This article was written by Mehedi Hasan. For more of Mehedi Hasan’s Islamic content, visit spreadingwisdom.com
What is the Tahajjud Prayer?
Before delving into the details of the Tahajjud prayer, I would like to clarify that the word ‘Tahajjud‘ means ‘waking up from sleep.’ Meanwhile, ‘Qiyam al-Layl‘ means ‘standing during the night’ or ‘night prayer.’ Both refer to non-obligatory prayers or you can address it as Islamic voluntary prayers, which are not mandatory for Muslims but hold great importance in Islam.
The Tahajjud prayer is such a prayer that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) consistently performed throughout his life. He encouraged us greatly to perform it as well, making it one of the important Sunnahs known among Muslims. Typically, the Tahajjud prayer is performed by Muslims after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer. It is often referred to as the ‘night prayer,’ but there is a slight difference between Qiyam al-Layl and the Tahajjud prayer.
Tahajjud Prayer and Qiyam al-Layl: Are They the Same?
- Tahajjud Prayer: The Tahajjud prayer involves waking up after a short or long sleep post-Isha and performing two or more Rak’ahs of voluntary prayer before Fajr for the sake of Allah Almighty.
- Qiyam al-Layl: On the other hand, Qiyam al-Layl refers to the voluntary prayer offered after Isha and before Fajr without sleeping in between.
In summary, the key difference between Tahajjud and Qiyam al-Layl is sleep. The prayer performed after waking from sleep is called the Tahajjud prayer, whereas the one performed without sleeping is known as Qiyam al-Layl. I hope this clarifies the matter for you. Both prayers hold significant importance in Islam, but the Tahajjud prayer is slightly more virtuous because it involves sacrificing sleep. This sacrifice brings a greater reward from Allah Almighty. Now, let me explain the importance of the Tahajjud prayer, which also applies to Qiyam al-Layl.
Importance of the Tahajjud Prayer
The Tahajjud prayer is a special gift from Allah Almighty to the Muslim Ummah, a sign of His immense love for us. This prayer brings us closer to Allah quickly, filling our hearts with a peace that is indescribable. Moreover, it is considered the most important non-obligatory prayer after the obligatory prayers. Regarding this, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
- أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God’s month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.
In addition to the Hadith, Allah Almighty has revealed several verses in the Quran emphasizing the importance of the Tahajjud prayer. Through these verses, we can clearly understand its significance. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
- وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهٖ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ ۖ عَسٰۤي اَنْ يَّبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُوْدًا “And during the night, wake up for Salah of tahajjud , an additional prayer for you. It is very likely that your Lord will place you at Praised Station.” [Quran 17:79]
- يٰۤاَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ ۙ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا “O you, wrapped up in clothes, Stand [in prayer] through the night, except for a little; Half of it, or subtract from it a little, Or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.” [Quran 73:1-9]
- وَالَّذِيْنَ يَبِيْتُوْنَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَّقِيَامًا “And those who pass the night prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord.” [Quran 25:64]
- وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَاِدْبَارَ النُّجُوْمِ “And, in parts of night too, proclaim His purity, and at the time of setting of the stars.” [Quran 52:49]
There are several other verses in the Quran that highlight the importance of the Tahajjud prayer. Now, I will try to guide you on the best time to perform the Tahajjud prayer.
When To Pray Tahajjud prayer?
As mentioned earlier, the tahajjud prayer is a night prayer. You can perform it anytime after the Isha prayer until just before the Fajr prayer. However, the best time to offer the tahajjud prayer is during the last third of the night, after two-thirds of the night has passed. This period is considered the most virtuous and follows the Sunnah method. It is also a significant time for making du’a (supplications), as it is a moment when Allah descends to the nearest heaven and calls out to His servants. Here’s a hadith that illustrates this point:
- Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”
Moreover, several hadiths show that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would also perform the tahajjud prayer during this time. However, this does not mean you cannot perform tahajjud at other times of the night. You can pray tahajjud anytime between Isha and Fajr, but the last third of the night is considered the best time. Additionally, worshipping at night has more favorable conditions compared to the day and rewards of praying at night also high to Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty mentions in the Qur’an:
- اِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ الَّيْلِ هِيَ اَشَدُّ وَطْاً وَّاَقْوَمُ قِيْلًا ؕ اِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيْلًا ؕوَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ اِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيْلًا “Truly, rising by night (for prayer of tahajjud) is the most effective way to subdue (one’s base self) and to make speech more upright. Surely, in daytime, you have a lengthy work to do. And remember the name of your Lord, and devote yourself to Him with exclusive devotion.”[Quran 73:6]
Calculating the last third of the night can be done by dividing the time between Isha and Fajr into three parts. The final part of this division is the last third. Here’s an example for clarity:Example for New York (USA): If Isha is at 9:00 PM and Fajr is at 5:00 AM, the last third of the night would be from around 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM. By using this method you can easily find the best timing of tahajjud prayer.
May Allah Almighty bless our nights with peace and blessings.
This article was written by Mehedi Hasan. For more of Mehedi Hasan’s Islamic content, visit spreadingwisdom.com!