How To Pray Tahajjud Namaz (The Night Prayer)

How to pray Tahajjud Namaz begins the same way many good journeys begin: with a quiet nudge in the heart at an unusual hour. You’re half-awake, the room is still, and your worries feel louder than they should. That’s when Tahajjud becomes like a small “startup idea” for the soul—simple, low-cost, and powerful if you keep showing up.

Amazon book picks – best Seller book

Purification of the Heart:

What is Tahajjud Namaz, really?

If you’ve ever wondered what is tahajjud namaz, here’s the simplest answer: it’s voluntary worship done at night, after ‘Isha and before Fajr, ideally after sleeping for a while. It’s private, sincere, and deeply personal—almost like a late-night meeting where you finally speak honestly.

You’ll hear it called tahajjud namaz in many communities. Some people also call it qiyam al-layl or simply prayer in the night. A short definition is also available on Tahajjud on Wikipedia, if you want the quick background.

Why night prayer feels like a “solution” to modern life

Daytime worship can become rushed, even for sincere people. Work, family, screens, and stress pull the mind in ten directions. Tahajjud solves that in one clean move: it creates silence. It removes the audience. It gives your heart space to breathe and return.

Think of it like building a startup the right way:

Start small
Keep the routine simple
Measure progress by consistency, not intensity
Let results grow over time

If you’d like a broader, historical explanation of prayer in Islam, Britannica’s overview of Ṣalāt is useful: Ṣalāt (Britannica).

Quran verses that inspire Tahajjud (Arabic + transliteration + meaning)

The Quran praises those who rise at night and talk to Allah with humility. Below are some of the most relevant verses, kept clear and beginner-friendly.

1) Surah Al-Isra (17:79)

Arabic: وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًۭا مَّحْمُودًۭا
Transliteration: Wa minal-layli fatahajjad bihi naafilatal-laka ‘asaa an yab‘athaka rabbuka maqaamam mahmoodaa.
Meaning: “And during the night, pray as an extra act; your Lord may raise you to a praised station.”

2) Surah As-Sajdah (32:16–17)

Arabic (32:16): تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا
Transliteration: Tatajaafaa junuubuhum ‘anil-madaaji‘i yad‘uuna rabbahum khawfan wa tama‘aa.
Meaning: “They leave their beds, calling their Lord in fear and hope…”

3) Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:17–18)

Arabic: كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ ۝ وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
Transliteration: Kaanoo qaleelan minal-layli maa yahja‘oon, wa bil-ashaari hum yastaghfiroon.
Meaning: “They slept little at night, and before dawn they sought forgiveness.”

Hadith that brings Tahajjud to life (Arabic + translation)

Tahajjud isn’t just a nice idea. It’s strongly encouraged in the Sunnah, with moments described so clearly you can almost feel the night air.

For full texts and verification, you can use the contextual hadith library at Sunnah.com.

1) Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1145

Arabic excerpt: «مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ… مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ»
Transliteration: Man yad‘ooni fa-astajeeba lah… man yastaghfiruni fa-aghfira lah.
Meaning: Allah invites: “Who will call upon Me so I answer? Who seeks forgiveness so I forgive?”

2) Sahih Muslim, Hadith 758

Arabic (reference phrase): فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ
Transliteration: Fee jawfil-layl.
Meaning: In the depth of the night, mercy is near and sincere du‘a is answered.

3) Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1137

Arabic excerpt: «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى…»
Transliteration: Salaatul-layli mathnaa mathnaa…
Meaning: “Night prayer is two by two…” (meaning two rak‘ah at a time).

Categories: Namaz ,Zakat , Roza , Prayer , Hadith & Supplications

How To Pray Tahajjud Namaz? (The Night Prayer), Prayer, Beliefs , Faith, Namaz, Salat, Dua, Pillar of Islam, Muslim Praying, Arabic Prayer, Tahajjud

How to pray Tahajjud step-by-step

Most people quit because they overcomplicate the first week. Keep it simple. You don’t need long recitation or perfect energy. You need a plan that works on real nights.

Step-by-step method

Pray ‘Isha, then sleep with intention
Wake up before Fajr (even 20 minutes is enough)
Make wudu calmly
Pray 2 rak‘ah nafl
If you can, add 2 more, again and again
Make du‘a with your own words
Pray Witr if it’s still due

What to recite (easy options)

Al-Fatihah + any short surah you know
Repeat short surahs if that’s all you have
Keep sujood slightly longer
Whisper istighfar: Astaghfirullah

This is where people start feeling Tahajjud in the heart, not just the body. The stillness becomes a teacher.

Hanafi, Shafi‘i, and Maliki options (clear and non-technical)

Across Sunni schools, Tahajjud is loved and encouraged. Differences usually show up around Witr timing and style, not the basic Tahajjud format.

Hanafi fiqh (common practice)

Witr is emphasized strongly (often taught as wajib in Hanafi learning)
Many pray Witr as 3 rak‘ah with one salam
Du‘a al-Qunut is commonly recited in the last rak‘ah

Shafi‘i fiqh (common practice)

Witr is a confirmed and flexible Sunnah.
Often prayed as one or three, with variations in detail
Qunut discussions are well-known in Shafi‘i circles, especially in Ramadan habits

Maliki fiqh (common practice)

Witr is a stressed Sunnah and a regular nightly habit
The core idea remains: finish the night worship in a clean, focused way

If you want reminders, learning notes, and beginner-friendly Islamic reading, you can also visit www.quranmualim.com for related content.

Hanafi scholars’ PDF-friendly book names (for deeper study)

If you want to learn Tahajjud and night worship with Hanafi structure, these classical works are often available in PDF format through libraries and study circles:

Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah (Fatawa Alamgiri) — compiled by Hanafi scholars
Al-Durr al-Mukhtar — ‘Ala’ al-Din al-Haskafi
Sharh al-Wiqayah — Hanafi fiqh commentary tradition
Fatawa Qاضي خان (Fatawa Qadi Khan) — Imam Hasan ibn Mansur
Al-Fatawa al-Tatarkhaniyyah — Hanafi juristic collection

A “startup-style” 7-day Tahajjud plan that sticks

Here’s the difference between people who keep Tahajjud and people who stop: the ones who keep it protect the habit more than the length.

7-day plan

Day 1–2: 2 rak‘ah + one honest du‘a
Day 3–4: 2 rak‘ah + 3 minutes istighfar
Day 5–6: 4 rak‘ah total, light recitation
Day 7: Keep it short and consistent—don’t burn out

Quick fixes for common obstacles

Too sleepy: sleep 30 minutes earlier
No focus: keep the phone outside the room
Low motivation: promise yourself “only two rak‘ah”

Conclusion

how to pray tahajjud namaz becomes easy when you stop treating it like a big exam and start treating it like a private door back to Allah. The night doesn’t demand your perfection. It welcomes your return. Start small, protect consistency, and let your heart learn the language of silence.

how to pray Tahajjud Namaz is not a one-night miracle. It’s a habit that quietly upgrades your life—decision by decision, sujood by sujood, until the person you hoped to be starts showing up.

Short Tahajjud duas (Arabic + transliteration + meaning)

1) Dua for forgiveness

Arabic: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ
Transliteration: Rabbi-ghfir lee wa tub ‘alayya.
Meaning: “My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance.”

2) Dua for guidance and steadiness

Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي
Transliteration: Allahumma ihdinee wa saddidnee.
Meaning: “O Allah, guide me and make me firm.”

3) Dua for relief from worry

Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
Transliteration: Allahumma-kfinee bihalaalika ‘an haraamika wa aghninee bifadhlika ‘amman siwaak.
Meaning: “O Allah, suffice me with halal over haram, and enrich me by Your فضل from needing others.”

FAQs

1) What is the best time for Tahajjud?

Any time after ‘Isha and before Fajr works. Many people aim for the last part of the night, but the best time is the time you can do consistently.

2) How many rak‘ah should I pray?

Minimum is 2 rak‘ah. You can add more in sets of two. Start small and build slowly.

3) Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping?

Many scholars describe Tahajjud as after sleep, but night prayer is still valuable even if you didn’t sleep. Don’t let the technical detail stop you from praying.

4) Do I need Witr with Tahajjud?

If Witr is still due, it’s best to end the night worship with Witr. Hanafi teaching emphasizes it strongly.

5) What should I ask Allah for in Tahajjud?

Ask for forgiveness, guidance, healing, halal رزق, family ease, and a stronger heart. Speak simply. The honesty matters more than the wording.

“Similar Posts For You”