Tahajjud holds a special place in a Muslim’s spiritual journey as it represents the unique period of the late night where we seek Allah’s divine mercy and forgiveness in a calm and quiet solitude. It is a time where we envelop ourselves in humble servitude before our Creator.
Tahajjud, also known as the “night prayer” or “Qiyam-u-lail,” is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam1. This prayer is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, however, it holds a special position as the Islamic prophet, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), was recorded as regularly performing the Tahajjud prayer himself and encouraging his companions to do the same.
Questions about Tahajjud prayers:
- What is Tahajjud?Tahajjud, also known as the “night prayer”, is a voluntary prayer that Muslims often perform during the night
- Is Tahajjud prayer compulsory?Tahajjud is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims. However, it is highly encouraged, and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is known to have frequently observed this prayer.
- When should Tahajjud be performed?Tahajjud prayer is performed after the Isha prayer (the night prayer) and before the Fajr prayer (the dawn prayer)
- What is the significance of the Tahajjud prayer?Tahajjud holds a special position within Islamic worship; it is often associated with attaining mental strength, peace, and being a time for a deep, personal conversation with Allah[2%5E].
- How many Rak’ahs (units) should be performed in the Tahajjud prayer?Being a voluntary prayer, Tahajjud does not have a fixed number of Rak’ahs. One may perform as few as two units or even more depending on their devotion and ability
- Which Surahs are recited in the Tahajjud prayer?One can recite any Surah from the Holy Qur’an after the Surah Al-Fatihah in each of the Tahajjud prayer units. However, incorporating longer Surahs can enhance the spiritual experience
- What are the benefits of Tahajjud prayer?The Tahajjud prayer is known to bring spiritual, mental, and physical benefits. It is said to be a source of divine mercy, forgiveness, peace of mind, and strong faith
- What to do if one unintentionally sleeps through the time for Tahajjud?If one makes an honest effort to wake up and perform Tahajjud but accidentally sleeps through, Islamic teachings suggest that Allah records the genuine intention and grants sleep as a mercy
Dua For Tahajjud 1
اللهُمَّ لكَ الحَمْدُ أنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ والأرْضِ ومَن فِيهِنَّ، ولَكَ الحَمْدُ لكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ والأرْضِ ومَن فِيهِنَّ، ولَكَ الحَمْدُ أنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ والأرْضِ ومَن فِيهِنَّ، ولَكَ الحَمْدُ أنْتَ مَلِكُ السَّمَوَاتِ والأرْضِ، ولَكَ الحَمْدُ أنْتَ الحَقُّ ووَعْدُكَ الحَقُّ، ولِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، والجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، والنَّارُ حَقٌّ، والنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، ومُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ حَقٌّ، والسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لكَ أسْلَمْتُ، وبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وإلَيْكَ أنَبْتُ، وبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وإلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لي ما قَدَّمْتُ وما أخَّرْتُ، وما أسْرَرْتُ وما أعْلَنْتُ، أنْتَ المُقَدِّمُ، وأَنْتَ المُؤَخِّرُ، لا إلَهَ إلَّا أنْتَ – أوْ لا إلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration: Humma laka al-hamdu anta qayyimu as-samawati wal ardhi wa man fihinna, wa laka al-hamdu laka mulku as-samawati wal ardhi wa man fihinna wa laka al-hamdu anta nuru as-samawati wal ardhi wa man fihinna wa laka al-hamdu anta maliku as-samawati wal ardhi wa laka al-hamdu anta alhaqqu wa wa’duka alhaqqu wa liqa’uka haqun, wa qawluka haqun, wal jannatu haqun, wan naaru haqun, wan nabiyyuna haqun, wa muhammadun sallallahualaihi wasallama haqqun, was-saa’atu haqun, allahumma laka aslamtu, wa bika amantu, wa alaika tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu, wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika hakamtu, faghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a’lantu, anta almuqaddimu, wa anta almuaakhiru, la ilaha illa anta.
Translation: Yours is all Praise, You are The Sustainer of The Heavens and The Earth and whoever is in them. Yours is the Praise, You are the Sovereign of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. Yours is the Praise, You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. Yours is the Praise. You are the Truth, and Your Promise is true, and Your meeting is true, and the Paradise is true, and the Fire is true, and the Prophets are true, and Muhammad peace be upon him is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, and in You I believed, and in You I put my trust, to You I turn, and for You I argued. Forgive me what I have previously and what I will have to do later on, what I have concealed and what I have done openly. You make the advance and You delay. There is no god but You.
Dua For Tahajjud 2
اللهمَّ إنِّي أسألُك من الخيرِ كلِّه عاجلِه وآجلِه ما علِمتُ منه وما لم أعلمُ ، وأعوذُ بك من الشرِّ كلِّه عاجلِه وآجلِه ما علِمتُ منه وما لم أعلمُ . اللهمَّ إنِّي أسألُك من خيرِ ما سألَك به عبدُك ونبيُّك ، وأعوذُ بك من شرِّ ما عاذ به عبدُك ونبيُّك . اللهمَّ إنِّي أسألُك الجنةَ وما قرَّب إليها من قولٍ أو عملٍ ،وأعوذُ بك من النارِ وما قرَّب إليها من قولٍ أو عملٍ ، وأسألُك أنْ تجعلَ كلَّ قضاءٍ قضيتَه لي خيرًا
Transliteration: Allahumma inni as’aluka min al-khairi kullihi, ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a’lam. Wa a’uudhu bika min al-sharri kullihi, ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a’lam. Allahumma inni as’aluka min khairi ma sa’alaka bihi abduka wa nabiyyuka, wa a’uudhu bika min sharri ma ‘aadha bihi abduka wa nabiyyuka. Allahumma inni as’aluka al-jannah, wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amalin, wa a’uudhu bika min annar, wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amalin, wa as’aluka an taj’ala kulla qada’an qadaytahu li khairan.
Translation: O Allah, I ask You for all goodness, now and later on, what I know of, and what I do not know. And I seek refuge in You from all evil, now and later, what I know of, and what I do not know. O Allah, I ask of You the good for which Your servant and Your Prophet has asked, and I seek refuge in You from the evil where from Your servant and Your Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, I ask of You Paradise, and any speech or deed that brings me closer to it; and I seek refuge in You from the Fire, and any speech or deed that brings me closer to it. And I ask You to make every destiny that You have ordained for me good.
Dua For Tahajjud 3
اللهم اجعل في قلبي نورًا، وفي بصري نورًا، وفي سمعي نورًا، وعن يميني نورًا، وعن يساري نورًا، وفوقي نورًا، وتحتي نورًا، وأمامي نورًا، وخلفي نورًا، واجعل لي نورًا
Transliteration: Allahumma ij’al fe qalbi nura, wa fe basari nura, wa fe sam’i nura, wa ‘an yameeni nura, wa ‘an yasari nura, wa fawqi nura, wa tahti nura, wa amami nura, wa khalfi nura, waj’al li nura.
Translation: Oh Allah, make in my heart light, and in my sight light, and in my hearing light, and on my right light, and on my left light, and above me light, and below me light, to my front light, and behind me light, and make for me light.
Dua For Tahajjud 4
(اللهم مصرِّف القلوب، صرِّف قلوبنا على طاعتك)
Transliteration: Allahumma musarrif al-qulub, sarrif qulubana ‘ala ta’atik.
Translation: Oh Allah, changer of the hearts, make our hearts firm on Your obedience.
Dua For Tahajjud 5
(اللهم اغفر لي، وارحمني، واهدِني، وعافِني وارزقني)
Transliteration: Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wahdini, wa ‘afini, warzuqni.
Translation: Oh Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, give me health and provide for me.
Dua For Tahajjud 6
(اللهم إني أعوذ بك من شرِّ ما عملتُ، ومن شر ما لم أعمل)
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min sharri ma ‘amiltu, wa min shar ma lam a’amil.
Translation: Oh Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I’ve done, and from the evil of what I have not done.
Dua For Tahajjud 7
اللهم أصلِحْ لي دِيني الذي هو عصمة أمري، وأصلح لي دنياي التي فيها معاشي، وأصلح لي آخرتي التي فيها معادي، واجعل الحياة زيادةً لي في كل خيرٍ، واجعل الموتَ راحةً لي من كل شر
Transliteration: Allahumma aslih li deeni alladhi huwa ‘ismatu amri, wa aslih li dunyaya allati feeha ma’ashi, wa aslih li akhirati allati feeha ma’adi, waj’al al-hayata ziyadatan li fi kulli khair, waj’al al-mawta rahatan li min kulli shar.
Translation: Oh Allah, rectify for me my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs, make better my world where my life exists, make my hereafter where I have to return, make longer my life in every type of goodness and make my death a comfort from every evil.
As we perform the Tahajjud prayer, it is customary to recite supplications in between prayer units or after the prayer itself. Below are nine beautiful duas that you may wish to include in your earnest late-night supplication to Allah:
Dua For Tahajjud 8
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ الْجِبْرِيلِ وَمَيْكَائِيلِ وَإِسْرَافِيلِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ، إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
Transliteration: “Allahumma Rabba Jibra’eela, wa meeka`eela wa Israfeela, faatiris samaawaati wal ard, a‘alimal ghaybi wash sha’hada, Anta tahkumu bayna ‘ibaadika feema kaanu feehi yakhtalifooon, ihdinee limaakhtulifa feehi min al haqqi bi idhnika, innaka tahdi man tashaa’u ilaa siraatin mustaqeem.”
Translation: “O Allah, Lord of Jibra’eel, Meeka’eel, and Israfeel, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You judge between Your servants concerning those matters in which they differ. Guide me to the disputed matters of truth by Your will. Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path”
During Tahajjud, our minds are clear, our hearts are soft, and we are able to reflect deeply on the meaning of the Qur’an that we recite. In these blessed moments, seek Allah’s guidance in all your affairs, and ask Him to bless you with understanding, peace, and the ability to surrender your worries to Him.