❀ Tahajjud: The Way of the Prophets and Righteous ❀
Abū Umāmah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Pray Tahajjud, for it was the way of the righteous before you, and it brings you closer to your Lord, expiates sins, and prevents further sins."
(Ibn Khuzaymah, 1135 – graded ḥasan by al-ʿIrāqī; authenticated by al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī)
❀ Allah’s Mercy on Couples Who Pray Tahajjud ❀
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes at night and prays, then wakes his wife to pray; if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face.
And may Allah have mercy on a woman who wakes at night and prays, then wakes her husband; if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face."
(Abū Dāwūd, al-Taṭawwuʿ, 1308 – authenticated by al-Ḥākim, Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Dhahabī, and al-Nawawī)
❀ The Prophet ﷺ Would Wake His Family for Witr
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ would pray Tahajjud while I lay in front of him in bed. When he intended to pray Witr, he would wake me and I would pray Witr too."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Witr, 999; Muslim, al-Ṣalāh, 512)
❀ Tahajjud: The Best Prayer After Obligatory Salah
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer (Tahajjud). And the best fast after Ramadan is that of Allah’s month, Muḥarram."
(Muslim, al-Ṣiyām, 1163)
❀ The Devil’s Knots and the Spiritual Effect of Tahajjud
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When one of you sleeps, the devil ties three knots at the back of his head, saying: ‘You have a long night ahead, so sleep.’
If he wakes and remembers Allah, one knot is undone.
If he performs wuḍū’, the second knot is undone.
If he prays, the third knot is undone, and he wakes up in the morning energetic and in good spirits; otherwise, he wakes up lazy and in bad spirits."
(al-Bukhārī, al-Tahajjud, 1142; Muslim, 776)
❀ Allah’s Special Mercy During the Last Third of the Night
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every night, when the last third of the night remains, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: ‘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?’"
(al-Bukhārī, al-Tahajjud, 1145; Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 758)
❀ The Prophet’s Gratitude Through Night Prayer
Al-Mughīrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ prayed at night until his feet became swollen. When asked why he did so despite being forgiven, he said:
"Should I not be a grateful servant?"
(al-Bukhārī, al-Tafsīr, 4836; Muslim, Ṣifat al-Qiyāmah, 2820)
