Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the Virtue of Tahajjud Prayer?
The night prayer (Qiyām al-Layl/Tahajjud) is immensely beloved to Allah.
When the entire world is asleep, rising in the darkness to engage in intimate supplication to the Lord of the Worlds is among the most noble acts. A believer finds spiritual delight in worship during these blessed hours. The pleasure of the Ever-Living Sovereign seeks out the believer at this time.
It is the prayer of the righteous, a means of elevating ranks, forgiving sins, and purifying both the inner and outer self. It raises a person to the station of the pious and is only granted by Allah’s special tawfīq (guidance). Many people remain awake restlessly during the night, tossing and turning, yet they lack the spiritual strength to stand before their Lord—they remain deprived of this immense blessing.
Through Tahajjud, homes are illuminated with divine tranquility and blessings.
If Allah grants a person the ability to offer even two rakʿāt during these sacred moments, what more could one desire?
❀ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (d. 676 AH) said:
"The scholars unanimously agree that night-time voluntary prayers are superior to those offered during the day."
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī ʿalā Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 8/55)
❖ 1. Most Virtuous Prayer after the Obligatory:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**"The best fasting after Ramaḍān is in the month of Allah al-Muḥarram, and the best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer."**
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1163/202)
❖ 2. A Legacy of the Righteous:
❀ Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**"Hold fast to the night prayer, for it was the practice of the righteous before you. It brings you closer to your Lord, expiates sins, and prevents wrongdoing."**
(al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī: 8/92, ḥadīth 7466 – Chain is ḥasan)
❖ 3. An Expression of Gratitude:
❀ ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
The Prophet ﷺ used to stand so long in prayer at night that his feet would swell. She asked,
“O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this while Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?”
He replied:
"Should I not be a grateful servant?"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4837; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2820)
This proves that Tahajjud is the highest form of gratitude to Allah.
❖ 4. Allah’s Admiration of the One Who Rises for Prayer:
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Our Lord marvels at two people: one who rises from his bed to pray while his family sleeps. Allah says: 'Look at My servant! He has left his bed and is praying while his family sleeps. He seeks My reward and fears My punishment.'"
(Musnad Aḥmad: 1/416 – Chain is ḥasan)
❖ 5. Mercy upon the One Who Prays and Encourages Family:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"May Allah have mercy on the man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes up his wife to pray. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on the woman who wakes up, prays, and wakes up her husband. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 2/251/436; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1450; Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 1611; Sunan Ibn Mājah: 1336 – Chain is ḥasan)
❖ 6. Allah’s Divine Descent in the Last Third of the Night:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every night when one-third of the night remains, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says: 'I am the King, I am the King! Who will call upon Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so I may give him? Who will seek forgiveness so I may forgive him?' He continues this until the break of dawn."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1145; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 758/169)
❖ 7. Spiritual Energy & Breaking the Shackles of Shayṭān:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When a person sleeps, Shayṭān ties three knots at the back of his head, whispering: 'Sleep, the night is long.' If he wakes and remembers Allah, one knot is untied. If he performs wuḍū, the second knot is untied. If he prays, the third is untied, and he awakens full of energy and in a good mood. Otherwise, he wakes up sluggish and lazy."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1142; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 776)
❀ The wording in Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah (1132 – Chain is authentic) states:
"Untie the knots of Shayṭān—even if only by praying two rakʿāt."
❖ Question:
What is the Virtue of Tahajjud Prayer?
✿ Answer:
The night prayer (Qiyām al-Layl/Tahajjud) is immensely beloved to Allah.
When the entire world is asleep, rising in the darkness to engage in intimate supplication to the Lord of the Worlds is among the most noble acts. A believer finds spiritual delight in worship during these blessed hours. The pleasure of the Ever-Living Sovereign seeks out the believer at this time.
◈ Tahajjud is the most virtuous act after the obligatory prayers.
It is the prayer of the righteous, a means of elevating ranks, forgiving sins, and purifying both the inner and outer self. It raises a person to the station of the pious and is only granted by Allah’s special tawfīq (guidance). Many people remain awake restlessly during the night, tossing and turning, yet they lack the spiritual strength to stand before their Lord—they remain deprived of this immense blessing.
Through Tahajjud, homes are illuminated with divine tranquility and blessings.If Allah grants a person the ability to offer even two rakʿāt during these sacred moments, what more could one desire?
✿ Statements of Scholars:
❀ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (d. 676 AH) said:
"The scholars unanimously agree that night-time voluntary prayers are superior to those offered during the day."
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī ʿalā Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 8/55)✿ Virtues of Tahajjud in Authentic Aḥādīth:
❖ 1. Most Virtuous Prayer after the Obligatory:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**"The best fasting after Ramaḍān is in the month of Allah al-Muḥarram, and the best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer."**
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1163/202)❖ 2. A Legacy of the Righteous:
❀ Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**"Hold fast to the night prayer, for it was the practice of the righteous before you. It brings you closer to your Lord, expiates sins, and prevents wrongdoing."**
(al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī: 8/92, ḥadīth 7466 – Chain is ḥasan)❖ 3. An Expression of Gratitude:
❀ ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
The Prophet ﷺ used to stand so long in prayer at night that his feet would swell. She asked,
“O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this while Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?”
He replied:
"Should I not be a grateful servant?"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4837; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2820) This proves that Tahajjud is the highest form of gratitude to Allah.❖ 4. Allah’s Admiration of the One Who Rises for Prayer:
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Our Lord marvels at two people: one who rises from his bed to pray while his family sleeps. Allah says: 'Look at My servant! He has left his bed and is praying while his family sleeps. He seeks My reward and fears My punishment.'"
(Musnad Aḥmad: 1/416 – Chain is ḥasan)❖ 5. Mercy upon the One Who Prays and Encourages Family:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"May Allah have mercy on the man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes up his wife to pray. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on the woman who wakes up, prays, and wakes up her husband. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 2/251/436; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1450; Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 1611; Sunan Ibn Mājah: 1336 – Chain is ḥasan)❖ 6. Allah’s Divine Descent in the Last Third of the Night:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every night when one-third of the night remains, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says: 'I am the King, I am the King! Who will call upon Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so I may give him? Who will seek forgiveness so I may forgive him?' He continues this until the break of dawn."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1145; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 758/169)❖ 7. Spiritual Energy & Breaking the Shackles of Shayṭān:
❀ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"When a person sleeps, Shayṭān ties three knots at the back of his head, whispering: 'Sleep, the night is long.' If he wakes and remembers Allah, one knot is untied. If he performs wuḍū, the second knot is untied. If he prays, the third is untied, and he awakens full of energy and in a good mood. Otherwise, he wakes up sluggish and lazy."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1142; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 776)❀ The wording in Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah (1132 – Chain is authentic) states:
"Untie the knots of Shayṭān—even if only by praying two rakʿāt."
Conclusion:
- Tahajjud is the most beloved and spiritually enriching act after the five daily prayers.
- It is a legacy of the righteous, a means of drawing close to Allah, expanding blessings, and repelling sin and Satan.
- Even two rakʿāt offered in the quiet of night are filled with immense reward and light.
- Those who leave their beds to stand in prayer are the ones whom Allah admires, forgives, and showers with His mercy.
