Tahajjud Prayer - How to Pray, Time, and Benefits

Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer, and one of the most beloved acts of worship after the obligatory prayers. This article explains what the Quran and authentic hadith say about it, when to pray it, how many rak'ahs, and how to start without strain.

Tahajjud is prayed in the night after Isha and before Fajr, ideally in the last third of the night. It is not obligatory for the ummah, and the minimum is two rak'ahs. The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eleven rak'ahs at night (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

• "And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station" (Quran 17:79).
• "O you who wraps himself, arise [to pray] the night, except for a little" (Quran 73:1-2). Scholars understand this as an early command that was later eased.
• The servants of the Most Merciful "spend the night to their Lord prostrating and standing" (Quran 25:64). See our Surah Al-Furqan page.

1. The best prayer after the fard. The Prophet ﷺ said the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer (Sahih Muslim).
2. The last third of the night. The Prophet ﷺ said that our Lord descends each night to the lowest heaven in the last third and says, who is calling upon Me that I may answer him, who is asking that I may give him, who is seeking forgiveness that I may forgive him (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Scholars have explained the "descending" in ways that preserve Allah's transcendence, and they differ on the details.
3. Number of rak'ahs. Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ did not exceed eleven rak'ahs, in Ramadan or outside it (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Other reports mention different counts, which scholars reconcile.

• After Isha and before Fajr, with the last third being best.
• Hanafi scholars generally describe tahajjud as prayer after waking from sleep, while others allow it before sleeping as well. If you cannot wake, you may pray Witr after Isha and add rak'ahs when you can.

1. Make wudu and pray two rak'ahs at a time, as the Prophet ﷺ said the night prayer is two by two (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
2. Recite what you can. There is no fixed surah. Many people read longer surahs slowly, but short ones are fine.
3. Make a long sajdah, which is a recognised time for dua. See best times for dua.
4. Finish with Witr if you have not prayed it already.

• Start with two rak'ahs, not eleven. The Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if small (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
• Sleep early. A short night prayer with a sound sleep is better than exhaustion.
• Set your alarm before Fajr time. Check the time on our prayer times page.
• If you miss a night, do not give up. A missed habit can be resumed.