Tahajjud: How and When to Pray the Night Prayer

When to pray tahajjud

The night prayer can be offered at any time between Isha and Fajr, but the best time is the last third of the night: “Our 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 of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).

To find the last third, divide the time between Maghrib and Fajr into three: our prayer timetables give these times for every city.

How many rak‘ahs?

Tahajjud is prayed in pairs of two rak‘ahs: “The night prayer is two by two” (Sahih al-Bukhari). The Prophet ﷺ most often prayed eleven rak‘ahs including witr, sometimes thirteen. There is no fixed minimum: two sincere rak‘ahs already make you one of those who stand at night.

How to pray it

1. Intend before sleeping to wake for the night prayer.
2. On waking, remember Allah and make wudu.
3. Open with two short rak‘ahs, as the Prophet ﷺ did.
4. Pray in pairs, with long recitation, ruku‘ and sujud as you are able.
5. Make abundant du‘a, especially in sujud.
6. Close with witr if you have not prayed it before sleeping.

Practical tips

• Sleep early and take a short nap in the afternoon (qaylulah) if you can.
• Say the adhkar before sleeping and sleep in a state of wudu.
• Set an alarm about 30 to 45 minutes before Fajr: even a short prayer then is in the last third.
• Start small and be regular: deeds most loved by Allah are those done consistently.

Recitation and the night prayer in Ramadan

The Prophet ﷺ sometimes recited very long surahs in a single rak‘ah of the night prayer (Muslim), but he also said: “If one of you becomes drowsy while praying, let him sleep until his sleepiness leaves him” (al-Bukhari). Recite with reflection, in a voice between loud and silent (17:110).

In Ramadan, the night prayer in congregation is the tarawih. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands in prayer with the imam until he finishes, the standing of a whole night is recorded for him” (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i).

In brief

• Tahajjud is the night prayer, the best prayer after the obligatory ones.
• Its best time is the last third of the night.
• It is prayed two by two, usually eleven rak‘ahs with witr.
• Even two sincere rak‘ahs count.
• Going to bed early and constancy make it easier.

Read next

• Sunnah Prayers: Rawatib, Witr and DuhaThe voluntary prayers attached to the five daily prayers (rawatib), the witr prayer and the duha prayer: their number, timing and reward.
• I‘tikaf: the Spiritual Retreat in the MosqueWhat i‘tikaf is, how to perform it in the last ten days of Ramadan, its conditions, what is permitted during it and what breaks it.