Tahajjud Prayer, Literal Definition
تهجد is from the verb form Tafa’ul and its root is (H J D).
هجد ، يهجد (An) means to sleep.
And Tahajjud means to sleep a little and then wake up.
The word تَهَجُد is used in the Quran in Surah Bani Isra’il, verse 79.
For Tahajjud prayer, the word قيام الليل is used in the Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
A person who performs Tahajjud prayer is called مُتَهَجِد.
Shariah Definition:
Tahajjud refers to a special prayer that is usually performed late at night, often after sleeping for some rest, mostly in the last part of the night. It is not necessary to sleep during the last ten days of Ramadan. The Tahajjud prayer can be performed at any part of the night: in the early night, in the middle of the night, or in the very last part of the night, one or two hours before the Fajr call to prayer, which is the most preferred time.
Tazkiyah-e-Nafs, meaning the purification and enhancement of the self, is an important practical measure achieved through the Tahajjud prayer. At a time when the body has rested and its rights have been fulfilled, when the rights of the wife and children have been given, and when the servant of Allah feels refreshed, while the world is peacefully asleep, a servant stands up for the worship of Allah avoiding any show-off. In Tahajjud prayer, the enthusiastic recitation and listening to Allah’s Book, the tasbihs, takbirs, praise, supplication, and seeking forgiveness all bring him very close to Allah Almighty. This prayer is one of the most important means of drawing near to Allah.
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The Guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Regarding Tahajjud
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has instructed us to perform this special prayer to enter Paradise in peace.
The Prophetic Hadith (peace be upon him) is:
صلوا باليل والناس نيام
“Pray at night when people are asleep.”
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Precautions for Performing Tahajjud Prayer
Whoever wants to benefit from this blessing must ensure that after the Isha prayer, they do not occupy themselves with other activities. They should not hold any meetings after Isha, should not visit anyone, should not study for long hours, and should not invite anyone late at night (unless there is a severe need or an emergency situation). On ordinary days and under normal circumstances, one must strictly adhere to these routines; otherwise, there is a fear that a person may be deprived of this great blessing.
To arrange for the Tahajjud prayer, it is necessary for a believer to have knowledge and awareness of the importance and virtue of the Tahajjud prayer. The discussion regarding its importance and virtue is forthcoming. Another important measure for arranging Tahajjud is that the believer should constantly remember his death. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that when you perform the evening prayer, do not wait for the morning, and when you perform the morning prayer, do not wait for the evening (because death may come at any time). Consider your health as a blessing before your sickness and acquire something for your death during your life.
It is essential for a believer to protect himself from the attacks of Satan. When a person sleeps, Satan ties three knots on him. If the believer wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone. If he performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and if he prays, the third knot is also undone. Then he begins his morning feeling refreshed and pure in spirit; otherwise, his morning is such that he remains impure in spirit and sluggish.
A believer should recite the prescribed supplications before sleeping, especially Ayat al-Kursi, so that he is protected from the evil of Satan and wakes up early after sleeping early.
For arranging Tahajjud, it is also necessary not to sleep after eating a heavy meal at night and to take a short nap (Qailulah) after noon. This nap is very helpful in waking up for the Tahajjud prayer. By adopting the above measures, it can be hoped that a person will be able to regularly arrange for the Tahajjud prayer.
Night vigil and early rising have always been the hallmark of the righteous.
Allama Iqbal, as a testimony of blessing, expresses his early rising by saying:
“In the winter wind, though the sword was sharp”
Not even in London do I neglect the etiquette of early rising.
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Four (4) Fundamental Points About Nawafil
The Tahajjud prayer is a nafl (voluntary) prayer.
According to some scholars, it is a confirmed Sunnah.
Regarding nawafil, whether they relate to prayer, or to voluntary forms other than obligatory fasting and charity, remember these four fundamental points:
(1) Do not let the performance of Nawafil lead to neglecting the obligatory prayers.
(2) The importance of Nawafil should not dominate your heart and mind to the extent that your tongue speaks disrespectfully or diminishes the obligatory prayers.
(3) If there is any allowance from the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, then sometimes leave the usual routine and follow the allowance, so that you do not miss out on the reward of this Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
(4) The Shariah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is full of wisdom and knowledge. If more than one Sunnah is established from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in a single matter, then practice different Sunnahs at different times and choose the Sunnah that is more suitable for your physical and mental condition at that time. The Shariah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم contains such flexibility that it applies to every era, every place, and every condition.
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The Scholarly and Spiritual Training of the Companions through Tahajjud
Initially, the Tahajjud prayer was obligatory. It was a place of intellectual and spiritual training. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to perform long night prayers at midnight, two-thirds of the night, or one-third of the night. This routine continued for twelve years in Mecca. The Isra and Mi’raj occurred in the twelfth year of the Prophethood, during which the five daily prayers were made obligatory. In Mecca, a total of ninety (90) Surahs were revealed, and in Medina, only twenty-four (24) Surahs. The early companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were trained through the recitation and listening of the Meccan Surahs. They were people of language. The Quran was revealed in their idioms. The attraction of the Quran was such that they memorized it naturally. There was emphasis from Allah on the Tahajjud prayer that the Quran should be recited with tartil, meaning slowly and carefully. There was further emphasis on اقومُ قِيلاً so that the requirements of تفقه فى القرآن could be fulfilled.
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Purposes of Recitation and Listening of Meccan Surahs in Tahajjud Prayer
The following four (4) objectives were behind the character building of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, through the recitation and listening of the Makki Surahs in the Tahajjud prayer.
(1) To firmly establish the belief in Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and to equip the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, with rational, supplementary, universal, internal, and historical evidences of Tawheed, so that they could refute polytheism and prove to the Arab polytheists its unnaturalness and irrationality.
By understanding the comprehensiveness of the belief in Tawheed, to protect themselves from shirk in essence, shirk in attributes—especially shirk in knowledge, shirk in choice, shirk in worship, and shirk in judgment—and to convince and reassure others to avoid shirk as well.
(2) To clarify the status and position of Prophethood, so that they could become perfect loyal followers of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and carry out the work of Dawah and Tabligh, and be able to move towards the next Madani stages of expanding the invitation.
(3) To firmly establish the belief in the Hereafter and to equip the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, with rational, transmitted, universal, inner, and historical proofs of the belief in the Hereafter, so that they can dispel the doubts and suspicions of the deniers of the Hereafter and carry out the work of invitation and preaching with full confidence. To visualize the scenes of the Hereafter with the eye of imagination. To feel death, resurrection, Paradise, and Hell as a living reality, and to prepare oneself for sacrificing life and wealth for a bright future.
(4) To develop the qualities of patience, endurance, and tolerance in the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in the face of the opponents’ tortures, so that they remain steadfast before the polytheist leadership and do not get intimidated by them.
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Development of Islamic Leadership
These four objectives were achieved from the scholarly and spiritual training ground of the Tahajjud prayer, in which the main teacher was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself and the ninety (90) Makkan Surahs of the Quran, which the Companions used to memorize, understand, contemplate, and use in Dawah and Tabligh. From this place of worship and training passed Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Uthman, Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqqas, Hazrat Abdul Rahman bin Awf, Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir, Hazrat Mus’ab bin Umair, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Hazrat Talha, Hazrat Zubair, Hazrat Arqam bin Abi Arqam (may Allah be pleased with them), and as a result, later on, the Muslims in Madinah were blessed with a “greatly trained leadership.” Accordingly, regarding the Tahajjud of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), Allah Almighty said:
﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ﴾
“O Prophet (peace be upon him), indeed your Lord knows that you stand [in prayer] almost two-thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you.”
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After Obligatory Prayers, Tahajjud is the Most Important
The status of obligatory prayers is the highest. A believing person cannot even think of neglecting an obligatory prayer or making it up later. Whoever wastes the time of an obligatory prayer, even if he prays all his life, cannot attain the reward of praying at the prescribed time. After obligatory prayers, there is the status of voluntary prayers, but among the voluntary prayers, the highest status is that of Tahajjud prayer. Therefore, special care should be taken in observing it.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
أفضل الصلوة بعد الصلوة المكتوبة ، الصلوة فى جوف الليل
“After the obligatory prayer, the best prayer is the prayer in the middle of the night (Tahajjud).”
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Mention of Tahajjud Prayer in the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran mentions the Tahajjud prayer in eight (8) places.
In this, the promise is made to elevate the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the praised position because of the Tahajjud prayer.
In this, the qualities of ﴿عباد الرحمن﴾ are described, who seek refuge from the torment of Hell during the long prostrations and long standing of the Tahajjud prayer.
For the pious, the adherence to Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) in Tahajjud prayer is mentioned along with the gardens of Paradise, springs, and divine rewards.
It is stated that the believers keep apart from their beds at night and call upon their Lord with fear and hope.
Praising the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), Allah Almighty said: Your Lord knows your ﴿قيام الليل﴾ (meaning He will reward greatly).
In the same Surah Al-Muzzammil, Ayah: 6, two purposes of Tahajjud are explained. It can help control the rebellious self and is suitable and conducive for understanding the Quran deeply.
At night, long prostrations and standing with glorification are commanded.
(7) The last Ayah of Surah Al-Inshirah
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was commanded that when he is free, he should prepare himself and turn towards his Lord (attach himself to Him).
Further details are coming.
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Tahajjud and Maqam Mahmood
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“There is a highest rank in Paradise called ‘Maqam Mahmood,’ and this rank will be given to only one person. I hope that this rank will be granted to me.”
And in the Holy Quran, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is commanded to perform the Tahajjud prayer, indicating that it is not unlikely that this rank will be granted to him.
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
﴿وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًامَّحْمُوداً﴾
“And (O Muhammad, peace be upon him) pray Tahajjud during the night! It is a voluntary prayer for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to Maqam Mahmood.”
From this verse, it is understood that the rank and status of Maqam Mahmood, which is special for the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has a deep connection and relation with the Tahajjud prayer.
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Tahajjud Prayer is the Practice of the Worshippers of the Most Merciful
The Tahajjud prayer is the practice of the worshippers of the Most Merciful. That is, it is the routine of the special servants of the Most Merciful, who deserve His mercy.
Accordingly, it is stated in Surah Al-Furqan:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا 64 وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا 65 إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا﴾
“(The servants of the Most Merciful are those) who spend the night in prostration and standing before their Lord, who say: O our Lord! Save us from the punishment of Hell! Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.”
◈ It is understood that in the Tahajjud prayer, long standing and long prostrations are desired. The servants of the Most Merciful are those who seek Allah’s mercy. One of their characteristics is that they spend the night in prostration and standing.
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Supplications for deliverance from the punishment of Hell should be made in Tahajjud
From the words of the above verse ﴿وَ الَّذِیْنَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ﴾, it is also understood that during Tahajjud, supplications for deliverance from the punishment of Hell should be made.
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Tahajjud leads to nearness to Allah
Prayer is actually the name of ﴿ذكر الله﴾, meaning “remembrance of Allah.” In the state of prostration, closeness to Allah reaches its peak, and closeness to Allah is also attained through supplications.
◈ From the following hadith, it is understood that closeness to Allah can also be attained through dhikr, that is, the remembrance of Allah, during Tahajjud prayer. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said to Hazrat Amr bin Abasa:
أقرب ما يكون الرب من العبد فى جوف الليل الآخر ، فإن استطعت ، أن تكون ممن يذكر الله فى تلك الساعة ، فكن
“Allah is closest to His servant during the last part of the night, so if you can be among those servants who ﴿ذكر الله﴾, that is, remember Allah at this blessed time, then do so!”
◈ From this hadith, it is understood that special care should be taken in Tahajjud prayer that from beginning to end, this prayer is filled with ﴿ذكر الله﴾, meaning “remembrance of Allah,” and not even a small part of it should be wasted in heedlessness, so that the stages of divine closeness become easier to attain.
Proximity to Allah is also attained through voluntary prayers (Nawafil), just as it is through obligatory acts. There is a Hadith Qudsi in Sahih al-Bukhari:
“My servant draws so close to Me through Nawafil prayers that I love him, and when I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks.”
The meaning of this Hadith is that such a devoted servant spends his entire life according to ﴿مَرضَاتِ الله﴾. Everything he does is for the pleasure of Allah. He never displeases Allah. His hearing, his sight, and the use of his hands and feet are all according to the will of Allah. This is the status of ﴿راضية مرضية﴾ and ﴿رضى الله عنهم ورضوا عنه﴾.
Tahajjud Prayer is a Manifestation of Gratitude and Servitude
In the famous and well-known narration about the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in which the swelling of his feet due to prolonged standing is mentioned, the most noteworthy point is the reason given by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. The exact words of the narration are:
قام النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى تورمت قد ماه ، فقيل له: لم تصنع هذا؟ وقد غفرلك ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر ، قال: أفلا اكون عبدا شكورا
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, persisted in night prayer until his feet became swollen. He was asked: ‘Why do you do this, when your past and future sins have been forgiven?’ He, peace be upon him, replied: ‘Should I not be a grateful servant?'”
◈ Reflect on the words of ﴿عَبْدًا شَكُوراً﴾!
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, mentioned two reasons for his commitment to night prayer (i.e., Tahajjud prayer) and its length, ﴿عبوديت﴾ and ﴿تشكر﴾.
It is understood that Tahajjud prayer is a manifestation of gratitude and servitude.
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Two Purposes of Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud prayer has two (2) characteristics and two (2) fundamental purposes.
(1) Controlling the Self
(2) Understanding the Quran
The first characteristic of the Tahajjud prayer is that it is a very effective weapon for controlling the rebellious self. When a person wakes up from sleep, all his fatigue disappears. He feels very refreshed. Then when he performs ablution, the limbs also feel great comfort and freshness. At this time, most of the creatures are asleep. Standing in such silence and reciting and listening to the Quran during prayer creates a wonderful state of enthusiasm within a person. It feels as if the Quran itself is being revealed upon you. This is ﴿اشد وطا﴾.
The second characteristic of the Tahajjud prayer is that for understanding the Quran, no other time can provide a better and more conducive environment than this. This is ﴿اقومُ قِیلاً﴾.
That is why it is stated in the Holy Quran:
﴿إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا﴾
“Indeed, rising at night is very effective for controlling the self and more suitable for proper recitation of the Quran.”
Three Important Acts During Tahajjud: Supplication, Request, and Seeking Forgiveness
There is a Hadith Qudsi narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, from which the importance of the time of Tahajjud and its three (3) characteristics can be understood. It is stated:
ينزل ربنا تبارك وتعالى كل ليلة إلى السماء الدنيا ، حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر يقول: من يدعوني؟ فاستجيب له ، من يسألني؟ فأعطية ، من يستغفرني؟ فاغفر له
Our Lord, Blessed and Exalted, descends every night to the nearest heaven when the last third of the night remains (in a manner befitting His Majesty) and says: “Who is there that calls upon Me so that I may answer him?” “Who is there that asks Me so that I may give him?” “Who is there that seeks My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?”
It is understood that this time is very favorable for supplication, asking, and seeking forgiveness.
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Make a Habit of Seeking Forgiveness in Tahajjud
This moment of haste is indeed favorable for understanding the Quran, prayer, and fulfilling needs, but the Creator of the universe says that this time is also most suitable for seeking forgiveness. Those who fear Allah’s punishment have always dedicated these blessed hours to seeking forgiveness, and they still do.
In Surah Adh-Dhariyat, the qualities of the pious are described as follows:
﴿إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ 15 آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ 16 كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ 17 وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ 18 وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُوم﴾
“Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs, receiving what their Lord has given them, and they will be pleased with it. They were before that, doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn, they would ask forgiveness. And in their wealth was a recognized right for the needy and the deprived.”
◈ From these verses, it is understood that to become (pious) and deserving of Paradise, three (3) things are necessary.
(1) Arranging the Tahajjud prayer (and sleeping less at night for it).
(2) Making a habit of seeking forgiveness during Tahajjud.
(3) Spending generously in the way of Allah for the needy and deprived, because it is their right.
Only those possessing the above qualities reach the rank of benefactors and are called benefactors.
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Those who arrange the Tahajjud prayer are people of knowledge and intellect
Allah Almighty mentions the ungrateful people who call upon Allah in distress, but when Allah blesses them with favors, they become ungrateful and start associating partners with Him. They deserve the fire of Hell. Can such ungrateful people be equal to those grateful servants who stand in worship at night with prostrations, fear the Hereafter, are knowledgeable, and are people of intellect who accept advice? Thus, in the Holy Quran, Surah Az-Zumar, verse 9, it is stated:
﴿أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ﴾
“(Equivalent to an ungrateful polytheist) Can that person be the same? Who in the night prayer stands with prostrations, makes supplication, fears the Hereafter, and hopes for the mercy of his Lord? O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Ask them! Can the knowledgeable and the ignorant be equal? Yes, advice can only be accepted by the wise.”
◈ From these verses, the following points are understood:
(1) The wise accept advice, while the foolish reject it.
(2) The people of monotheism are wise, and the people of polytheism are foolish.
(3) Those who possess knowledge and are wise, the people of monotheism, and the ignorant and foolish people of polytheism cannot be equal.
(4) Those who fear the Hereafter and hope for Allah’s mercy arrange for the Tahajjud prayer, while those who forget the Hereafter neither arrange for Tahajjud prayer nor hope for Allah’s mercy.
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Tahajjud Prayer is the Honor of the Believer
Tahajjud prayer is a special honor and distinction for a believer. The honor of a believer lies in sincere worship of Allah Almighty, while he becomes indifferent to the world and prostrates only before Allah Almighty.
Hazrat Sahl bin Saad رضي الله عنه narrates that Angel Jibreel عليه السلام came to the presence of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said:
يا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم شرف المؤمن قيام الليل ، وعزه استعناؤه عن الناس
“O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the night vigil is the honor of the believer and his dignity lies in being indifferent to his people.”
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The one who prays Tahajjud and the generous person are enviable
It is a mutually agreed upon hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that both the person who prays Tahajjud and the generous person are enviable.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه says that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
لا حسد إلا فى الدين: رجل آتاه الله القرآن ، فهو يقوم به آناء الليل وآناء النهار ، ورجل آتاه الله مالا ، فهو ينفقه آناء الليل وآناء النهار
“Envy is not permissible, except for two types of people. One is the person whom Allah has blessed with the Quran and who prays during the day and night through this Quran. The second is the person whom Allah has blessed with wealth and who spends from this wealth during the day and night.”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Whoever prays Qiyam al-Layl with ten verses, his name is not written in ﴿غافلين﴾.
Whoever prays with one hundred verses, his name is written in ﴿قانتين﴾, meaning among the obedient people.
And whoever prays with one thousand verses, his name is written in ﴿مقنطرين﴾, meaning among those who collect treasures of reward.
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Palaces of Paradise for those who arrange Tahajjud prayer
Tahajjud prayer brings one closer to Allah Almighty. The ranks of a believer are elevated. They are granted magnificent and rare palaces in Paradise.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Indeed, in Paradise, there are palaces (made of transparent glass) whose outer part appears from the inside and the inner part appears from the outside. Allah Almighty has specially prepared these palaces for those who feed people, who speak gently, who frequently observe voluntary fasts, who spread greetings of peace, and who arrange for the Tahajjud prayer during those hours of the night when other creatures are asleep.”
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Long prostrations and many ﴿تسبيح﴾ are desired in Tahajjud prayer
In Tahajjud prayer, long prostrations and frequent glorification (Tasbeeh) are desirable. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught the arrangement of Tasbeeh during prostrations. ﴿تسبيح﴾ is essentially the acknowledgment and declaration of Allah’s perfection. Allah Almighty commanded the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Surah Al-Insan:
﴿وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا﴾
“And prostrate to Him during the night, and glorify Him a long part of the night!” (i.e., keep acknowledging His perfection)
Accordingly, in the Tahajjud prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the length of the prostrations used to be equivalent to the recitation of fifty (50) verses.
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The following ﴿تسبيحات﴾ arrangement in prostrations
﴿تسبيح﴾
It is established from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We should also take care of this.
سبحان ربي الأعلى
“I acknowledge the perfection of my supreme Lord.”
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروح
“It is an acknowledgment of the perfection of the Most Perfect and Most Holy Lord, who is the master of the (faultless) angels and their chief Jibreel (Gabriel), peace be upon him.”
◈ Consider, when there is a creation of Allah consisting of angels who do not make mistakes, never disobey Allah, and comply with His commands, then how perfect must their Creator be?
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In Tahajjud, one should pray with fear and hope
The blessed moments at the end of the night are also very suitable for prayers. Such prayers in which there is fear of Allah, fear of Allah’s punishment, hope from Allah, and desire for the eternal blessings of Allah’s Paradise, and not even the slightest trace of despair from Allah’s mercy is found in any corner of the heart. These are prayers in which there is no arrogance or pride. Obviously, these can only be granted to those believers whose hearts are filled with the remembrance of Allah and whose prostrations are filled with songs of praise and glorification.
◈ About such believers, it is stated in Surah As-Sajdah:
﴿ إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِآيَاتِنَا الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهَا خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ 15 تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ﴾
“Those who believe in Our verses, when they are recited to them, fall down in prostration and glorify their Lord with praise and do not become arrogant. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend out of what We have provided them.”
◈ From these verses of Surah Adh-Dhariyat and Surah As-Sajdah, it is understood that:
(1) For the believers, waking up early in the morning is not at all difficult. They get up for Tahajjud and with mixed emotions of ﴿خوف اور طمع﴾, they ask their Lord for prayers.
(2) Those who arrange for the Tahajjud prayer cannot be ﴿مغرور اور متكبر﴾. They are humble servants of Allah.
﴿حمد﴾
﴿تسبيح﴾
﴿تكبر﴾
﴿خوف﴾
﴿طمع﴾
(3) They wake up from sleep, separate themselves from their beds, perform ablution, and also engage in ﴿حمد﴾ along with tasbih. ﴿حمد﴾ is the expression of Allah’s positive attributes, and tasbih is the declaration of disassociation from false attributes attributed to Allah. Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, repeatedly recites ﴿حمد﴾ in the specific Tahajjud prayer supplication, which will be mentioned later.
(4) Contrary to the monastic and ascetic concepts of other religions, these pious servants of Allah spend generously in the way of Allah. They do not consider only physical austerity as worship but also regard financial sacrifice as a means of drawing closer to Allah. Obviously, a person who does not earn wealth and just sits idle cannot spend in the way of Allah.
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At the end of the night, that is, the time of Tahajjud, every prayer is accepted
Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إن فى الليل لساعة لا يوافقها عبد مسلم يسأل الله خيرا من أمر الدنيا والآخرة إلا أعطاه إياه ، وذلك كل ليلة
“Every night there is a moment when if a Muslim asks Allah for something, Allah grants him what he asks for in this world and the Hereafter, and this moment occurs every night.”
It is understood that in the last part of every night, the door of acceptance of supplication opens, and every believer’s legitimate prayer is accepted. This prayer can be for this world or for the Hereafter.
Getting up for Qiyam al-Layl (night prayer) and then supplicating and conversing with Allah at that time is also very virtuous because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night (in a manner befitting His Majesty) and says:
انا الملك ! من ذى الذى يدعوني فاستجيب له ، من ذى الذى يسألني فاعطيه ، من ذى الذى يستغفرنى فاغفر له ، فلا يزال كذالك حتى يضيق الفجر
“I am the King! Whoever calls upon Me, I will respond to him; whoever asks from Me, I will give to him; whoever seeks My forgiveness, I will forgive him, and this continues until the break of dawn.”
In Ramadan, we definitely get up for Suhoor. If we dedicate some time before Fajr prayer for supplication and seeking forgiveness, how fortunate we will be!
Angels descend at the time of Tahajjud
In these blessed moments, not only does Allah Almighty descend towards the lower heaven, but also the angels descend. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضل
“Indeed, in the last part of the night prayer, (angels) are present, and that is the best.”
The leader of the Ansar, Hazrat Usayd bin Hudair, may Allah be pleased with him, is a famous companion. One night he was reciting Surah Al-Baqarah. Nearby was his horse and his son Yahya as well. The horse began to get agitated by the recitation. Hazrat Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him, became concerned that the horse might trample his son Yahya. When he looked towards the sky, he saw a canopy of clouds. When morning came, Hazrat Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated this incident to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
He, peace be upon him, said: “Those were angels who came near because of your beautiful recitation. If you had continued reciting, people would have also seen those angels.”
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What should be done during Tahajjud time?
From the Quran and Sunnah, it is understood that during the time of Tahajjud, the following acts should be observed:
➊ Long standing: Recitation and reading of the Quran with Tartil (measured, clear pronunciation).
➋ Long prostrations: Sunnah tasbih and supplications during prostrations.
➌ Reflection on the Quran: Understanding and contemplation.
➍ Supplication: With feelings of fear and hope. Supplications during prostrations.
➎ Seeking forgiveness: With feelings of remorse and desire for forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness during bowing and prostration.
➏ Praise, commendation, and gratitude: Abundant praise, flawless praise, praise during standing and Qunoot.
➐ Tasbih: Expression and acknowledgment of Allah’s perfection. Tasbih during bowing and prostration.
➑ Seeking refuge: Prayers for protection from the torment of Hell. Seeking refuge during prostration.
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The Tahajjud Prayer of Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him)
In view of the importance and virtue of Tahajjud, all the messengers and prophets of Allah used to observe this important worship in the last part of the night.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (RA) narrates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Prophet Dawood (AS), and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Prophet Dawood (AS). Prophet Dawood (AS) used to sleep half of the night, pray for one-third of the night, and then sleep for one-sixth of the night. Similarly, he used to fast one day and not fast the next day.”
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Tahajjud prayer has been the practice of the elite and righteous of every nation
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, emphasized the Tahajjud prayer and mentioned its four (4) important characteristics. One of these is that it is the practice of the righteous from all previous nations. He said:
عليكم بقيام الليل فإنه داب الصالحين قبلكم ، وهو قربة لكم إلى ربكم ، ومكفرة للسيئات ، ومنهاة عن الإثم
“Be consistent in the night prayer (i.e., Tahajjud), for it has been the way and emblem of the righteous before you. It is a means of drawing near to your Lord. It erases sins and prevents (one) from committing sins.”
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One should also wake their family members for the Tahajjud prayer
One should also wake up their family members for Tahajjud prayer; accordingly, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, encouraged this and emphasized praying with family members.
◈ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“When a person wakes up at night and also wakes his wife, then both pray together, they are recorded ﴿الذكرين والذاكرات﴾.”
﴿الذاكرين﴾ and ﴿الذاكرات﴾ refer to men and women who remember Allah. Their mention is in Surah Al-Ahzab, verse number 35. For these fortunate ones, Allah Almighty has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
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The Concern of the Wives Regarding Tahajjud Prayer by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was also very concerned about the Tahajjud prayer of his wives. He, peace be upon him, said: “At the time of Tahajjud, the treasures of Allah are revealed. صواحب الحجرات Who will wake up the women of the chambers (i.e., the pure wives, may Allah be pleased with them)?”
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The concern of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, regarding the Tahajjud prayer of his daughter and son-in-law
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was also very concerned about the Tahajjud prayer of his daughter, Hazrat Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, and his son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. One night he went to their house and asked them: الا تصليان؟ Do you both not perform the Tahajjud prayer?
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The concern of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, regarding the Tahajjud prayer of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was also very concerned about the Tahajjud prayer of his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. He said to the young companion Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, may Allah be pleased with him: “How good a person would he be if Abdullah started praying Tahajjud?”
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The Concern of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, Regarding a Companion’s Tahajjud Prayer
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, expressed concern to Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, about a companion’s Tahajjud prayer, saying: “He should not become like so-and-so!”
كان يقوم من الليل فترك قيام الليل
“He used to perform Qiyam al-Layl (i.e., Tahajjud), then he abandoned Qiyam al-Layl.”
It is understood that when a voluntary act of worship is started, it should be performed consistently. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“Allah loves deeds that are done consistently, even if they are few.”
