Tahajud

Qiyam ul Lail (Tahajud)

Qiyam means standing up or establishing and Lail means Night. Qayam ul Lail is the Night prayer which established before dawn and is Mustahab. The Prophet(SAWW) said:

“The most excellent fast after Ramadan is, fasting in the month of Allah, the month of Moharram, and the most excellent prayer after performing obligatory ones is the night prayer.”

(Muslim 1163)

1-Recomended Rak’ahs:

The preferred number of Rakah’s for the Tahajud is eleven or thirteen, with prolong standing. ( See Al Bukhari. 1138 )

It can be divided as following:

Nafilah of Layl	8 raka’ahs (in 2 by 2 raka’ats)
Salat al-Shaf’a	2 raka’ahs
Salat al-Witr	2 raka’ahs

2-Use Siwak: It is Sunna when praying at night to use Sewak.

(Al BUkhari 245)

2- Recomended Recitation:

 When a person get up for Qiyam Ul Lail it is recomended for him to recite last 10 verses of Surah Aal-Imran from:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

(Aal-Imran 2 : 190 to 200).

(Al Bukhari 183, Al Muslim 763)

3- Supplication:

 When waking up for night prayer, the Prophet (SAWW) used to read this dua after making Takbeer:

‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ـ أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ ـ ‏"‏‏

 (O Allah, praise is to You. You are the Light of

the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. Praise is to

You, You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all

they contain. Praise is to You, You are the King of the heavens

and the earth. You are the Truth, Your Promise is true, and the meeting with you is true, Your Word is true, Paradise is true, Hell is true,

the Prophets are true and Muhammad(SAWW) is true and the hour is true,O Allah to you I believe and on you I have placed my trust and to you I have repented and over you I have disputed and to you I have turned for Judgement. So, forgive me for my sins that have turned for judgement, So, forgive me for the sins that have come to pass and my sins that will come to pass what I have concealed and what I have made in public. You are Al Muqadaddaim and Al Mu’akhkhir. There is no deity worthy of worship other than You ).

(Al Bukhari 1120, Muslim 769)

4- Start with 2 light Rak’ahs:

It is Sunnah to start the Night Prayer with two short Raka’s in order to become active and get ready to the following prayers. (Al Muslim 768)

6-Begin with Supplication:

 It is Sunnah also to start the prayer at night by saying the following

prophetic supplication:

"‏ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ ‏"‏ ‏.

(O Allah, Lord of Jibrail, Mikail and Israfil, Maker of the heavens and the earth. Knower of the unseen and the seen. You judge between Your slaves regarding that in which they differ. Guide me to the truth regarding that in which there is difference, by Your leave. Surely, You guide whomever you please to the straight path).

( Sunan an-Nasa'i 1625)

5- Lengthen the Prayer:

 It is Sunnah also to prolong the prayer, because the Prophet (SAWW) was asked: What is the best prayer? He said: “(The longer).”

( Muslim 756). The meaning of “longer” is prolonging standing (Qayaam) in prayer.

6- Ask Allah for refuge and Mercy after recitation:

It is Sunnah also to ask refuge in Allah The Almighty when you recite

a verse speaking about punishment, by saying ;

(I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of Allah),

 and to ask the mercy of Allah when you recite a verse speaking about mercy, by saying:

 (O Allah, I ask for Your favour),

and to glorify Allah when you recite a verse exalting Allah The Almighty by praising Him;

This is from the Hadith;

“...he read slowly ( with reflection). If he read a verse of glorification, he glorified Him. If he read a verse of request, he asked from Him. If he read a verse seeking refuge , he sought refuge in Him…”.(Muslim 772)

Benefits of Tahajud:Reward of Tahajud is Immense. Numerous Ahaadeeth and Qur'aanic verses mention the excellence of Qiyaam al-Layl and the merit of those who perform it regularly. Reward of Tahajud is Immense. Allah says in Quran,

l “Verily, waking at night (for Tahajjud prayer) is extremely difficult ( but most effective for controlling the nafs), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allaah)…”(al-Muzzamil 73:6)

l “...Their sides part from their beds, to make Dua from their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allaah’s Cause) out of what We have provided for them. No soul knows what pleasure is kept hidden for them( in Jannah) as a reward for what he carries out”. (al-Sajdah 32:16-17)

In Surah Furqaan Allah tells us the Qualities of Ibbad ur Rahmaan( Ar Rahmaan’s bondsmen) and one of the quality is,

“And those who spend the night in prostrating and standing before their Rabb.”( Al Furqaan 25:64)

Then He Almighty describes their reward in these beautiful words,

75.Those will be rewarded with the Balconies (in Paradise) because of their steadfastness(in Imaan and Islam). Where they will be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.

76. They will live there( in Jannah) forever. It is surely a beautiful residence and abode.

(al-Furqaan 25:75-76)

Subhan Allah, What else shall one needs more than this?

Some Tips that help one to get up for Tahajud

lGo to sleep early and do not waste time on your phone or unnecessary things. Avoid staying up late at Night.

lHave a lighter dinner at evening.

lBefore sleeping make a sincere Neeah (intention) that you want to pray Tahajud only for Allah.

lMake dua to Allah and ask for His help to get up for Tahajud.

lOnce your eye opens for Tahajud but you are getting lazy then tell yourself that Allah has Fulfilled His promise now it’s your turn.

lDo not forget to set up Alarm (you can set up for 35/45 minutes before Fajr).

lHave a nap in after noon ( between Zuhar and Ars).

lRefrain from all forms of disobedience.

lControl on Nafs (desires).

lIf you have a tough daily routine. Set up an easy target. Start with smaller goal, like just 2 ra’kahs or 2 tahajud in one week then gradually build up the raak’as and numbers of Tahajud/ week.

lNever miss Fajr.