Tahajjud Prayer: Time, How to Pray & Rak’ahs

By the Editorial Team · reviewed against our sources · updated September 2026 · guidance, not a fatwa

What is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud is a voluntary (nafl) prayer performed during the night, after a person has slept and then risen again to worship. The word comes from an Arabic root connected to giving up sleep — leaving your bed to stand before Allah while others rest. It belongs to the wider category of qiyam al-layl (standing in prayer at night), and the two terms are often used interchangeably. What sets Tahajjud apart is the pattern of sleeping first and waking afterwards.

Because it is voluntary, there is no sin in missing it. Yet it has always held a cherished place for those who wish to draw nearer to Allah — a private act of devotion built on sincerity rather than display.

The virtue and status of Tahajjud

The night prayer is highly honoured in Islam. It is well established in authentic teaching that, after the five obligatory prayers, the night prayer is among the most virtuous voluntary prayers a believer can offer. The Qur’an praises those who spend part of the night in prostration and standing.

Part of its value is the effort it costs. Rising from warmth and comfort to choose worship over sleep is a sincere sign of a heart that seeks Allah. It also builds discipline, gratitude and humility, and prepares a person for the Fajr prayer that follows.

When is the best time for Tahajjud?

Tahajjud may be prayed at any point after the Isha prayer and after you have slept, up until the true dawn (the beginning of Fajr). However, the most virtuous portion is the last third of the night, a time associated in authentic narration with Allah’s nearness and the acceptance of du’a.

To work out the last third, take the hours between sunset (Maghrib) and dawn (Fajr) and divide that span into three equal parts; the final part is the ideal window. For example, if Maghrib is at 6:00 pm and Fajr at 3:00 am, the night is nine hours, so each third is three hours and the last third runs from about midnight until Fajr. Most prayer-time apps calculate this for you automatically.

How to pray Tahajjud step by step

Tahajjud follows the same form as any other prayer; only the timing and intention differ. A simple way to perform it:

1. Wake during the night after sleeping, and make wudu (ablution) if you are not already in a state of purity.
2. Face the qiblah and make the intention in your heart to pray Tahajjud.
3. Begin with the opening takbir, then recite Surah al-Fatihah followed by any passage of the Qur’an you know.
4. Complete the rak’ah with ruku (bowing) and two sujud (prostrations), as in every prayer.
5. Pray the second rak’ah in the same way, then sit for the tashahhud and end with the taslim.
6. Repeat in pairs of two rak’ahs for as many units as you wish.
7. Spend time in du’a, especially in prostration and after finishing, asking Allah for your needs.

There is no special wording to start Tahajjud and no fixed set of surahs. Praying calmly, even for a few rak’ahs, is better than praying many in haste.

How many rak’ahs is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud is always prayed in pairs of two rak’ahs, with the taslim after each pair. There is no fixed obligatory number and no strict maximum; many worshippers pray from two to eight rak’ahs, and some pray more. The guiding principle is quality over quantity: a smaller number offered with focus is more valuable than many rushed through while tired. Start with what you can sustain — even two rak’ahs regularly is a beautiful habit — and increase gradually.

The intention (niyyah)

The intention for Tahajjud, like every act of worship in Islam, resides in the heart. It is simply your resolve to pray this voluntary night prayer for the sake of Allah. You do not need to pronounce anything aloud, and there is no prescribed formula. Being aware, as you begin, that you are praying Tahajjud seeking Allah’s pleasure is enough — sincerity of intention is what gives the prayer its worth.

What to recite: surahs and du’a

After Surah al-Fatihah you may recite any part of the Qur’an you have memorised — there is no restriction. Some choose longer passages to lengthen the standing, while others recite shorter surahs; both are acceptable.

The greatest opportunity of Tahajjud is the du’a. In the stillness of the last third of the night, pour out your needs to Allah in prostration and after the prayer. You may use supplications you have learned, or simply speak to Allah in your own language, asking for forgiveness, guidance, and both worldly and eternal good. This intimate conversation is at the heart of why the night prayer is so treasured.

Practical tips to wake up for Tahajjud

• Sleep earlier so your body can rest before the night prayer; going to bed soon after Isha helps.
• Set an alarm for the last third of the night, and place it out of arm’s reach so you must rise.
• Eat and drink moderately in the evening, since a heavy stomach makes waking harder.
• Make a sincere intention before sleeping to wake for Tahajjud, and ask Allah to help you rise.
• Start small — even two rak’ahs once or twice a week — and build the habit gradually.
• If you regularly struggle to wake, you may pray voluntary night rak’ahs before sleeping, though the reward of waking specifically is greater.

Tahajjud vs Witr and Taraweeh

These three night prayers are related but distinct. Witr is a night prayer prayed with an odd number of rak’ahs that seals the night’s worship; it is strongly emphasised and is usually offered after Isha. If you intend to pray Tahajjud, it is recommended to delay Witr and make it the last prayer of your night, after Tahajjud — or, if you fear you will not wake, to pray Witr before sleeping.

Taraweeh is the voluntary night prayer offered in congregation during the nights of Ramadan. Tahajjud, by contrast, is prayed throughout the year, generally alone, after sleeping and waking again. In short: Taraweeh is tied to Ramadan, Witr closes the night with an odd count, and Tahajjud is the personal, year-round vigil that shines brightest in the last third of the night.

To learn more about the blessed nights of the year and how to make the most of them, see our guide to Laylatul Qadr, and explore more foundational topics on our Islamic information hub.

This article is intended as general educational guidance and not as a formal religious ruling (fatwa). Practices can differ between the recognised schools of Islamic law. For rulings on your specific situation, please consult a qualified local scholar or imam.

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