which would be in total 8 Rakah’s prayers in pairs of two, you should pray the subsequent two Rak’ahs, which are offered with the intention of Namaz-e-Shaf’a.
- 1 Rakah: Recite Surah al-Ikhlas or Surah al-Falaq (optional) after Surah al-Faatehah.
- 2 Rakah: Recite Surah al-Nas after Surah al-Faatehah.
Step 3: Once you have finished praying Salatul Shaf’a it is time for making intention to pray Namaz-e-Witr. The Surah’s to be recited in Namaz-e-Witr are:
- 1 Rakah: Recite Surah al-Faatehah, Surah Al-Ikhlas– three times, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An Nas.
Note: If anyone does not know the last two Surahs Al-Falaq and An-Nas mentioned above, then it is sufficient to recite Surah Al-Ikhlas- three times.
Step 4: Afterward, Say Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and raise both the hands for Qunoot. You can recite any Dua of your choice. Though, it is recommended to recite the following Dua:
Step 4: After saying the Dua-e-Qunoot of Salat al-Witr, hold the Tasbih in the right hand for forgiveness of forty or more Mu’mineen and Mu’minaat, whether dead or alive. For which, use the following method to count the dhikr to be recited.
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name)
Or if you are running out of time it is entirely okay to say:
Allahummaghfirli wal mu’mineen wal mu’minaat.
Continuing with the Qunoot, while still raising up your left hand, say this seventy times
“Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh.”
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْه
As we continue, while raising the left hand, repeat the following prayer seven (7) times:
Hadhaa Maqaamul ‘Aaidhi bika minan-naar.
هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّار
As we continue further, while still holding up your left hand, recite three hundred (300) times.
Al-‘Afwa
اَلْعَفْوَ
Afterwards, say the following once:
Rabbigfirli warhamni wa tubalaiyyi,Innaka tawwaburrahim
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Finish the Salah as usual by goin into Ruku’ followed by Sajdah, Tashahud and Salaam, and concluding the Tahajjud.
After completing the prayer, you may prostrate yourself and then recite Tasbih al-Zahra’. Following that, you may recite the following supplication: (Optional)
Al-hamdu li-Faalqi al-asbāḥ.
Al-hamdu li-Rabbi al-ṣṣabāḥ.
الْحَمْدُ لِفَالِقِ الْاِصْبَاحِ۔
اَلْحَمْدُ لِرَبِّ الصَّبَاحِ
Afterward, you may perform prostration and recite the following five times: (Optional)
Subbuḥun Quddusun Rabbul Malā’ikati War-Rūḥi
سُبُّحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ المَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping
Yes, you can perform Tahajjud prayer without necessarily sleeping beforehand. Traditionally, it’s recommended to sleep for some time. Then, wake up for Tahajjud. This reflects the practice of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
But, if one cannot sleep or chooses not to, they can still pray Tahajjud. They can do so by waking up at the end of the night to perform it. The key aspect of Tahajjud is that it’s voluntary. One must sincerely intend to worship Allah at night.
What time can I pray Tahajjud?
The best time to pray Tahajjud is during the last one-third of the night when Allah is most likely to accept prayers, but it’s still valid to pray during the earlier two-thirds after Isha.
The ‘night’ is considered from the start of Maghrib to the beginning of Fajr the next day on the calendar.
The timing of these periods changes depending on your location and the time of year. So, praying after midnight may not hold the same significance.
For instance, for those who live in the UK. Maghrib starts around 9:30 PM throughout the year, and Fajr begins around 3:00 AM in June. So, during this month, the last one-third would be approximately from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM.
What time do you pray Tahajjud?
I personally prefer to pray Tahajjud as close as possible to Fajr, or you can say 30 minutes before Fajr Salah. This is according to my schedule and it suits me best. However, for those who find it difficult, they can pray any time after Maghrib and before Fajr Adhan.
