Tahajjud (تهجّد) is the voluntary prayer performed at night, after waking from sleep and before Fajr. It is part of Qiyam al-Layl (“standing at night”). It is strongly recommended and was a daily practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions. Allah says: “And in part of the night, stand up in prayer as an extra offering; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station” (Qur'an 17:79).

How many rakats is Tahajjud?

There is no fixed number. The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eleven rakats in all (eight Tahajjud plus three Witr), or thirteen. The minimum that counts is two rakats. The prayer is offered in pairs (raka'tayn raka'tayn), then closed with an odd-numbered Witr. Aisha (r.a.) said: “The Prophet ﷺ never prayed more than eleven rakats, in Ramadan or outside it.”

At what time should Tahajjud be prayed?

Qiyam al-Layl runs from Isha to Fajr. Tahajjud specifically means the prayer after sleeping. The BEST time is the LAST THIRD of the night, since the hadith says: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when only the last third of the night remains, and says: Who calls upon Me, that I may answer him? Who asks of Me, that I may give him? Who seeks My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Bukhari 1145, Muslim 758).

Witr (وتر, “odd”) is a night prayer with an odd number of rakats (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), regarded as STRONGLY recommended (almost obligatory for the Hanafis). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Make Witr your last prayer of the night” (Bukhari 998). It may be prayed straight after Isha if you fear not waking, or last after Tahajjud. Most commonly: three rakats with the Qunut in the third.

How do you avoid missing Tahajjud?

Advice from the Prophet ﷺ and the scholars: 1) sleep early after Isha, 2) make a sincere intention before sleeping and ask Allah's help, 3) recite the last verses of Al-Baqara and the last three surahs, 4) do not eat too much in the evening, 5) set two or three alarms, 6) wash your face as soon as you wake, 7) begin with two short rakats even when tired, 8) if you fail, do not despair — you can always start again. Even two rakats carry the blessing of the last third.

What should be recited during Tahajjud?

After Al-Fatiha in each rakat you may read any surah or portion of the Qur'an you know. Recommended short surahs: Al-Ikhlas (112), Al-Falaq (113), An-Nas (114); medium ones: Al-Mulk (67), As-Sajda (32), Al-Muzammil (73). The Prophet ﷺ often recited long passages (sometimes the whole of Al-Baqara). What matters is concentration (khushu) and reflection (tadabbur) on the meaning.

Qiyam al-Layl

Tahajjud — the night prayer

A complete guide to the believer's most intimate prayer. How to wake up, when to pray, how many rakats, what to recite — and the practical advice of the Prophet ﷺ for never missing it.

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
“And in part of the night, stand up (in prayer) as an extra offering; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station.”
— Qur'an, Surah Al-Isra (17), verse 79

The three thirds of the night

In Islam the “night” runs from sunset (Maghrib) to the appearance of dawn (Fajr). It divides into three equal parts:

First third

The extended Isha period. The Isha prayer, plus Witr if you fear you will not wake.

e.g. 9 pm - midnight

Second third

Deep sleep. A ritually neutral period.

e.g. midnight - 2:40 am

Last third

The BEST time for Tahajjud. Allah descends to the lowest heaven and answers the supplications.

e.g. 2:40 - 5:20 am

The shape of the prayer (the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ)

A complete wudu

If possible, use the siwak to clean the teeth — a Sunnah on waking.

Two short rakats

Al-Fatiha plus a short surah (Al-Kafirun in the first, Al-Ikhlas in the second). This is the recommended “opening prayer”.

Two medium or long rakats

Al-Fatiha plus a longer surah. Repeat in pairs as long as you can (4, 6, 8 or 10 rakats in total).

Witr — the last prayer

Close with Witr: three rakats (the most common). In the third rakat, after the recitation and before the ruku, make the Qunut (a supplication with raised hands).

Du'a Qunut (the supplication of Witr)

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ

Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa ʿafini fiman ʿafayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima aʿtayt…

“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, bless me in what You have given me…”

— Abu Dawud 1425, Tirmidhi 464 (sahih)

Ten tips for not missing Tahajjud

1Sleep EARLY after Salat al-Isha — avoid screens until midnight.
2Make a sincere intention (niyya) BEFORE sleeping: “O Allah, wake me for Tahajjud”.
3Avoid heavy meals in the evening — heavy digestion prevents waking.
4Recite the last three surahs (Mu'awwidhat) and Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping.
5Recite the last two verses of Al-Baqara (285-286) before sleeping.
6Set two or three alarms with different tones.
7Put the phone OUT of the bed, at a distance (it forces you to get up).
8Drink a glass of water on waking and wash your face.
9Start with two short rakats even when tired — the inertia fades afterwards.
10Over a week, aim for three or four Tahajjud at least — regularity beats perfection.

The merits of Tahajjud

A praised station

Qur'an 17:79

Allah promises “a praised station” (maqam mahmud) to those who pray at night — the station of intercession the Prophet ﷺ will hold on the Day of Judgement.

The hour when Allah descends

Bukhari 1145, Muslim 758

“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, saying: Who calls upon Me, that I may answer him?”

The best voluntary prayer

Muslim 1163

“The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer of the night.”

The habit of the righteous

Tirmidhi 3549

“Hold fast to Qiyam al-Layl, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a means of nearness to your Lord, an expiation for sins and a protection from evil.”

A smart Tahajjud alarm in BasiraLife

An automatic alarm for the last third of the night, calculated from your location, a du'a reminder before sleep, streak tracking for Tahajjud, and a playlist of long recitations (Al-Afasy, Ramadan) to accompany your prayer.

Turn on Tahajjud