What time is the last third of the night?

Divide the period from Maghrib (sunset) to Fajr (true dawn) into three equal parts. The last third begins two-thirds through that interval. This varies daily and by location, so use a prayer-times app for accuracy.

What does the hadith about the last third of the night say?

The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who will call upon Me so I may respond? Who will ask Me so I may give? Who will seek My forgiveness so I may forgive?' (Bukhari and Muslim)

How many rak'ahs should I pray in the last third of the night?

There is no fixed number. You may pray as few as two rak'ahs. The Prophet ﷺ typically prayed 8 rak'ahs of Tahajjud followed by 3 Witr, but any amount is rewarded, and consistency matters more than quantity.

Is the last third of the night better than Laylatul Qadr?

Laylatul Qadr is uniquely superior in reward. However, the last third of the night is available every single night of the year, making it the most consistent opportunity for answered supplication available to every Muslim.

What should I do if I cannot wake up for the last third of the night?

Make dua before sleeping that Allah wakes you — this is itself a sunnah. Sleep early enough that waking is possible. Start with one or two nights per week and build gradually. Even a short dua just before Fajr carries great blessing.

How to Make the Most of the Last Third of the Night

Every night, before the dawn of Fajr, there is a window of time the Prophet ﷺ described as the most powerful moment for supplication. It is not Ramadan-only. It is not reserved for scholars or saints. It is every single night, available to anyone who can wake and ask.

The Hadith: What Happens in the Last Third

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Our Lord — Blessed and Exalted — descends to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, and He says: Who will call upon Me so that I may respond to him? Who will ask Me so that I may give to him? Who will seek My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” (Bukhari and Muslim). This descent is affirmed as it befits Allah’s Majesty, without likening it to anything in creation.

How to Calculate When the Last Third Begins

The night, for this purpose, runs from Maghrib (sunset) to Fajr (true dawn) — not from midnight on the clock. Divide that interval into three equal parts. The last third begins two-thirds of the way through. For example: if Maghrib is at 8:00 pm and Fajr is at 4:00 am (8 hours of night), each third is about 2 hours 40 minutes, so the last third begins around 1:20 am. A prayer-times app gives you exact figures for your location every day.

What to Do in the Last Third

Pray Tahajjud — at least two rak’ahs of voluntary night prayer. See our complete Tahajjud guide for the method and recommended recitations.
Make sincere dua, especially in sujud. The Prophet ﷺ said: “A servant is closest to his Lord when he is in prostration, so make much dua.” (Muslim) This is the hour when the gates of heaven are wide open.
Seek istighfar (forgiveness). Allah describes the people of taqwa as those who seek forgiveness in the hours before dawn. (Quran 3:17) Even a few minutes of sincere repentance in this time carries enormous weight.
Recite the Quran slowly and reflectively. Allah singles out night recitation as especially resonant: “Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence of heart and tongue.” (Quran 73:6)
Make dhikr — SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar — in the quiet before Fajr. The tongue remembers Allah and the heart follows.

Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.

Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:6

A Dua to Open the Last Third

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta nūrus-samāwāti wal-arḍ

“O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.” Part of the dua the Prophet ﷺ began his night prayer with. (Bukhari)

Practical Tips for Waking Up

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Set an alarm

Set a single alarm about 60–90 minutes before Fajr. Keep your phone across the room so you must get up to silence it. Wudu before sleeping makes it easier to pray immediately upon waking.

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Sleep early

The Prophet ﷺ disliked sleeping before Isha and unnecessary talk after it. An earlier bedtime makes waking for the last third effortless rather than heroic.

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Make dua before sleeping

Ask Allah before you sleep to wake you for worship. This intention itself is rewarded. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever asks Allah to wake him for the night prayer and then sleeps through it, Allah records the reward of his intention. (Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i)

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Start with one night a week

Consistency is more beloved to Allah than intensity. Begin with Sunday night, for example. Once that is established, add another. A small deed done regularly surpasses a large one done once.

The last third of the night pairs beautifully with a life of supplication. For the etiquette of dua that the Prophet ﷺ taught, read our article on the adab of making dua.

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