Of all the voluntary prayers in Islam, Tahajjud holds a unique place. It is the prayer of the night — prayed in the stillness before dawn, when the world is asleep and the servant stands alone before his Lord. The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned it, even while travelling. The Quran commands it directly to him and praises those who maintain it.
This guide covers everything: what Tahajjud is, when to pray it, how many rakah, exactly how to perform it, the best duas, and practical tips for waking up consistently.
"And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud as an additional prayer for you — it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station."
— Al-Isra 17:79What Is Tahajjud?
Tahajjud (تهجد) comes from the Arabic root meaning to fight sleep — to struggle against the desire to rest and rise instead for the sake of Allah. It is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer performed after sleeping and before Fajr.
It is sometimes called Qiyam al-Layl (standing at night), though technically Tahajjud requires sleeping first. Both terms refer to the same beloved act of worship.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer." (Muslim)
When to Pray Tahajjud
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, and He says: Who is calling upon Me so I may answer him? Who is asking of Me so I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness so I may forgive him?" (Bukhari & Muslim)
To calculate the last third: take the time between Isha and Fajr, divide by three, and count from the end. If Isha is at 22:00 and Fajr at 05:00 — that's 7 hours. The last third begins at 02:40.
How Many Rakah Is Tahajjud?
There is no fixed minimum or maximum — Tahajjud is flexible. The minimum is 2 rakah. The Prophet ﷺ most commonly prayed 8 rakah plus 3 Witr.
Pray in sets of 2 rakah, with a salam at the end of each set. Always end the night with Witr — an odd number of rakah (1 or 3) — as the Prophet ﷺ said: "Make Witr your last prayer of the night." (Bukhari)
How to Pray Tahajjud — Step by Step
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1
Wake up after sleeping
Set an alarm for the last third of the night. Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart for Tahajjud — no verbal niyyah is needed. Perform wudu if necessary.
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2
Begin with 2 short rakah
The Prophet ﷺ would open Tahajjud with 2 short rakah to ease into prayer. Recite a short surah in each. This is a Sunnah opener before the longer rakah.
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3
Pray your Tahajjud rakah in sets of 2
Pray 2 rakah at a time, ending with salam after each set. Recite long surahs slowly — the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes spend an entire rakah on one ayah, repeating it. Quality over quantity.
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4
Spend time in sujood making dua
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in sujood, so increase your duas there." (Muslim) Pour your heart out — in any language — especially in the last sujood of each prayer.
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5
End with Witr
The last prayer of the night must be Witr — 1 or 3 rakah. In the last rakah of Witr, recite Surah Al-A'la, Al-Kafirun, and Al-Ikhlas (one per rakah if praying 3), then make dua al-Qunoot in the last rakah before ruku if you know it.
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6
Sit in dua after Witr
After finishing, sit and make extended personal dua. This is one of the best times for dua in the entire day. Ask for forgiveness, for your needs, for those you love, and for the ummah.
The Best Dua for Tahajjud
The Prophet ﷺ would begin Tahajjud with this opening dua:
In sujood, repeat SubhanAllah and then make personal dua. There is no specific dua required — the whole point of Tahajjud is your private, unscripted conversation with Allah.
Which Surahs to Recite
There is complete freedom in which surahs to recite. The Prophet ﷺ sometimes recited very long portions of the Quran in a single rakah. Some recommended approaches:
- For beginners: Surah Al-Ikhlas (112) and Al-Kafirun (109) — short but weighty in reward
- For consistency: Pick 2–3 surahs you know well and recite them slowly with reflection
- For depth: Al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, Al-Nisa — the Prophet ﷺ would recite these at length in Tahajjud
- The Prophet's ﷺ favourite in Witr: Al-A'la (87), Al-Kafirun (109), and Al-Ikhlas (112) — one per rakah
Tips for Waking Up Consistently
The Reward of Tahajjud
"Their sides forsake their beds; they call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided them. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do."
— As-Sajdah 32:16–17Allah Himself describes the people of Tahajjud in the Quran — and says their reward is something so magnificent that no soul can comprehend it. That is the promise behind every night you force yourself out of bed.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: "In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside and the inside from the outside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed the poor, speak gently, fast consistently, and pray at night while others sleep." (Ahmad — Hasan)
Never Prayed Tahajjud Before? Start Tonight
You don't need to pray 8 rakah. You don't need to memorise long surahs. You don't need to be a scholar. All you need is to wake up, make wudu, and pray 2 rakah in the quiet of the night with a sincere heart. That is Tahajjud.
DeenPal can help you stay consistent. Use the app to check your exact Fajr time, set a Tahajjud notification for the last third of the night, and ask Rafiq AI any questions about the prayer — how to make Qunoot, which surahs to recite, or how to maintain a consistent habit. It's your companion for the journey.
Never Miss the Last Third of the Night
DeenPal gives you GPS-accurate prayer times and customisable notifications — set a Tahajjud reminder and let the app wake you up for the most beloved voluntary prayer in Islam.
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