Prayers for Waking Up from Sleep and the State of Tahajjud
Remembrances of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) upon waking up
Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) woke up at night for Tahajjud, he would recite these remembrances:
◈ اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُ – Allah is the Greatest
◈ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ – All praise is for Allah
◈ سُبْحَانَ اللّٰہِ وَبِحَمْدِہِ – Allah is free from all imperfections along with His praise
◈ سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِکِ الْقُدُّوْسِ – The purity of the Most Pure King
◈ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰہَ – I seek forgiveness from Allah
◈ لاَ اِلٰہَ اِلاَّ اللّٰہُ – There is no deity except Allah
Then he would recite the prayer:
اَللّٰہُمَّ إِنِّی اَعوُذُ بِکَ مِنْ ضِیقِ الدُّنْیَا وَضِیقِ یَوْمِ الْقِیَامَۃِ
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the hardships of this world and the Day of Resurrection.”
Then he would recite this prayer:
اَللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ وَاہْدِنِیْ وَارْزُقْنِیْ وَعَافِنِیْ
O Allah! Forgive me, guide me, provide for me, and grant me well-being.
Then he would perform ablution and begin the Tahajjud prayer.
The Virtue of Remembrance and Supplication After Waking from Sleep
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“Whoever wakes up at night from sleep and says:
لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہُ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَہُ، لَہُ الْمُلْکُ وَلَہُ الْحَمْدُ، وَہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰہِ، وَلَا إِلٰہَ إِلاَّ اللّٰہُ، وَاللّٰہُ أَکْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّۃَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ
Then says: اَلّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ or makes any other supplication, it will be accepted.
And if he performs ablution and prays, that too will be accepted.”
Recitation of Surah Al-Imran at the Beginning of Tahajjud
When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would wake up for Tahajjud, he would sit and recite the last eleven verses of Surah Al-Imran
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The Opening Supplication of Tahajjud
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that when the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, would stand for Tahajjud, he would begin the prayer with this supplication:
أَللّٰہُمَ لَکَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ قَیِّمُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِیْہِنَّ… لَا إِلٰہَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
This complete Istiftah prayer beautifully reflects the deep connection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with Allah, faith, reliance, seeking forgiveness, and belief in the oneness of Allah.
The Quality of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Tahajjud
Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha رضي الله عنها says:
“The beauty and length of the Prophet’s ﷺ Tahajjud prayer cannot be described.”
Tahajjud with Long Supplications
Sayyiduna Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه says that the Prophet ﷺ repeated one verse many times during Tahajjud until dawn:
إِنْ تُعَذِّبْہُمْ فَإِنَّہُمْ عِبَادُکَ وَإِنْ تَغْفِرْ لَہُمْ فَإِنَّکَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَکِیْمُ
“If You punish them, they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, indeed You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Lengthy Recitation
Sayyidina Hudhaifa رضي الله عنه says:
“I participated in Tahajjud with the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم one night. After Surah Al-Fatiha, he recited Surah Al-Baqarah, then Surah An-Nisa, then Surah Aal Imran.
He recited very calmly and slowly. When a verse containing Tasbeeh came, he would say سبحان اللہ, if it was a supplication, he would make dua, if it was seeking forgiveness, he would say أعوذ باللہ. Then he would bow.
This hadith is evidence that the order of recitation in Nafl prayer is not obligatory.
The Style of the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Tahajjud
Sayyidina Hudhaifa رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Tahajjud was as follows:
◈ After Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Baqarah
◈ Then Surah Aal Imran
◈ Then Surah An-Nisa
◈ Then Surah Al-Ma’idah
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited more than seven and a quarter parts of the Quran in four Rak’ahs.
His standing, bowing, rising from bowing, prostration, and sitting were all very long and composed.
Summary
The Tahajjud prayer is not only the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) but also includes an exceptional state of standing, remembrances, supplications, and strengthening the connection with Allah. The remembrances, supplications, and the sequence of recitation after waking from sleep teach us how important, beneficial, and spiritually soothing the night worship is.
