Tahajjud Prayer: A Guide for Muslimas on How to Pray and Its Benefits
The tahajjud salat is one of my absolute favorite nawafil (voluntary) prayers. I began performing this salah during an incredibly traumatic time in my life, and I can honestly say that it saved my sanity and helped me cope. At a time when I felt at a loss for how to handle deep pain and extreme despair, praying tahajjud was my anchor. The Prophet SAW has said:
"Verily, there is one hour during the (entire) night when any Muslim may call upon Allah and request anything of Him, regardless of whether the matter be worldly or of the hereafter. Allah, the Almighty, will grant and fulfill the request. This is the case every night." (Muslim)
The Prophet SAW has also mentioned that:
"The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer." (Muslim)
When any of my family and friends go through extenuating circumstances, I urge them to pray tahajjud, as I know how much it helps me in my life. Until now, I have tried to perform tahajjud daily because I have seen how it brings peace, fulfillment, contentment, and barakah to my day. Of course, when I don't pray tahajjud, I feel sad, but I don't beat myself up and lose hope. I just make the intention to keep trying the next day. The Prophet's SAW wife, Ayisha R.A., narrated,
"Do not ever stop praying Qiyaam. The Prophet PBUH never ceased praying it. When he was sick or weak, he prayed sitting." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Tahajjud vs. Qiyam ul Layl—What's the Difference?
Many people arrive at this post searching for Qiyam ul Layl, so I want to clarify the difference before we go further.
Qiyam ul Layl is the broader term for any act of worship performed after Isha until Fajr; this includes prayer, Quran recitation, dhikr, and dua.
Tahajjud is more specific: it is the voluntary prayer performed after waking from sleep during the night. So tahajjud is a form of qiyam, but qiyam is not always tahajjud.
If you are looking for a complete guide specifically on Qiyam ul Layl, head over to my post, How to Pray Qiyam al-Layl: A Muslima’s Guide to the Night Prayers
The Prophet SAW said:
"You should pray Qiyaam al-Layl, for it is the habit of the righteous people who came before you, and it will bring you closer to your Lord, expiate for bad deeds, prevent sin, and expel disease from the body." (At-Tirmidhi and Ahmad)
Presently, I find it manageable to get up earlier for Fajr salah, perform tahajjud, say my duas, and then pray Fajr. You can also perform tahajjud earlier and go back to sleep until Fajr, or if nothing else, pray it before going to sleep, as it is better than not doing it at all. I began performing two rakats only for fear that I would find it burdensome and not keep to it, but as soon as I feel my habit is strong, I will add more rakats, following the tradition of the Prophet SAW.
"If you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats." (Muslim)
I find that tahajjud salah is an ideal time as a busy Muslim for contemplation because things that preoccupy your heart are absent, so your concentration and understanding are better. This is one reason I love this time of the morning. I will not be interrupted by my children and duties, and I find solitude, which helps start my day with calm. I'm also able to focus on my dua and ask for the things I need the most from Allah SWT because at this time of the night, Allah is the closest, and He wants to answer your dua. The Prophet SAW said:
"The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: 'Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" (Bukhari, Muslim)
How To Pray Tahajjud Salah
Step 1: Timing
Find the optimal time to pray tahajjud. You can divide the night into thirds—the final middle third is most virtuous. It is preferable to divide the night into six portions: sleep in the first three, worship and perform tahajjud in the fourth and fifth, then return to sleep in the sixth, as this was the prayer of Dawud A.S.
“The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days." (Bukhari)
Explanation: Sleeping for half of the night means after ‘Isha’ prayer, he should work out the time from after ‘Isha’ prayer until the break of dawn, spend half of it sleeping, then after that wake up for one third of it. (source: Islamqa.info)
Step 2: Wake from sleep
Even though tahajjud can be prayed after Isha, the full reward mentioned in the Quran and Hadith refers to worship preceded by sleep. This is also understood from the meaning of tahajjud itself, which is the struggle to rid oneself of sleep. This is the mujahada (striving) that makes it so beloved to Allah SWT.
Step 3: Make your intention
Make your intention for your voluntary prayer to pray tahajjud for the sake of Allah SWT. You can say something like: "I intend to pray two sunnah rakaat of tahajjud for the sake of Almighty Allah.”
Step 4: Pray a minimum of two rakats
The minimal night prayer is two rakats. However, the recommended number is four or eight, as was the practice of the Prophet SAW, so it is recommended to start with just two short rakats and build from there. A lengthier recitation in tahajjud is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed quickly. There is also the Hadith where the Prophet says:
“Whoever wakes up at night and wakes his wife, and they pray two rakahs together, they will be recorded among the men and women who remember Allah much.” (Ibn Majjah)
Step 5: End with Witr
Close your night prayer with Witr, an odd number of rakats (1, 3, or 5) prayed as your final prayer of the night. The Prophet SAW never left witr, and it is considered a strongly emphasized sunnah.
“A man said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How is the prayer of the night?" He said, "Two rak`at followed by two rak`at and so on, and when you apprehend the approaching dawn, offer one rak`a as witr." (Bukhari)
Step 6: Make your duas
After your salah, sit and make your duas. This is the time to pour your heart out for yourself, your family, your children, your parents, and the ummah. Ask for everything. Allah SWT loves the servant who asks of Him.
It should be noted that once tahajjud becomes a habit, it is disliked to leave it unless there is a valid excuse. The Prophet SAW said,
"O Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so. He used to pray at night and then left it." (Bukhari and Muslim)
If you find that tahajjud is too difficult, it is good to reflect on the words of Ibn Mas'ud R.A. when someone said to him, "I cannot pray at night," and he said, "Your sins have prevented you."
A Note for Busy Mothers
As a mother of six, I know that waking in the night feels impossible some days. Here is what has helped me stay consistent:
Pray it just before fajr if waking mid-night isn't possible, or after isha before bed. Even two rakats of tahajjud counts and is worth more than not performing it.
Start with just two rakats. Consistency is more beloved to Allah SWT than quantity.
Keep your prayer mat out the night before as a visual reminder of your intention.
Ask Allah SWT before you sleep to wake you for His sake; this dua alone can help us succeed, inshallah.
A Sunnah of the Prophet
When the Prophet (ﷺ) got up at night to offer the Tahajjud prayer, he used to say this dua:
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَتَهَجَّدُ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ـ أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ ـ ". قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَزَادَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ أَبُو أُمَيَّةَ " وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ". قَالَ سُفْيَانُ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ سَمِعَهُ مِنْ طَاوُسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Allahumma lakal-hamd. Anta qaiyyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, Laka mulkus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard. Wa lakal-hamd, anta-l-haq wa wa'duka-lhaq, wa liqa'uka Haq, wa qauluka Haq, wal-jannatu Han wan-naru Haq wannabiyuna Haq. Wa Muhammadun, sallal-lahu'alaihi wasallam, Haq, was-sa'atu Haq. Allahumma aslamtu Laka wabika amantu, wa 'Alaika tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika hakamtu faghfir li ma qaddamtu wama akh-khartu wama as-rartu wama'a lantu, anta-l-muqaddim wa anta-l-mu akh-khir, la ilaha illa anta (or la ilaha ghairuka).
O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, And to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth And Paradise is true And Hell is true And all the Prophets (Peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad is true, And the Day of Resurrection is true. O Allah ! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and depend on You. And repent to You, And with Your help I argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) And I take You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me my previous And future sins; And whatever I concealed or revealed And You are the One who make (some people) forward And (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but you.” (Bukhari 1120)
I implore you to try the tahajjud salah if you haven't yet, because it will help you more than you can imagine inshallah. There is no pain too great, no problem too heavy, and no dua too big for this time of night. May Allah SWT grant us all the tawfiq to pray in the night and taste its sweetness, ameen.
Deepen Your Night Worship
Read my full guide: How to Pray Qiyam al-Layl: A Muslima’s Guide to the Night Prayers
For the duas to recite during your night prayer: The Duas of the Prophets and the Pious
Need a prayer of need? Read: A Muslima's Guide to Salatul Haja
Salam, I’m Zakeeya!
A Muslim wife, mother of six, author, and mentor dedicated to helping Muslimas find peace, purpose, and barakah in their everyday lives. Since 2011, I've been sharing practical Islamic guidance on wifehood, motherhood, homemaking, and spirituality to help women like you navigate life's challenges with more faith and less overwhelm. If this post resonated with you, I'd love to have you join our community and say salam, grab free Islamic resources in the Member Vault, and explore my books, journals, and mentoring—visit my About Page. May Allah bless your journey! 🤍
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