How To Pray Tahajjud Prayer? Learn Islam

How to pray tahajjud prayer starts as a small, quiet decision—like a new startup idea that shows up when the world is asleep. You’re tired, life is noisy, and your heart still wants something more. Tahajjud begins there: one brave step out of bed, one honest conversation with Allah.

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Don’t Be Sad:

What Tahajjud really is (and why it feels different)

Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer. It’s prayed after ‘Isha and before Fajr, ideally after sleeping for a while. Think of it as “private time” with your Creator—no crowd, no pressure, no performance. Just you, your need, and Allah’s mercy. (Wikipedia🙂

In daily life, we build routines around what’s urgent. Tahajjud flips that. It trains you to show up for what’s important—quietly, consistently, even when nobody is watching. And that’s why it changes people.

The Quran’s invitation to rise at night

Allah mentions night worship with a special warmth—like a door left slightly open, waiting for you.

Key Quran verses for Tahajjud (Arabic + transliteration + translation)

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 upon their Lord in fear and hope…” (Quran Surah Sajdah)

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 used to sleep little at night, and before dawn they would seek forgiveness.”
(Al Quran Surah Adh-Dhariyat)

Tip: For more Islamic reminders and learning, you can also visit www.quranmualim.com (they share helpful Tahajjud and dua content).

Hadith: the “last third of the night” moment

Tahajjud has a special time window that feels almost unreal once you taste it: the last third of the night.

Most relevant Hadith references (Arabic + translation)

1) Sahih al-Bukhari 1145 (Book of Tahajjud)
Arabic excerpt: «مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ… مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ»
Transliteration: Man yad‘ooni fa-astajeeba lah… man yastaghfiruni fa-aghfira lah.
Meaning: Allah calls: “Who will call on Me so I answer? Who seeks forgiveness so I forgive?”

2) Sahih Muslim 758b (The Book of Prayer)
Arabic/Source page: (see full text)
Meaning: Allah’s mercy is near at night, and du‘a is answered as the night moves toward dawn.

3) Sahih al-Bukhari 1137 (Prayer at Night)
Arabic excerpt: «مَثْنَى مَثْنَى… فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ»
Transliteration: Mathnaa mathnaa… fa-awtir biwaahidah.
Meaning: “Two by two… and make Witr one (at the end).”

When to pray: the “best time” without stress

You can pray Tahajjud any time after ‘Isha until Fajr. Many people aim for the last third of the night because it’s mentioned in authentic narrations. But if your schedule is tough, don’t freeze. Start with what you can.

Here’s a simple timing approach:

Sleep after ‘Isha
Wake up 30–60 minutes before Fajr
Pray 2 rak‘ah, then add more later if you like

(Helpful overview about Tahajudd:

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

How To Pray Tahajjud Prayer? Learn Islam, Prayer, Beliefs , Faith, Namaz, Salat, Dua, Pillar of Islam, Muslim Praying, Arabic Prayer, Tahajjud

how to pray tahajjud step by step (simple and practical)

This is the easiest way to begin, even if you’re brand new.

Step-by-step checklist

Make intention (niyyah) in your heart: “I’m praying Tahajjud for Allah.”
Make wudu calmly. No rushing.
Pray 2 rak‘ah like normal nafl salah.
Finish with salam, then repeat another 2 rak‘ah if you want.
Make du‘a with your own words. Be real.
Pray Witr at the end if you haven’t prayed it yet.

What to recite?

Keep it easy at first:

Al-Fatihah + any short surah you know
If you only know a few, repeat them. Allah loves consistency.

Hanafi, Shafi‘i, and Maliki options (quick and clear)

Tahajjud itself is flexible across schools. The biggest “where people do it differently” is usually Witr.

Hanafi fiqh (common practice)

Witr is necessary (wajib) in the Hanafi school.
Often prayed as 3 rak‘ah with one salam, and du‘a al-qunut is recited in the last rak‘ah.
(Reference discussion about witr Prayer🙂

Shafi‘i fiqh (common practice)

Witr is highly emphasized sunnah.
Qunut in Witr is commonly emphasized in the last half of Ramadan in many Shafi‘i references (with scholarly discussion).
(Reference discussion in islamqa.org)

Maliki fiqh (common practice)

Witr is a strongly confirmed sunnah daily.
Practice details vary, but the core remains: finish your night worship with Witr.

A small “startup plan” to make Tahajjud stick

Most people fail Tahajjud for one reason: they try to go from zero to perfect overnight. Build it like a real project.

A 7-day starter plan

Days 1–2: Wake up, pray 2 rak‘ah, make short du‘a, sleep again
Days 3–4: Add 5 minutes Qur’an after salah
Days 5–6: Add another 2 rak‘ah
Day 7: Keep it light—protect consistency, not length

Common problems (and quick fixes)

“I can’t wake up.” Sleep 30 minutes earlier and set one gentle alarm.
“I feel lazy.” Promise yourself “only 2 rak‘ah.”
“My mind is loud.” Make sujood longer and speak to Allah simply.

Hanafi scholar PDF-friendly classics (names only)

If you like studying your namaz with Hanafi depth, these are commonly available as PDFs in many libraries:

Al-Hidayah
Nur al-Idah
Radd al-
Fatawa ‘Alamgiri (Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah)
Bahishti Zewar—Ashraf ‘Ali Thanwi

Conclusion

Your day will always have noise. Your phone will always have something to say. But Tahajjud gives you a different kind of power—the calm strength that comes from being heard by Allah before the world even wakes up. So start small, stay steady, and let the night rebuild you from the inside out.

how to pray tahajjud prayer isn’t about showing Allah your perfection. It’s about showing Him your return. And that return—again and again—is where the doors open.

Short Tahajjud Duas (Arabic + transliteration + meaning)

1) Prophetic dua when standing for night prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1120)

Arabic (opening lines): اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ قَيُّومُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ…
Transliteration: Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta qayyoomus-samawaati wal-ard…
Meaning: “O Allah, all praise is for You. You sustain the heavens and the earth…”

2) A simple dua for forgiveness (Quran-inspired)

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

3) A dua for guidance

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

FAQs

1) Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping?

Many scholars mention that true “Tahajjud” is after some sleep, but praying at night without sleeping still counts as night prayer (qiyam). If you’re trying to build a habit, don’t get stuck—pray what you can and keep moving.

2) How many rak‘ah is Tahajjud?

Minimum is 2 rak‘ah. You can pray more in sets of two. There isn’t one fixed number that you must stick to, which makes it easier for beginners.

3) Do I have to pray Witr with Tahajjud?

If you haven’t prayed Witr yet, it’s best to end your night worship with it. Hanafi fiqh treats Witr as wajib, so many Hanafi Muslims prioritize it strongly.

4) What if I miss the last third of the night?

Pray earlier in the night. A small, consistent Tahajjud is better than a “perfect plan” that never happens.

5) What do I ask Allah for in Tahajjud?

Ask for what you truly need: forgiveness, healing, guidance, rizq, a softened heart, family ease—anything halal. Speak like someone who trusts Allah’s mercy more than their own worthiness.

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