It is at this juncture that a special door toward divine mercy swings open during the quiet, still hours of the night, when most of the world is caught up in deep slumber. Tahajjud is often described by scholars as ‘the prayer of the righteous’ due to its spiritual rank and the devotion it requires.” For those seeking to draw closer to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, answers to their supplications, and a deep sense of inner peace, the Tahajjud prayer offers a unique and powerful pathway.
The ultimate guide will be talking about what Tahajjud means, great spiritual benefits, the correct time of Tahajjud, and a step-by-step explanation regarding how to offer Tahajjud: how many rakats are obligatory in Tahajjud and what should be Tahajjud dua. Be it a novice trying to get this blessed act into his life or an informed one trying to know more about this prayer, this article is your final guide optimized for all your queries related to Tahajjud namaz.
Tahajjud Meaning and Its Understanding with Linguistic Insight
First comes the essential understanding for this prayer – the Arabic root “h-j-d” literally means “to abandon sleep” or “to keep awake at night.” Thus, in Arabic, Tahajjud literally means “to wake up from sleep for the purpose of prayer.”
In Islam, Tahajjud is a special additional or Nafil prayer after having slept for some part of the night. It falls under Qiyam-ul-Layl, which means standing for prayer at night, yet it still retains its own identity and virtues independently.
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The meaning of Tahajjud is: The Night Vigil Prayer.
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Tahajjud Meaning in Urdu: تہجد کی نماز رات کو جاگ کر ادا کی جانے والی نفل نماز ہے ۔ Tahajjud is the nafl prayer you perform after waking up at night..
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Tahajjud pronunciation: tuh-huh-jood (emphasize the second syllable).
Tahajjud in Islam: The Special Status – What Allah and the Prophet Say
The question, “Why is Tahajjud so special?” can be answered resoundingly in the Quran and the Sunnah. It is not an obligatory prayer, yet it is consistently associated with the most righteous servants of Allah.
What does Allah say about Tahajjud?
The Quran mentions a number of times the great virtue of those who perform the prayer at night.
And part of the night- awake for it as an additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a station praised. Surah Al-Isra, 17:79
The above verse refers to Tahajjud prayer for the attainment of “Maqaman Mahmoodan”-a station of praise in the Hereafter-to which the scholars relate the unique intercession of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
And they used to sleep but little of the night. And in the early hours of the morning, they would ask for forgiveness. (Adh-Dhariyat 51:17-18)
The description of the righteous mentioned in the cited verses is an explicit recommendation for Tahajjud.
Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and springs, taking in what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the last hours of the night they would ask forgiveness. (Surah Az-Zariyat, 51:15-18)
The Prophetic Emphasis on Tahajjud Benefits
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was in the habit of performing Tahajjud regularly in his life and was always encouraging his Companions to do so. He once said:
“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” -Sahih Muslim
He also said:
“The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?'” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
This hadith encompasses the major benefits of Tahajjud.
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Acceptance of dua: Prayers made at this time are almost certain to be accepted.
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Seeking Forgiveness of Sins: It is the prime time when one ought to seek Allah’s mercy and pardon.
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Closeness to Allah: It means a straight and intimate talk with the Creator Himself.
Some of the more profound benefits of Tahajjud include:
- Spiritual Strength: It builds iman or faith and taqwa, which is a consciousness of God.
- Inner Peace: Quietude of loneliness gives so much rest to the heart.
- Answer to Problems: Indeed, through this prayer many believers found solutions to apparently insurmountable problems.
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Protection against evil: This acts as a shield for evil Disclaimer
Practicalities of Tahajjud Prayer: Rules, Time, and Rakats
It is important to understand the theoretical virtues of prayer, but it is the practical act which secures those blessings. Let’s review some common questions about the rules for the Tahajjud prayer.
What is the best time for Tahajjud?
Indeed, the most defining feature of Tahajjud is the time in which it is performed; that time begins right after the obligatory prayer of Isha up until the start of the Fajr prayer, though it is considered most virtuous and recommended in the last third of the night.
and solve for:
- Now calculate the time between Maghrib (sunset) and Fajr (dawn).
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Divide this time into three equal parts:
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Indeed, the last third is the most blessed time to pray Tahajjud.
For example, if Maghrib is at 6:00 PM and Fajr at 5:00 AM, the night is 11 hours. The last third would begin roughly at 1:40 AM. It is around this time – as mentioned in the Hadith above – that Allah’s mercy is most abundant.
Tahajjud Prayer: How to Perform It
Some people question how to pray Tahajjud, which is very easy and spiritual, actually.
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Intention: One should first of all create the intention in the heart. There is no saying of Tahajjud niyat, but it is a firm determination in the heart to offer Tahajjud to Allah. Thus, Tahajjud namaz ki niyat in English would be: “I intend to pray two rakats of Tahajjud for Allah, facing the Kaaba.”
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How many rakats in tahajjud: This is one of the most asked questions. Tahajjud prayer is offered in 2 rakats units, and there is no fixed maximum limit. Prophet Muhammad used to pray 8 rakats in Tahajjud and added 3 rakats of Witr, making a total of 11, but you can pray a minimum of 2 rakats.
- How many rakats must be offered in Tahajjud? 8 rakats, 4 sets of 2 rakats are highly virtuous based upon the practice of the Prophet.
- How many rakats in Tahajjud maximum? There is no strict maximum, though not overburdening oneself is highly advisable.
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The Prayer Itself: He should pray each pair of two rakats of this prayer as he normally prays any other two-rakat Sunnah prayer. In every rakat he reads Surah Al-Fatihah followed by another Surah or a few Quranic verses. There are no Suras that are specifically required for this prayer, but longer recitations are meritorious if one can manage them.
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Witr prayer is an emphasized Sunnah which closes the Tahajjud prayer. Generally, Witr prayers are prayed as odd numbers and are mostly performed as one, three, five, seven, or nine rakats. However, the easiest ways of performing Witr prayer are to pray one rakat of Witr or three rakats of Witr. Thus, to answer “Can I pray 1 rakat Witr after Tahajjud?”, the answer is absolutely yes.
Tahajjud Dua: The Heart of Prayer
Especially after the Tahajjud prayer, this time is the most perfect when one should make ardent supplications during its prostrations. Actually, this is an embodiment of Dua of Tahajjud. You can request Allah for anything in your own language for all your needs pertaining to this world and the Hereafter.
A powerful and authentic dua that can be recited in Tahajjud (and at any time) is…
“اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ”
Transliteration: Allahumma Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan, wa fil-akhirati hasanatan, wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.
Meaning: “O our Lord, give us in this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter that which is good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Now, at this time, pour out your heart to Allah and make sincere du’aa for repentance guidance, health, and fulfillment of your righteous wishes.
Sunnah, Nafl, and Niyyat: Dealing with Common Misconceptions
Tahajjud Namaz falls into a category that is a little confusing. Let me explain this.
Is Tahajjud Sunnah or Nafl?
Answering this question is a bit nuanced. While Tahajjud for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is an established Sunnah Mu’akkadah-that is, a stressed tradition-for the rest of the Ummah, Tahajjud is considered a Nafl prayer, which means a voluntary supererogatory act of worship. In light of this, the answer to the question “Tahajjud namaz is Sunnah or Nafl?” is that it is a Nafl prayer for us.
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Tahajjud Prayer in the Hanafi School: Sunnah or Nafl? Tahajjud, in the thought of the Hanafi school, is considered an emphasized Nafl – Mustahabb – and not a Sunnah Mu’akkadah like rawatib confirmed prayers before and after Fard prayers.
- Do we read Sunnah or Nafl in Tahajjud? We pray it as a Nafl prayer.
Indeed it is a matter of the heart and there are no specific words that must be said for the niyat of Tahajjud. It is essentially the resolve to offer it. But one may put it in the following terms to explain it to oneself
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Intention for Tahajjud in Arabic: نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ رَكَعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ التَهَجُّدِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
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The Niyyah for Tahajjud prayer in English is: “I intend to pray two rakats of Tahajjud prayer for the sake of Allah.”
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Tahajjud niyyat in Urdu: “میں نے تہجد کی دو رکعت نفل نماز پڑھنی ہے اللہ تعالیٰ کے لیے”
Can I Pray Tahajjud Without Sleeping?
Although the literal meaning of Tahajjud does involve waking up from sleep, the majority of scholars hold the view that if one prays the night prayer after Isha without having slept, it is considered valid, rewarded, and counted as Qiyam-ul-Layl. However, specifically to constitute Tahajjud, it is more advisable that one should have slept for some part of the night, and that comes closer to the definition of the term. However, if someone stays awake all night in worship—an immensely virtuous act—we can more appropriately categorize it as Qiyam-ul-Layl.
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Conclusion: Embracing the Gift of Tahajjud
The Tahajjud prayer is a gift from heaven, a secret weapon given to the believer. It is not an encumbrance but a privilege a private rendezvous with the Lord of the Worlds. Keeping in mind its deep meaning, observing its appointed time, learning how to pray Tahajjud with the right number of rakats, and pouring out our hearts in Tahajjud dua can open doors of spiritual fulfillment that we never knew existed.
It may be that one struggles to rise up for two rakats in Tahajjud, but the sweetness of that connection will inevitably pull one back for more. Make a start, be regular, and see the transformative benefits of Tahajjud shine into your life. May Allah (SWT) grant us all the ability to be among those who remember Him in the depths of the night. Ameen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the difference between Tahajjud and Qiyam-ul-Layl?
A: Qiyam-ul-Layl is a more general term that means “standing in the night” for worship; it could include prayer, recitation of the Quran, and dhikr. Tahajjud, however, is a certain type of Qiyam-ul-Layl done after waking up from sleep. All Tahajjud prayer is Qiyam-ul-Layl, but not all Qiyam-ul-Layl is Tahajjud.
Q2: Is it necessary to recite a long Surah in Tahajjud?
A: No, it is not necessary. Of course, longer portions of the Quran can be more rewarding, but even more important than this is your relation with Allah; you can go for shorter Surahs. Consistency with proper concentration is better than a long recitation that might lead to burnout.
Q3: Can I pray Tahajjud if I missed my Isha prayer?
A: You should pray the missed obligatory Isha prayer first, then you can pray Tahajjud.
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