Tahajjud Prayer: Time, Rakats, Method & Benefits

Tahajjud prayer is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer offered after Isha and some sleep, and before Fajr begins. Its best time is the last third of the night, it is prayed in sets of two rakats, and the Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eight rakats followed by Witr. It is a quiet time to ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance and your personal needs.

What Is Tahajjud Namaz?

The word tahajjud comes from the Arabic root for giving up sleep. Tahajjud namaz (also called qiyam al-layl or salat al-layl) is not one of the five obligatory prayers, but it is among the most loved voluntary prayers. Allah says to the Prophet ﷺ: “And rise at the last part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise” (Quran 17:79). He also praises the righteous who “used to sleep only little in the night, and pray for forgiveness before dawn” (Quran 51:17–18).

If you are still learning the basics of salah, start with our beginner guide on how do you pray in Islam, then add Tahajjud step by step.

Tahajjud Time: When Does It Start and End?

Tahajjud time starts after the Isha prayer and lasts until Subh Sadiq (true dawn), when Fajr time begins. The best part is the last third of the night. The Prophet ﷺ said that our Lord descends to the nearest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, and asks: who will call upon Me so that I answer him, who will ask Me so that I give him, who will seek My forgiveness so that I forgive him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145).

How to find the last third of the night: take the time between Maghrib and Fajr, divide it by three, and the final part is the last third. Example: if Maghrib is 6:00 pm and Fajr is 5:00 am, the night is 11 hours, so the last third starts around 1:20 am. Check exact Maghrib and Fajr for your city on our prayer times today tool.

How Many Rakats Is Tahajjud?

There is no fixed number. The minimum is two rakats. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said the Prophet ﷺ never prayed more than eleven rakats at night, in Ramadan or other months (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147) – usually understood as eight rakats of Tahajjud plus three of Witr. The Prophet ﷺ also said: “The night prayer is offered as two rakat followed by two rakat and so on” (Sahih al-Bukhari 990). So you can pray 2, 4, 8 or more – whatever you can keep up regularly.

How to Pray Tahajjud Prayer Step by Step

What to Recite in Tahajjud

Any part of the Quran you know is fine. Many people recite longer surahs they have memorised, or repeat short surahs. You do not need a “special” surah – sincerity and focus matter more than length. To find verses by topic, try our Quran ayat search.

Benefits of Tahajjud Prayer

• The best voluntary prayer: The Prophet ﷺ said the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the prayer at night (Sahih Muslim 1163).
• A time when dua is answered: In the last third of the night Allah calls His servants to ask and seek forgiveness (Bukhari 1145).
• A path to forgiveness: The Quran describes the righteous as those who seek forgiveness before dawn (51:18).
• Inner peace and discipline: Standing alone before Allah at night builds sincerity, patience and closeness to Him.

Duas to Make in Tahajjud

Tahajjud has no single fixed dua. Ask Allah in your own language for what you need. Good choices include istighfar (see our tawbah and istighfar guide), the dua of Prophet Yunus, and, when facing a decision, Istikhara. In Ramadan’s last ten nights, add the Laylatul Qadr dua. You can keep count of your dhikr with our digital tasbih counter.

Tips to Wake Up for Tahajjud Regularly

• Sleep early and recite the Sunnah dua before sleeping with the intention to wake up.
• Start small: two rakats ten minutes before Fajr is still night prayer.
• Set two alarms and keep your phone away from the bed.
• Avoid heavy food late at night.
• If you miss it, do not give up – consistency, even if small, is what counts.

Tahajjud Prayer FAQ

Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping first?

Many scholars say Tahajjud is specifically the night prayer offered after sleeping. If you pray after Isha without sleeping, it still counts as night prayer (qiyam al-layl) and is rewarded, but waking after sleep is better.

What is the end time for Tahajjud?

Tahajjud time ends at true dawn (Subh Sadiq), the moment Fajr time begins.

How many rakats are best for Tahajjud?

The minimum is 2 rakats. The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed 8 rakats followed by Witr, but you may pray as many as you wish in units of two.

Can I pray Tahajjud if I already prayed Witr after Isha?

Yes. Pray Tahajjud in sets of two and do not repeat Witr, because there are not two Witrs in one night.

Can women pray Tahajjud during their period?

No salah is prayed during menstruation, but a woman can still wake at that time for dua, dhikr and istighfar.

Related reading

• Dua e Qunoot – Arabic, Urdu and English
• Namaz e Isha ka tariqa
• Taraweeh ki namaz ka tarika
• Ishraq aur Chasht ki namaz

Source & review: References: Quran (quran.com), Hadith (sunnah.com). Content reviewed by Qilaj editorial team.

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