HowtoPerformtheTahajjudPrayer

TheTahajjudisaspecialIslamicprayerwhichisrecommended(butnotcompulsory)forallMuslims.The
TahajjudisprayedafterIsha(theobligatorynightlyprayer)andbeforeFajr(theobligatorymorning
prayer).Ifpossible,itismostdesirabletoperformtheTahajjudbetweenmidnightandFajr,preferablyin
thelastthirdofthenight.ThoughtheTahajjudisn'tcompulsory,manydevoutMuslimstrytomakeitpartof
theirdailyroutineasanactofworshipandtoearnredemptionandforgivenessfromAllah.[1]Tolearnhow
topraytheTahajjudinthewaylaidoutbytheProphetMuhammad(pbuh),seeStep1below.

PartOneofThree:
PreparingForPrayer

1 Arrangetowakeupaftermidnight.AfterprayingtheIshaprayerandbeforegoingtosleep,make
arrangementstowakeupduringthenightbeforetheFajrprayer(forinstance,youmaywanttoset
analarmclockorhaveafamilymemberagreetowakeyou).ThoughtheTahajjudcanbeprayedatany
partofthenight,ifpossible,itisbesttoprayitaftermidnight,especiallyduringthelastthirdofthe
night.Thetimetwo-thirdsofthewaybetweenMaghribandFajrisagoodtimeforTahajjud.Thisis
becauseAllahdescendstothelowestheavenduringthelastthirdofthenight,asking,"Whoisasking
me,soIcangivetohim?Whoiscallinguponme,soIcananswerhim?Whoisseekingmy
forgiveness,soIcanforgivehim?'"[2]
IfyoumakeanhonestefforttowakeupandperformtheTahajjudbutaccidentallysleepthroughthe
night,don'tfeelguilty.AccordingtotheHadiths,Allahrecordsyourgenuineintentiontoperformthe
Tahajjudandgrantsyousleepasanactofmercy.[3]
2 WakeupandperformWudu.Wakeupduringthenightatthetimeyou'vechosen.Onceyouwake,
performWudu,theritualablutionMuslimsusetocleansethemselvesbeforetheyprayorhandlethe
HolyQuran.Traditionally,performingWudumeansusingcleanwatertowashoneselfinthefollowing
fourways:
Washingtheface
Washingthearmsandhandsuptoandincludingtheelbows
Wipingthehead(Masah)
Washingthefeetuptotheankles
NotethatmanyMuslims(includingtheProphetMuhammad[pbuh])alsochoosetowashtheirmouth
andteethwithamiswakbeforetheTahajjud.[4]
Ifyouhavedischargedmaniearlierinthenight,whetherduringsexualintercourseorawetdream,
thentheGhuslfull-bodyritualcleansingmustbeperformed.

3 Next,gosomewhereclean,quiet,anddignifiedtoconductyourprayer.Thisisdonebecause
Allah'snamesarepure,so,wheneverpossible,MuslimsareencouragedtospeakofHiminclean,
holyplacesasaformofreverence.Wearingyournormalprayerclothes,sitdownonaprayermatand
 facetheHolyKabahinMeccaasyouwouldforyourobligatoryprayers.
Tobeclear,youdon'tneedtobeanywherespecial,likeamosqueoralavishly-decoratedroomin
yourhouse,topraytheTahajjud.Allthat'sneededisaspotthat'scleanwhichcanevenbeinyour
room.

4 Removeallworldlyworriesfromyourheart.Atthetimeforprayer,calmlyfocusandreflecton
thegloryofyourLord.Donotworryaboutfleetingworldlyproblemsthatareultimatelymeaningless
incomparisontoHisinfinitewisdomandmercy.Calmyourselfandforgetyourworldlyproblems,
hopes,andfears.Ignoreanynegative,distractingthoughtsorfeelings.Closeyoureyesandfocusyour
attentiononyourheartasyoubegintoachieveaheightenedstateofspiritualawareness.

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PartTwoofThree:
SayingtheTahajjud

1 Makeyourintentiontoprayknown.Asyoustartyourprayer,makeadefinitivementaldeclaration
toyourselfthatyouareabouttoperformtheTahajjud.Decidethatyouaregoingtocompletethe
Tahajjudinthespecificwayyouhavechosen,includinghowmanyrakatsandwhichsurahsyouwill
recite.AlsodecidewhyyouaresayingtheTahajjudforinstance,toglorifyAllah,thankAllahorask
forHisforgiveness.Youdon'thavetomakethisdeclarationoutloudAllahknowsyourthoughts,so
yourintentionswillbecleartohimaslongastheyarecleartoyou.
TheTahajjudistypicallyperformedbyrepeatingmultiplerakats(cycles)ofSalah,theritualthat
Muslimsusefortheirrequireddailyprayer.FortheTahajjud,therakatsareusuallyperformedin
pairs,soyou'llalsowanttodecideexactlyhowmanyrakatsyouintendtoperformatthistime.See
belowformoreinformation.
2 Performtworakats.TobeginyourTahajjud,startbyperformingtworakats(cycles)ofSalah.
SalahbeginsbystandingandrecitingversesfromtheHolyQuran.Then,thepersonpraying
continuesbybowinglowwithhishandsonhisknees,thenprostratingonthegroundwithhisforehead,
nose,andpalmsonthefloorandhiselbowsraised,sittingonhiskneeswithhisfeetfoldedunderhim,
andfinallystandingandreciting"AllahuAkbar."ThisdescriptionofSalahisageneralizationifyou're
notsurehowtoperformSalahproperly,learnthisfundamentalMuslimskill beforeattemptingthe
Tahajjud.
EmulatethepracticesoftheProphetMuhammad(pbuh)whousedtorecitethefollowingsurahs
aftereachrakatinTahajjud:[5]
AfterrecitingtheAl-Fatihahthefirstrakat,recitethesurah"Al-Kafirun" .
AfterrecitingtheAl-Fatihahforthesecondrakat,recitethesurah"Al-Ikhlas" .
3 Repeatrakatsasyouwish.Generally,tworakatsisseenastheminimumnecessaryforaproper
Tahajjud.However,it'spossibletorepeatasmanymoreasyouwish.Forinstance,accordingtothe
Hadiths,theProphetMuhammadfrequentlyprayeduptothirteenrakats.[6]FormostMuslims,Tahajjud
rakatsareperformedinpairsandeightrakatsisseenasplenty.Inotherwords,mostMuslimswillsay
two,four,six,oreightrakats,thoughmoreisnotnecessarilydiscouraged.
Ifyouareableto,thenrecitinglongsurahssuchasAl-Baqarah,An-NisorAl-Imranarehighly
commended,evenifyoucanmanagethemonlyfromtimetotime.
FollowingintheexampleoftheProphetMuhammad(pbuh),ifyounoticedawnapproachingwhile
yousayyourTahajjud,youmayendbyperformingonerakatasWitr(anoptionalpre-dawnprayer
saidbeforetherequiredFajr).[7]

4 Addyourownprayersaftertherakats.Afteryou'vecompletedthenumberofrakatsyousetout
topray,youmayaddyourownprayersaslongasthey'resincere,respectful,anddoneincomplete
devotiontoAllah.Thesemaybeofferedinextendedprostrationinyourownwordsandlanguage.You
maywanttoofferadditionalthanksandpraisetoAllah,prayforstrengthandguidance,ormakea
specialrequestforhelp.Forinstance,youmayaskforblessingsforafriendwhoissufferingthrough
 difficulttimesorhelpwithyourownworship.Prayersshouldbeofferedwithhumbleness,fear,hope
andpatience.Thisisanidealtimetoprayforforgivenessforyourmistakesandsins.Acknowledge
yourwrongdoings,sincerelypromisenottorepeatthemandaskAllahforforgivenessandleniencyin
anypunishmentthatHemaydecidetoprepareforyou.Anyprayeryouofferwillbeheard,and,ifAllah
wills,yourprayerwillbeansweredinkind.

5 IfyoubecometootiredtocompletetheTahajjud,gobacktobed.BecausetheTahajjud
interruptsyournormalsleep,it'snotunlikelythatyoumaybesomewhattiredwhenyouattemptthe
prayer.If,however,you'resotiredthatyoufindyourselfforgettingwhatyou'resayingasyourecite
yourprayersoryoudozeoffinthemiddleofyourTahajjud,don'tattempttocompletetheprayer.Inthis
case,accordingtotheHadiths,AllahnotesyoursincerewillingnesstocompletetheTahajjud.Youmay
gobacktosleepwithoutanyneedtobeembarrassedorashamed,buttrytobetterprepareyourself
nexttime,perhapsbygoingtobedearlier.

slamiEvlilikSitesi

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PartThreeofThree:
ExploringtheTahajjud
1 ReadscripturalpassagesaboutMuhammad(pbuh)'sobservanceoftheTahajjud.Togaina
greaterunderstandingoftheuniqueimportanceoftheTahajjudprayer,youmaywanttoconsultany
ofthenumerousreferencestotheprayerinIslamicscripture.Mostnotably,theTahajjudismentionedin
theQurananddiscussedatgreatlengthintheHadiths.However,itisalsodiscussedintheworkof
Islamicscholarsthroughoutthehistoryofthereligion.
Tostart,tryreadingBook21(PrayeratNight)fromSahihBukhari.70Hadithsinthisbookdescribe
thehabitstheProphet(pbuh)regardingtheTahajjud.[8]CommentaryontheTahajjudisalsooffered
atmultiplepointsintheQuran,includingSurat17:79andSurat39:9.[9]

2 ConsidersayingtheTahajjudwithyourfamily.Muslimfamiliesareencouragedtopraythe
TahajjudincommunionwitheachotherbecausebothMuhammad(pbuh)andhiswifeAisha
recommendedthathusbandsandwivesshouldsaytheTahajjudtogether.[10]PerformingtheTahajjudas
afamilyallowsyoutocomeclosertoeachotherindevotiontoAllahandtoshowsolidarityinyour
worship.Ifyou'reinterestedintryingthis,askyourspouseand/orchildrentojoinyoubeforethefirst
nightyouplantosaytheTahajjudtogether,then,iftheyneedyourhelptodoso,wakethemupand
celebrateAllah'sinfinitegreatnessandmercyinquietprayertogether.Childrenovertheageoften
shouldbeencouragedgentlytodevelopthehabitofprayingTahajjudwhentheyareready,butifitistoo
difficultforthemtowakeinthenightthennoblameshouldbeapportionedandtheyshouldnotbe
admonished,aslongastheyareupforFajrandcompletetheirotherobligatoryprayers.
Generally,familiesthatpraytheTahajjudtogethermakeexceptionsformembersthatneedtheir
sleep,likesmallchildren,thesick,andtheelderly.

3 EmulatethepracticesofProphetMuhammad(pbuh).AllMuslimsareencouragedtolivein
emulationofthelifeofMuhammad(pbuh),Allah'sMessengerandtheSealoftheProphets.If
you'relookingforguidanceinperformingtheTahajjud,youmaywanttostudythewaysMuhammad
(pbuh)performedtheTahajjudandtrytoworkthesehabitsintoyourdailylife.Bystrivingtoemulatethe
Prophet(pbuh)'sTahajjudpractices,Muslimscanworktowardstheperfectidealrepresentedbyhim
and,indoingso,becomeclosertoAllah.
Asnotedabove,Book21fromSahihBukhariisagreatplacetostartifyou'relookingfor
informationonMuhammad(pbuh)'sTahajjudhabits.
 4 MaketheTahajjudpartofyourroutine.Asanoptionalprayer,theTahajjudcertainlyisn't
somethingthatanyMuslimshouldfeelcompelledtodo.However,manyMuslimschooseto
practicetheTahajjudonaregularbasis(ifnoteverynight)whentheyareable.Likeallformsofprayer,
sayingtheTahajjudbringsthepersonprayingclosertoAllah.Inaddition,theTahajjudisoften
associatedwithAllah'sgiftsofforgivenessandredemption,makingitagreatwaytoseekcorrection
foreachday'sminorfailures,sinsandimperfectactions.RememberthatAllahappreciatesregularacts
ofworship,soifyoustartprayingTahajjud,trynottogiveitup.Ifyou'reinterestedinmakingthe
Tahajjudaregularpartofyourlife,youmaywanttotrysettingarecurringalarmtowakeyouupduring
thenightorevenhavingapredeterminedareainyourhouseforperformingthisprayer.

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CommunityQ&A

Howcanmyduabeacceptedsoon?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

YourduawillalwaysbeheardbyAllahwhowillanswerithowandwhenitisbestforyou,eventhoughyou
maynotrealizeitatthetime.
197 11

Iamconfusedaboutthetimingofthajadprayer.Forinstance,iffajarstartsat6:15,canIwakeup
at5:30-6:00,ordoIneedtowakeupbetween3:00and5:00?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

Youcanwakeupat5:30fortahjjudbutit'smoreimportantthatyoudonotleavethefajarprayer.
459 43

BecauseofmyworkscheduleIamunabletoprayfivetimes.Istahjjudstillapplicableforme?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

No.Tahajjudisnotatallmandatorybutyourregularfiveprayersare.So,youneedtoprayfivetimesdaily,
nomatterwhat.
471 47

AfterrecitingtheAl-Fatihahforthesecondrakat,doIrecitethesurah"Al-Ikhlas"inalleight
rakats?ShouldtherebeaKyaam(rest)betweentworakatsandspecialprayersinbetween?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

Everytworakahsarepairedintoanunit.SoAl-IkhlasisrecitedinthesecondRakahoftheunitofprayer.
Youcanrecitethesurahsofyourchoiceifyouwishtooffermorethantworakah.
236 21

Whatarethesurahsthatshouldberecitedintherakathsoftahajjudprayers?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

ItissaidthatAl-KafirunshouldberecitedinthefirstRakahandAl-IkhlasinthesecondRakah.Butthisis
notcompulsory.
137 11

Is13rakatokayfortajjudprayer?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

Yes,theProphetMuhammedusedtoprayupto13rakats.
126 10

HowmanyrakatsarethereinTahajjudprayer?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

TahajjudhasaminimumoftwoRakah.Themaximumnumberisyourchoice.Everytworakahispairedas
oneunit.
 221 21

Istahjjudsunnahornofol?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

TahajjudisapartofSunnah(thewayoflifeofProphetMuhammads.a.w.)anditisnafl,meaningitis
voluntaryprayer.
40 2

IsthereacertaintimeIshouldperformtheTahajjudprayer?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

BetweenIshaandFajr.Itusuallyshouldbeprayedduringthelastthirdofthenight.
86 8

Isitbettertoperformtahjjudprayerat12:00am?
AnsweredbywikiHowContributor

No.Tahajjudisnotthe'Midnight'prayer.Anykindofprayershouldnotbeprayedatmidnightandnoon.

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"Thesiteofthisintentionistheheart.Bysimplydecidinginhishearttodothisaction,apersonhas
madehisintention.Henceitisnotprescribedtospeaktheintentionoutloudwhenonewantstodothe
action.RatherspeakingtheintentionoutloudisakindofinnovationthatwasnotnarratedintheBook
ofAllahorintheSunnahofHisProphet(peaceandblessingsofAllahbeuponhim),norwasit
narratedfromanyofhisSahabah(mayAllahbepleasedwiththemall).Seeal-Sharhal-Mumti,
2/283."
Helpful?

PleaseaskaMuslimthatyouknowtoguideyouwiththepronunciation.
Helpful?

Pleasebewarethatmakingtheintentionoutloudbeforeprayerisbid'ah(innovation)!
Helpful?
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