How To Perform Tahajjud Prayer Hanafi?

How to perform tahajjud prayer can feel like the first day of a new job: you want to do it right, but you also don’t want to overthink every step. Most people start with one quiet alarm, one glass of water, and a prayer mat that suddenly looks brighter in the dark. That’s the “startup moment” of Tahajjud—small, sincere, and full of promise.

What is Tahajjud I(in plain, everyday words)

Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer prayed after ‘Isha and before Fajr. Many Muslims link it with waking up after some sleep, because it trains the heart to choose worship over comfort. It’s part of night worship (qiyam al-layl), and it can be as short as two rak‘ahs.

If you like learning step-by-step, you can also explore simple Islamic guides on www.quranmualim.com to support your routine and confidence.

Also Read: Root Words of Quran

Quran Verses That Anchor Tahajjud

1) A direct command to pray Tahajjud

In the Holy Quran Surah Al-Isra (17:79)
Arabic: وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةًۭ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًۭا مَّحْمُودًۭا
English: “And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise.” quran.com/17/79

2) Why the night feels spiritually stronger

Surah Al-Muzzammil (73:6)
Arabic: إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًۭٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًۭا
English: “Indeed, worship in the night is more impactful and more suitable for recitation.” : quran.com/73/6

3) A picture of believers leaving their beds

Surah As-Sajdah (32:16)
Arabic: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا
English: “They abandon their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope…”
quran.com/32/16

Hadith: The Sunnah Method in One Clear Pattern

Night prayer is “two by two”

Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 1137)
Arabic: صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى…
English: “The night prayer is two by two…” sunnah.com/bukhari:1137

A special time for du‘a near the end of night

Sahih Muslim (Hadith 758b)
Arabic (excerpt): مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ…
English (excerpt): “Who will supplicate Me so that I may answer him…?” sunnah.com/muslim:758b

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

Witr is best as your final prayer (when possible)

Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 998)
Arabic: اجْعَلُوا آخِرَ صَلاَتِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وِتْرًا
English: “Make witr as your last prayer at night.” sunnah.com/bukhari:998

Timing: When You Can Pray It (without stress)

Tahajjud time begins after ‘Isha and ends at Fajr. Many people aim for the last third of the night, but the “best” time is the time you can actually keep consistently. If you’re rebuilding your routine, start earlier in the night and slowly move later as your body adjusts.

A Simple Plan to Make Tahajjud Stick

Think like a startup founder: begin with a “minimum version” that you can repeat daily.

Sleep a bit earlier than usual
Set one alarm (not five)
Pray 2 rak‘ahs only
Make 3 minutes of du‘a
Return to sleep, then wake for Fajr normally

This keeps the habit sustainable, not exhausting.

Step-by-Step: How to Pray Two Rak‘ahs (Arabic + Transliteration)

Below is a complete 2-rak‘ah unit. Repeat it for each pair (2 + 2 + 2…), based on your energy.

1) Takbir (start)

Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَر
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar
Raise your hands and begin.

2) Qiyam (standing)

Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then a short surah.

Example: Surah Al-Ikhlas
Arabic: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Transliteration: Qul huwa Allāhu Aḥad

3) Ruku (bowing)

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm (x3)

4) I‘tidal (stand back up)

Arabic: سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration: Sami‘a Allāhu liman ḥamidah
Then:
Arabic: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Transliteration: Rabbana wa lakal-ḥamd

5) First Sujood

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā (x3)

6) Jalsa (brief sitting)

Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَر
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar

7) Second Sujood

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā (x3)

8) Second rak‘ah + Salam

Repeat the same flow for rak‘ah two, then end with salam:
Arabic: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّه
Transliteration: As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāh (right, then left)

If you’ve ever asked how to pray tahajjud, this is the clean, repeatable method that gets you started without confusion.

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

How Many Rak‘ahs Should You Pray?

Keep it flexible, and don’t compare yourself.

Minimum: 2 rak‘ahs
Steady habit: 4 rak‘ahs (2 + 2)
Strong routine: 6–8 rak‘ahs (in pairs)

The Prophet ﷺ described night prayer as pairs of two, which keeps it simple and scalable.

Fiqh Options: Hanafi, Shafi‘i, and Maliki (quick and practical)

All three schools agree Tahajjud is voluntary and prayed in pairs. Differences mostly show up around Witr.

Hanafi fiqh

Hanafis treat Witr as wajib (a strong obligation, below fard). Many Hanafis pray Witr as three rak‘ahs with one salam at the end, based on their evidence and method.

Shafi‘i fiqh

Shafi‘is generally treat Witr as a confirmed Sunnah and commonly pray it as one rak‘ah (or three as 2+1), and many define Tahajjud as night prayer after sleep.

Maliki fiqh

Malikis emphasize Witr as the most important daily confirmed Sunnah prayer. They maintain flexibility in night worship, encouraging a person to pray what they can with consistency and calm.

One Amazon Book Recommendation

If you want a compact book that focuses on night prayer themes and motivation, here’s a useful pick:
Qiyam ul Layl Check Price Qiyam ul Layl قیام اللیل by Saeed Bin Ali Bin Wahf Al-Qahtani

Hanafi Scholar PDF Book Names (fresh set for this keyword)

These are well-known Hanafi works often found in PDF through Islamic libraries and publishers:

Al-Mabsūṭ (المبسوط) — al-Sarakhsī
Mukhtaṣar al-Qudūrī (مختصر القدوري) — al-Qudūrī
Tuhfat al-Mulūk (تحفة الملوك) — al-Samarqandī
Al-Wiqāyah (الوقاية) — Mahmud al-Mahbūbī
Kanz al-Daqā’iq (كنز الدقائق) — al-Nasafī

Conclusion: Keep It Small, Keep It Real

Night worship doesn’t need a dramatic setup. It needs sincerity and repetition. When you learn the “two-by-two” pattern, you stop feeling stuck and start feeling steady. how to perform tahajjud prayer becomes your own quiet routine—built in the dark, but carrying light into your day.

Also Read: Most Powerful Dua For Instant Miracle

Tahajjud Duas (Arabic + Transliteration)

Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Transliteration: Allāhumma’ghfir lī warḥamnī wahdinī wa ‘āfinī warzuqnī
Arabic: رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
Transliteration: Rabbana ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār
Arabic: يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
Transliteration: Yā Muqallibal-qulūb thabbit qalbī ‘alā dīnik

Further Reading (3 helpful links)

FAQs

Do I have to sleep before Tahajjud?

Sleeping first is common and often tied to the term “Tahajjud,” but voluntary night prayer remains valid throughout the night. Focus on sincerity and consistency.

What is the minimum rak‘ahs for Tahajjud?

Two rak‘ahs is the strongest minimum. Pray them slowly, then make du‘a. You can increase later when your routine becomes stable.

Can I pray Tahajjud if I already prayed Witr?

Yes. You may pray nafl after Witr, but you don’t repeat Witr. Many scholars still prefer Witr as the final prayer if possible.

Which surahs are best for Tahajjud?

Recite what you know well. Al-Ikhlas is a simple choice, and slow recitation with focus is better than long recitation without attention.

How is Witr different across Hanafi, Shafi‘i, and Maliki fiqh?

Hanafis treat Witr as wajib and often pray three rak‘ahs together. Shafi‘i and Maliki schools generally treat it as a confirmed Sunnah with flexible formats.

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