How to pray Tahajjud
Tahajjud is the night prayer the Prophet ﷺ prayed every night of his life. It is voluntary for the ummah but the Prophet ﷺ said it is 'the best prayer after the obligatory' (Sahih Muslim 1163). The reward is enormous, the door is always open, and Allah descends to the nearest heaven in the last third of the night asking: 'Who will call upon Me, so I answer him? Who will ask, so I give? Who will seek forgiveness, so I forgive?'
After a period of sleep, before Fajr
Aloud or silent, your choice. Aloud aids concentration for many.
2-rak'ah units (2, 4, 6, 8, up to 12)
Technically any voluntary prayer after Isha qualifies as qiyam al-layl, but tahajjud specifically refers to prayer after waking from sleep. The last third of the night is the best time.
What makes Tahajjud distinct
- 1
Prayed after waking from sleep. That is what distinguishes tahajjud from general night prayer.
- 2
In units of two rak'ahs. Pray as many pairs as you can, 2, 4, 6, up to 12.
- 3
End the night's prayer with witr. If you are going to pray tahajjud, delay witr until after.
- 4
Best time is the last third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven.
- 5
Usually prayed aloud (softly) because it helps you stay awake and focused.
FAQs about Tahajjud
Is tahajjud different from qiyam al-layl?+
Qiyam al-layl is the general term for any voluntary prayer at night. Tahajjud specifically requires waking from sleep first. In common use the terms are often interchanged.
How many rak'ahs of tahajjud should I pray?+
As many pairs as you can. 'A'ishah narrated the Prophet ﷺ usually prayed 8 rak'ahs plus 3 witr, totalling 11. Two rak'ahs with sincerity are better than eight in a rush.
When is the last third of the night?+
Divide the time between Maghrib and Fajr into three. The final third is the last segment. In most cities this is roughly the 90 minutes before Fajr. Barakah shows you this window in your prayer-times page.
Can I pray tahajjud without sleeping first?+
Technically qiyam al-layl yes, tahajjud no. To be on the safe side, set an alarm, sleep even for one hour, then wake to pray. The reward of waking up for prayer is specifically praised.
What if I can't wake up?+
The Prophet ﷺ said whoever intends tahajjud but sleeps through is written the full reward, and his sleep is charity from Allah. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1784.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.