THE BENEFITS OF TAHAJUD

Tahajjud, also known as Qiyam-u-lail "night prayer", is a voluntary prayer performed by Muslims during the night after a short nap/sleep. 

Tahajjud prayer is usually performed after Isha and before performing Fajr.

The term Tahajjud refers to prayer that is offered after sleeping which is why it is best performed after sleep or short Nap.   

A number of Hadiths report that the Messenger of Allah used to pray Tahajjud after he had slept. These include reports from Ibn Abbas, A'ishah and other Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. 

Qiyaam al-layl plays a great role in strengthening one's faith and helping one to do good deeds. 

Allah commanded His Messenger to pray the Night prayer after offering the prescribed prayers. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

Al-Muzzammil 73:1-3

"O you wrapped ˹in your clothes˺!

Stand all night ˹in prayer˺ except a little—

˹pray˺ half the night, or a little less," 

 

It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, although the Prophet Muhammad was recorded as performing the tahajjud prayer regularly himself and encouraging his companions too.

Also there are records of days when he didn't observe it. 

Narrated Jundab:

The Prophet (ﷺ) became sick and did not get up (for Tahajjud prayer) for a night or two.

Tahajjud prayer can be performed only by the one who is sincere in his love, faith and worship of Allah (swt) as there can be no riya (show off) at this time of the night. The slave is alone with His Lord, weeping from His fear, crying out about his problems to Him, and seeking His help.   

Below are some of the rewards of the observers of Tahajud as stated in the Quran and Hadeeth. 

1. Allah (swt) is very pleased with a person who leaves his sleep in the middle of the night, only to worship His Lord. For such a believer, Allah has promise of a joyous reward that he cannot envision.   

“Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do” [Al-Sajdah 32:15-17]. 

2. It is the best prayer after the prescribed prayers. 

When the Messenger of Allah was asked which prayer is best after the prescribed prayers, he said, 

صَلَةُ اللَّيْل

 (The Night prayer).

3. During this period, prayers are answered. When people are sleeping or otherwise occupied with worldly pleasures, Allah (SWT) provides believers with a chance if they can fight sleep, to make supplications to Allah (SWT) for whatever they need. So when you are faced with challenge or in need of assistance, Tahajud is the best Option. 

According to the Prophet , Allah comes down to the lowest heaven during the last part of the night to bless and forgive his slave which is why this prayer is preferably performed during the last third of the night. 

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Our Lord Almighty descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, saying: Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? who is asking from Me that I may give him? 

 Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?”   

 The Prophet (SAW) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'

From another narration 

Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit:

The Prophet ( ﷺ ) "Whoever gets up at night and says: -- 

'La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-lmulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa 'ala kullishai'in Qadir. Al hamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha il-lal-lah wa-l-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il-la-bil-lah.' 

(None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah).

 And then says: - Allahumma, Ighfir li 

 

(O Allah! Forgive me). 

or he supplicates, he will be answered, then if he performs ablution and prays, his prayer will be accepted. "

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

Quote from Scholars

Imam Ash-Shafi'i (rahimahullah) said  

❝The dua made at Tahajjud is like an arrow which does not miss its target.❞

❝If there is something you want in life and you are not praying tahajjud for it you don't really want it.❞ — Shaykh Yasir Qadhi

How many of us take benefit of this opportunity? Prophet (pbuh), the Sahaba, and the Salaf were very regular in their Tahajjud prayers. Let's wake up for Tahajjud and make lots of dua cause he doesn't get tired. 

4. On the Day of Resurrection, offering Tahajud Prayer enables one to be elevated to a higher level. 

Al-Isra' 17:79

And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation of the Quran] as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.

5. It is also one of the Qualities of Allah's beloved Servant (Mumin). 

In a hadith, the Prophet s.a.w. said:

Hold fast to Qiyamullail, for it is the practice of the righteous before you, and indeed it is a means of nearness to Allah, a means of expiation for bad deeds, and a barrier from acts of disobedience

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

According to the Glorious Qur'an,

Al-Furqan 25:63-64

"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace,

And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]" 

meaning, worshipping and obeying Him.

Ibn 'Abbas [radhi-yAllahu 'anhu] said: "Whosoever prayed two Rak'at or more after the 'Isha (night) prayer, will be considered like those mentioned in this Verse."

Other Related verses are:

They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness. (51:17-18)

“Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do” [Al-Sajdah 32:15-17] 

6. As an act of gratitude for Allah's numerous favours. 

In a narration where Ā'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night until the skin of his feet would crack. I (‘Ā'ishah) asked him: "O Messenger of Allah, why are you doing this while your past and future sins have been forgiven for you?" He said: "Should I not like to be a grateful slave (of Allah)?"

So this worship was an expression of his gratitude towards Allah for His forgiveness.

7. The believer who performs Tahajud to seek the forgiveness of Allah will be forgiven. 

Still from the hadeeth above

"Our Lord Almighty descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, saying: Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me that I may give him?

Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?...

8. A special Room in Paradise

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 

"Verily, in Paradise are rooms whose outside can be seen from inside and whose inside can be seen from outside." Abu Musa said, "Who are they for, O Messenger of Allah?" The Prophet said, "For those who speak mildly, feed the hungry, and spend the night standing for the sake of Allah while people sleep." 

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 6436

9.  It shield one from hell 

Narrated Salim's father:

In the life-time of the Prophet whosoever saw a dream would narrate it to Allah's Apostle. I had a wish of seeing a dream to narrate it to Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) I was a grown up boy and used to sleep in the Mosque in the life-time of the Prophet. I saw in the dream that two angels caught hold of me and took me to the Fire which was built all round like a built well and had two poles in it and the people in it were known to me. I started saying, "I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire." Then I met another angel who told me not to be afraid. I narrated the dream to Hafsa who told it to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet said, "Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed Tahajjud." After that 'Abdullah (i.e. Salim's father) used to sleep but a little at night.

10.  One of the gates of Goodness as narrated from the Prophet. 

Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal [radhi-yAllahu 'anhu]: 

The Prophet (Allah's Messenger ) said to him: "May I show you the gates of goodness? (They are): 

(1) Fasting is a screen from Hell. 

(2) As-Sadaqah (deeds of charity in Allah's Cause) extinguishes (removes) the sins, as the water extinguishes the fire. 

(3) Standing in Salat (performing of prayers) by a person during the middle (or the last third) part of a night." 

Then Prophet (ﷺ) recited: "Their sides forsake their beds." (V.32:16) (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi) (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

1. In what tone should one recite during Tahajjud? 

Ans: Recitation should be done in moderate voice in night prayer-not too high and not too low. 

Abu Qatadah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came out at night and he saw Abu Bakr who as praying with a low voice, and he passed by Umar ibn al-Khattab who was praying with a raised voice. When they met together with the Prophet, the Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr, I passed by you and you were praying with a low voice.” Abu Bakr said, “I made Him hear with whom I was having a private conversation, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said to Umar, “I passed by you and you were praying with a raised voice.” Umar said, “O Messenger of Allah, I was awakening the drowsy and driving away Satan.” The Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr, raise your voice a little.” And the Prophet said to Umar, “Lower your voice a little.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1329

2. Can we perform other acts of worship apart from solat during this period?

Ans: Yes, Other act of worship can be done like reciting the Quran, reciting Adhkar etc

3. How many rakahs can we offer? 

Ans: The Qiyam Al-Layl (The Night Prayer) should be prayed in units of two. One way of performing Tahajjud prayer is to offer 2, 4, 6 or 8 rakaahs followed by 1 witr rakaah.

There is no limit to the maximum number of units but it is best to pray eleven units of prayer. 

4. What is the relationship between Tahajud and Witr prayer?

 

Ans: The Witr prayer is the last prayer of the night. It can be offered any time after Isha and before Fajr. Hence if you plan on praying Tahajjud you will wait to pray your Witr prayer after finishing your Tahajjud salah.

5. When is the best time to perform Tahajud?

Ans: Tahajjud may be performed in any part of the night after a short nap/sleep. 

It is best to delay this Prayer to the last third of the night. Abu Hurairah quoted the Messenger of Allah as saying:

Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’ (agreed upon)

6. Is It Permissible to Perform Tahajjud Prayer in Congregation?

It is preferable to perform tahajjud Prayer individually in the last part of the night.

 However, there is nothing wrong in performing tahajjud Prayer in congregation especially if there is a benefit; case in point, a group of fellow Muslims helping one another to wake up at night and perform tahajjud prayer in congregation or the whole family — husband, wife, and children — waking up for the same reason.

Many people talk about Allah but very few talk to Allah. Talk to Him by making Du'a and Tahajjud a part of your life.

Get up to pray in the dark when all are asleep and see how your path is lit and your life begins to shine. If there is something you want to ask Allah, start praying Tahajjud. Raise your hands in tahajjud and make duas; Allah appreciates hearing them.

 

Tahajjud time is on even 15 mins before fajr so if you are a heavy sleeper you should try waking up atleast 20 mins before fajr and offer Tahajjud. Though it is adviceable to start early in the last third of the night.

Being consistent in performing the Tahajud is also encouraged by the Prophet. 

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘as (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, “O ‘Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night for optional prayer but abandoned it later.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240

Our mother Aisha, regarding the Prophet Muhammad’s practice of ibadah mentions that they were ‘light and consistent like rain’. Here she confirms that when the Prophet s started an action, he would continue it and would never abandon it. Let it not be forgotten, that it is not the strength of a drop of water that penetrates through marble but rather its consistency. Being consistent in our actions leads to an increase in our religious consciousness and a streghtening in our willpower. May Allah swt make us consistent in our prayers and beautify our lives with good and beneficial actions. Amin.