Tahajjud prayer is an optional late-night prayer that is recommended in Islam. It is also known as the “night prayer” and is one of the most virtuous and rewarding forms of prayer in Islam.
When to perform Tahajjud prayer – sequence
- Salatul Isha: This is the obligatory night prayer performed after sunset. It consists of four units (rak’ahs) and is the first of the five daily prayers in Islam.
- A little sleep and wake up: After performing Salatul Isha, it is recommended to rest for a short period before waking up for Tahajjud. This rest is known as “Qiyam al-Layl” or “portion of the night,” during which one may engage in sleep, but it is not necessary to sleep for a long duration.
- Tahajjud: Offer the Tahajjud prayer, which comprises multiple units of prayer (rak’ahs) and is performed with sincerity and devotion.
- Witr: Witr prayer is the final prayer of the night and is considered a confirmed Sunnah. It is performed after Tahajjud and can consist of one, three, five, seven, or nine units of prayer. Witr prayer is an integral part of the night prayers and should not be missed.
- Salatul Fajr: Fajr prayer is the obligatory dawn prayer performed before sunrise.
Quran:
- “Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.” (Quran 17:78)
- “Their sides part from [their] beds, they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend.” (Quran 32:16)
Hadith:
- “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)
- “Whoever prays at night in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- “When a man wakes up and then performs ablution and prays, and remembers Allah, then Allah remembers him, and when he remembers Allah, Allah remembers him. And when he goes to bed at night and wakes up in the morning, and performs ablution and remembers Allah, then Allah remembers him.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Additionally, performing Tahajjud prayer during Ramadan is especially virtuous and can lead to the forgiveness of past sins.
Niyyah (Intention) & Takbeer
Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fataras-samawati wal arda hanifan wama ana minal muskrikin
I have turned my full attention towards the Supreme Being, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of those who associate partners with Him.
O Allah, I intend to perform two rakats of the Tahajjud prayer, for You, facing towards the Qiblah
Men: raise one’s hands to your ears | Women: raising one’s hands to the level of the shoulders and say Allahu Akbar
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
Thana & Ta’awwz
Men: Lower your hands and place them over your naval. Your right hand should be placed over your left hand. Women: Place one’s right palm on top of the left hand without clasping it, resting both of them on top of the chest. Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you.
سُبْحَاْنَكَ اَلْلّٰھُمَّ وَبِحَمدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰی جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰه غَیْرِكَ
Subhana Kallah Humma Wa Bi Hamdika, Watabarakasmuka Wata ‘ala Jadduka, Wa-La Ilaha Ghairuk
Glory is to You O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is none worthy of worship but You.
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّـيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ
A’auodo billahi minash-shaytaanir-rajeem
I seek refuge with Allah from Satan.
(1) Tasmiyah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.
(2) Recite Surah Al-Fatiha
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ
AlHamdu lillaahi Rabbil-‘Aalameen. ‘Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maaliki Yaumid Deen. ‘Iyyaka na-budu wa iyyaka nasta-een. Ihdina-sirat al-Mustaqueem. Siratal-lazeena ‘an-‘amta ‘alai-him, Ghairil maghdubi ‘alai-him wa laddaalleen
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful; Master of Day of Judgement. Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help. Guide us along the right path, the path of those whom Thou has bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray.
(3) Recite Surah Al Fil or Any Other Surah
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ
Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem. Alam tara kaifa fa’ala rabbuka bi ashaabil feel Alam yajAAal kaydahum fee tadleel Wa arsala ‘alaihim tairan abaabeel Tarmeehim bihijaratin minsijjeel Faja ‘alahum ka’asfim m’akool
Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? Did He not make their plan into misguidance? And He sent against them birds in flocks, Striking them with stones of hard clay, And He made them like eaten straw.
(4) Takbeer and Go Down to Ruku
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
(5) During Ruku (Bowing)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiy al-Azeem (x3)
Glory be to My Lord, The Greatest
(6) While Rising From Ruku
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami Allahu liman hamidah
Allah listens to him who praises Him.
(7) While in Standing Position
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْد
Rabbana wa Lakal Hamd
Our Lord, all praises are for You
(8) Takbeer and Go Down For Sajdah (prostration)
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
(9) During First Sajdah
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Subhana Rab-bi yal A’ala (x3)
Glory to my Lord, the Most High.
(10) Takbeer and Dua in Jalsa (Sitting)
Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment.
Say Allahu Akbar as you rise from Sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees.
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li* (x2) or
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Allahummaghfirli warhamni wahdini wajburni warzuqni wa`afini
O Allah! Forgive me*, have mercy on me, console me, provide me with sustenance and grant me good health
(11) Takbeer and Return to Sajdah
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
(12) During Second Sajdah
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiy al A’alaa (x3)
Glory to my Lord, the Most High.
(13) Takbeer and Rise to Standing Position
Arise from the sujud to return to the standing position and say Allahu Akbar
اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
⭐ Standing Position (Qayyam)
To complete 2nd rakat, repeat steps numbered 2 to 12 then continue from number 14
(14) Jalsa (Sitting) – Tashahhud
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi-was-salawaatu wat-tayyibatu Assalamo alaika ayyuhan Nabiyyo wa-rahmat-ullahi wa-barakatuho. Assalamo alaina wa’ala ‘ibadillahis saliheen. Ash-hado alla ilaaha illallaho wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasulu
All Salutation is due to Allah and all Prayer and every thing pure. Peace be upon thee, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; and peace be on us and on all righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
*Point index finger towards Qibla by lifting up when saying La Ilaha and should be lowered back when saying Ill Allah.
(15) After Tashahhud, Durood Shareef
اَللّٰھُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰٓی اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا صَلَّیْتَ عَلٰٓی اِبْرَاھِیْمَ وَعَلٰٓی اٰلِ اِبْرَاھِیْمَ اِنَّکَ حَمِیْدٌ مَّجِیْدٌ اَللّٰھُمَّ بَارِکْ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰٓی اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا بَارَکْتَ عَلٰٓی اِبْرَاھِیْمَ وَعَلٰٓی اٰلِ اِبْرَاھِیْمَ اِنَّکَ حَمِیْدٌ مَّجِیْدٌ
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum-Majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum-Majeed
Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst bless Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. Prosper, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst prosper Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
(16) #1 Dua E Masura | or
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْماً كَثِيراً، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wala yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta, Faghfirli maghfiratan min indika war-hamni, innaka antalGhafur-Rahim
O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself and You alone can forgive sins, so grant me forgiveness from you and have mercy on me.
(17) #2 Dua – Rabbij Alni
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ
Rabbij alni muqeemas salati wa min zurriyati Rabbana wa taqabbal du’a Rabbanagh fir lee waliwalidayya wa lil mumineena Yawma yaqoomul hisaab
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established
(18) Salaam Towards the Right
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah
(19) Salaam Towards the Left
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah
Witr Prayer: After completing the Tahajjud prayer, one can perform the Witr prayer, which is the last prayer of the night and consists of a minimum of one Rakat and a maximum of three Rakats.
Tahajjud prayer is an optional late-night prayer that is recommended in Islam. It is performed after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer, and consists of a minimum of two Rakats and a maximum of twelve Rakats. It is a great way to connect with Allah and seek His blessings and forgiveness.
Step by Step Salah 