Tahajjud, rakʿah by rakʿah.
For a beginner, start with one complete pair of two rakʿahs. Night prayer is reported as being offered in pairs; if you want to pray more, repeat another two-rakʿah set. Keep Witr as its own closing prayer and follow the site’s Hanafi Witr guide.
Source for night prayer in pairs: Sahih al-Bukhari 990 ↗.
Make Tahajjud sustainable, not intimidating.
Why pray at night?
Night prayer gives a quieter space for Qur’an, Salah and duʿā. It is a quiet time for voluntary prayer, Qur’an and duʿā.
Tahajjud — 2 Rakʿah set at a glance
Tahajjud is prayed in sets of two rakʿahs. Complete the two rakʿahs below with salām, then begin another two-rakʿah set if you wish.
When is Tahajjud?
Night prayer is prayed after ʿIshā’. The last third of the night is a particularly important time for supplication and seeking forgiveness.
A sustainable starting routine
- Begin with two rakʿahs rather than designing an exhausting plan.
- Choose a wake-up time you can realistically maintain.
- Keep a short personal duʿā list.
- Read Qur’an at a pace that lets you understand and reflect.
- If Ramadan arrives, use the Ramadan guide alongside the night-prayer guidance.
When to pray Tahajjud
After ‘Isha: ‘Isha is the obligatory night prayer and the fifth of the five daily obligatory prayers. Voluntary night prayer begins after ‘Isha and continues until Fajr.
Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud: Qiyam al-Layl is a broad term for worship during the night. Tahajjud is commonly used for voluntary night prayer offered after sleeping and then waking, although scholars may use the terms more broadly. Sleeping itself is not “Qiyam al-Layl.”
Best time: Night prayer may be offered earlier, but the final third of the night has a particular virtue for supplication and seeking forgiveness. Sahih al-Bukhari 1145
How many rak‘ahs? Tahajjud is voluntary and may be prayed in units of two. This page demonstrates a two-rak‘ah unit that can be repeated.
Witr: The Prophet ﷺ instructed that Witr be made the last prayer of the night. In the Hanafi school Witr is classified as wajib; other Sunni schools generally classify it as an emphasized Sunnah. Sahih al-Bukhari 998
Stand
Rukūʿ
Sajdah
Jalsah
Tashahhud
SalāmBegin: intention in the heart & Takbeer
Know in your heart which Salah you are praying for Allah. No fixed spoken intention formula is required. Then begin the prayer with Allahu Akbar.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1 — deeds are according to intentions ↗
Men: raise one's hands to your ears | Women: raising one’s hands to the level of the shoulders and say Allahu Akbar
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
Thana & Ta'awwz
Men: Lower your hands and place them over your navel. 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.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdika, wa tabārakasmuka, wa taʿālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
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.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Aʿūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm
I seek refuge with Allah from Satan.
(1) Tasmiyah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.
(2) Recite Surah Al-Fatiha
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn. Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Māliki yawmid-dīn. Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn. Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
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 any Surah you know (Al-Fil is the example below)
You do not have to recite Sūrah al-Fīl specifically here. It is shown as a learning example; you may recite another Sūrah you know.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْفِيلِ أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِى تَضْلِيلٍ وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ
Alam tara kayfa faʿala Rabbuka bi-aṣḥābil-fīl. Alam yajʿal kaydahum fī taḍlīl. Wa arsala ʿalayhim ṭayran abābīl. Tarmīhim biḥijāratin min sijjīl. Fajaʿalahum kaʿaṣfin maʾkūl
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
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
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)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
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.
Sit between the two sajdahs (Jalsah)
Rise from the first sajdah saying Allahu Akbar. Sit briefly and steadily between the two prostrations. Recite the duʿā shown below, then say Allahu Akbar and go into the second sajdah.
After the first sajdah, say Allāhu Akbar as you rise into the short sitting position (Jalsah). Sit steadily for a moment, place your hands on your thighs/knees, make the duʿā shown below, then say Allāhu Akbar and go into the second sajdah.
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.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li* (x2) or
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي
Allāhumma’ghfir lī, warḥamnī, wahdinī, wajburnī, wa ʿāfinī, warzuqnī, warfaʿnī
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
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
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
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is The Greatest
Use the rakʿah map near the top of this guide. It tells you exactly what changes in the next rakʿah without sending you back to numbered steps.
(14) Jalsa (Sitting) - Tashahhud
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illAllāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh
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
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd
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.
Before the final Salām there is a place for duʿā. The two supplications shown here are learning examples; do not mistake them for Sūrahs or think that these exact two must both be recited every time. See the source-linked note above for the established place of duʿā before Salām.
After Tashahhud and ṣalawāt, you may make an appropriate supplication before Salām. The two duʿās below are examples to learn; do not treat them as required Surahs or a fixed pair.
Sahih al-Bukhari 835 ↗Example duʿā before Salām (1)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، 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.
Example duʿā before Salām (2)
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي، رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ. رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbijʿalnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, Rabbanā wa taqabbal duʿā’. Rabbanaghfir lī wa li-wālidayya wa lil-mu’minīna yawma yaqūmul-ḥisāb
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
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah
(19) Salaam Towards the Left
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah