Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2: The Late Night Prayer, tahajjud (qiyamal-Layil)

Its excellence and merit from the Qur’an: Allah ordered his Messengerto perform salatul tahajjud:

“And some part of the night awake for prayer, a largess for thee. Itmay be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised position.”

This order, although it was specifically directed to the Prophet, alsorefers to all the Muslims since the Prophet is their example and guidein all such matters.

Those who regularly perform the tahajjud prayers are the Righteous andare more deserving of Allah’s bounty and mercy. Allah says: “Lo! Thosewho keep from evil will dwell amid gardens and watersprings, takingthat which their Lord gives them. For, lo, they were doers of good.They used to sleep but little of the night and before the dawning ofeach day would seek forgiveness.”

Allah praised and complemented the deeds of those who perform thelate-night prayers. “The slaves of the Beneficent are they who walkupon the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, theysay: ‘Peace’ and they who spend the night prostrating before their Lordand standing” [ al-Furqan: 63-64 ].

Allah bears witness to their belief in His signs. He says: “Only thosebelieve in Our revelations who, when they are reminded of them, falldown prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord and they are notscomful: who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hopeand spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kepthidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.”

Allah proclaims that those who do not possess these qualities cannot betreated as equal to those who possess them: “Is he who pays adorationin the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, aware of theHereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord equal to a disbeliever?Say: ‘Are those who know equal with those who know not?’ But only menof understanding will pay heed.”

Volume 2, Page 21: Hadith regarding Tahajjud

The preceding section was primarily concerned with what Allah saysabout those who perform salatul tahajjud. There also exist a number ofahadith that reinforce the importance of tahajjud.

‘Abdullah ibn as-Salam reports: “When the Prophet sallallahu alehiwasallam came to Medinah, the people gathered around him and I was oneof them. I looked at his face and understood that it was not the faceof a liar. The first words I heard him say were: ‘O people, spread thesalutations, feed the people, keep the ties of kinship, and pray duringthe night while the others sleep and you will enter paradise inpeace.”‘ This is related by al-Hakim, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmizhi whocalls it hasan sahih.

Salman al-Farsi relates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallamsaid: “Observe the night prayer, it was the practice of the rightousbefore you and it brings you closer to your Lord and it is penance forevil deeds and erases the sins and repells disease from the body.”

Sahl ibn Sa’d reports: “Gabriel came to the Prophet sallallahu alehiwasallam and said: ‘O Muhammad, live as long as you like, for you areto die. Do whatever deed you wish, for you are to be rewarded. Lovewhomever you wish, for you are to be parted. And know that the honor ofthe believer is in the night prayer and his glory is being free fromwant from the people.”‘

Abu ad-Darda’ reports that the Prophet said: “Three people are loved byAllah, and He laughs for them and He grants them glad tidings. [Thefirst is] a man who fights behind a group that flees and does so withhis own soul for Allah’s sake, regardless of whether he is killed or heis aided by Allah and made victorious. Allah says: ‘Look to my slavethere who is patient with his life for My sake.’ [The second is] theone who has a beautiful wife and a soft bed and rises during the night.Allah says: ‘He leaves his desires and remembers Me and if he wished hewould sleep.’ [The third] is a person who is traveling with a group andthey pass the night awake and then sleep, but he still observes hisprayer in hardship or ease.”

Volume 2, Page 22: Etiquettes of Late Night Prayer

The following acts are sunnah for one who wishes to perform thetahajjud prayers. Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention toperform the tahajjud prayers. Abu ad-Darda’ relates that the Prophetsallallahu alehi wasallam said: “Whoever goes to his bed with theintention of getting up and praying during the night, and sleepovercomes him until the moming comes, he will have recorded for himwhat he had intended, and his sleep will be a charity for him from hisLord.” This is related by an-Nasa’i and ibn Majah with a sahih chain.Upon waking, one should wipe one’s face, use a toothstick, and look tothe sky and make the supplication which has been reported from theProphet sallallahu alehi wasallam: “There is no God but Thee, Glory beto Thee, I seek forgiveness from You for my sins, and I ask for yourmercy. O Allah, increase my knowledge and let my heart not swerve afterYou have guided me, and bestow mercy upon me from Thyself. All praisebe to Allah who has given us back life after our death and unto Him isthe resurrection.”

Then, one should recite the last ten ‘ayat of al-‘Imran, starting with,”Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and [in] thedifference of night and day are tokens (of His sovereignty) for men ofunderstanding.” Then one should say, “O Allah, to You belongs thepraise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and what istherein. And to You belongs the praise. You are the truth and Yourpromise is true. And the meeting with You is true. And the paradise istrue. And the Fire is true. And the prophets are true. And Muhammad istrue. And the Hour is true. O Allah, to You have I submitted. And inYou have I believed. And in You have I put my trust. And to You have Iturned. And by You I argue. And to You do I turn for my decisions.Forgive me of my former and latter sins, and those done in private andthose done in public. You are Allah, there is no God besides Thee.”

One should begin Qiyam al-Layil with two quick rak’at and then one maypray whatever one wishes after that. ‘Aishah says: “When the Prophetprayed during the late-night, he would begin his prayers with two quickrak’at.” Both of these reports are related by Muslim.

Volume 2, Page 23: One should wake up one’s family fortahajjud

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet said: “May Allah bless the manwho gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his wife and who, ifshe refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah blessthe woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her husbandand who, if he refuses sprinkles water on his face.” The Prophetsallallahu alehi wasallam also said: “If a man wakes his wife and praysduring the night or they pray two rak’at together, they will berecorded among those (men and women) who (constantly) make remembranceof Allah.” This is related by Abu Dawud and others with a sahih chain.

Umm Salamah narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam got upduring the night and said: “Glory be to Allah. What trials aredescended with the night. And what has descended of treasures. Who willwaken the lady occupants of the rooms (i.e., his wives) for prayers;how many a well dressed in this world will be naked in the hereafter.”This is related by al-Bukhari

Al-Bukhari and Muslim record that the Messenger of Allah asked ‘Ali andFatimah: “Do you not pray [during the night]?” ‘Ali said: “O Messengerof Allah, we are in Allah’s hands. If He wishes to make us get up, weget up.” The Prophet turned away when he said that. Then, they couldhear him striking his thigh and saying: “Verily, man disputes a lot.”This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Volume 2, Page 24: One should stop praying tahajjud andsleep if one becomes very sleepy

‘Aishah reports that the Messenger of Allah said: “When one of yougets up during the night for prayer and his Qur’anic recital becomesconfused to the extent that he does not know what he says, he shouldlie down.” This is related by Muslim.

Anas narrates that the Messenger of Allah entered the mosque and saw arope stretching between two posts. He asked: “What is this?” The peopletold him that it was for Zainab [bint Jahsh] who, when she became tiredor weary, held it (to keep standing for the prayer). The Prophet said:”Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and whenyou get tired or weary, you should lie down to rest.” This is relatedby al-Bukhari and Muslim.

One should not overburden one’s self with the night prayer and shouldonly pray it to the extent that is reasonable, and not leave thatpractice unless there is some great need to do so. ‘Aishah reports thatthe Messenger of Allah said: “Do (good) deeds according to yourcapacity, for by Allah, Allah does not weary from giving rewards unlessyou get tired of doing good deeds.” This is related by al-Bukhari andMuslim.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim also relate from ‘Aishah that the Messenger ofAllah was asked: “What is the most loved deed to Allah?” He answered:”One that is performed constantly even if it is a small deed.” AndMuslim recorded that ‘Aishah said: “The Messenger of Allah was constantin his deeds, and if he did something, he would do it consistently.”

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reports that the Messenger of Allah said: “O’Abdullah, do not become like so-and-so who used to make the tahajjudprayers and then he stopped praying it.” This is related by al-Bukhariand Muslim.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim also record, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibnMas’ud, that it was mentioned to the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallamthat a man slept until the morning. [ThereuponJ he said: “Satan hasurinated into the ears of that person.” They also record from Salim ibn’Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah saidto his father, “Abdullah would be a good man if he would pray thetahajjud prayers.” Salim said: “After that, ‘Abdullah would not sleepduring the night save for a small amount at a time.”

Volume 2, Page 24a: The recommended time for tahajjud

Salatul Layil may be performed in the early part of the night, themiddle part of the night, or the latter part of the night, but afterthe obligatory salatul ‘isha.

While describing the salah of the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam,Anas would say: “If we wanted to see him praying during the night, wecould see him praying. If we wanted to see him sleeping during thenight, we could see him sleeping. And sometimes he would fast for somany days that we thought he would not leave fasting throughout thatmonth. And sometimes he would not fast (for so many days) that wethought he would not fast during that month.” This is related by Ahmad,al-Bukhari, and anNasa’ i .

Commenting on this subject, Ibn Hajar says: “There was no specific timein which the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam would perform his latenight prayer; but he would do whatever was easiest for him.”

Volume 2, Page 25: Best time for tahajjud

It is best to delay this prayer to the last third portion of thenight. Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah said: “Our Lorddescends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night,inquiring: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who isasking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for Myforgiveness so I may forgive him?”‘ This is related by the group.

‘Amr ibn Abasah reports that he heard the Prophet say: “The closestthat a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latterportion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, theExalted One, at that time then do so.” This is related by al-Hakim whogrades it sahih according to Muslim’s standards, and at-Tirmizhi callsit hasan sahih. AnNasa’i and Ibn Khuzaimah also recorded it.

Abu Muslim asked Abu Zharr: “Which late-night prayer is the best?” Hesaid: “I asked the Messenger of Allah the same that you asked me and hesaid, ‘The (one done during) middle of the latter half of the night,and very few do it.'” This is related by Ahmad with a good chain.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reports that the Prophet said: “The most belovedfast to Allah is the fast of David. And the most beloved prayer toAllah is the prayer of David. He would sleep half of the night and thenpray during the next third of the night and then sleep during the lastsixth of the night. And he would fast one day and not fast the next.”This is related by the group except at-Tirmizhi.

The number of rak’at to be performed during tahajjud: The tahajjudprayer does not entail a specific number of rak’at which must beperformed nor is there any maximum limit which has to be performed. Itwould be fulfilled even if one just prayed one rak’ah of witr after theobligatory night prayer.

Samurah ibn Jundub says: “The Messenger of Allah ordered us to prayduring the night, a little or a lot, and to make the last of the prayerthe witr prayer.” This is related by at-Tabarani and al-Bazzar.

Anas relates that the Messenger of Allah said: “Prayer in my mosque isequal to ten thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the inviolablemosque is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers [elsewhere]. Andprayer in the battlefield is equivalent to one million prayers[elsewhere]. And what is more than all of that is two rak’at by a slave[of Allah] during the middle of the night.” This is reported by Abuash-Shaikh, Ibn Hibban in his work ath-Thawab, and al-Munzhiri, in hisbook at-Targhib watTarhib, is silent about it.

Iyas ibn Mu’awiyyah al-Mazni reports that the Prophet sallallahu alehiwasallam said: “The night prayer should certainly be performed even ifit is for the length of time that it takes one to milk a sheep. Andwhatever is after the obligatory ‘isha is of the tahajjud.” This isrelated by at-Tabarani, and all of its narrators are trustworthy saveMuhammad ibn Ishaq.

Ibn ‘Abbas relates: “I mentioned the tahajjud prayer and some of thepeople said that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: ‘It may behalf of the night, a third of the night, a fourth of the night or afraction of the time for milking a camel or a sheep.”

Ibn ‘Abbas also narrates that the Prophet ordered them and encouragedthem to make the tahajjud prayer to the extent that he said: “Youshould perform salatul layil even if it is just one rak’ah.” This isrelated by atTabarani in al-Kabir and al-Awsat.

Volume 2, Page 26: It is preferable to pray eleven orthirteen rak’at for tahajjud

One may choose between praying them all together or to separatethem. ‘Aishah says: “The Messenger of Allah never prayed more thaneleven rak’at, during Ramadan or otherwise. He would pray four rak’at,and don’t ask about how excellent they were or how lengthy they were.Then, he would pray four rak’at, and don’t ask about how excellent theywere or how lengthy they were. Then, he would pray three rak’at. Iasked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before praying witr?’ hereplied: ‘O ‘Aishah, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.”‘ Thisis recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim who also record that al-Qasim ibnMuhammad said that he heard ‘Aishah say: “The Messenger of Allah’sprayer during the night would be ten rak’at and then he would make witrwith one rak’ah.”

Volume 2, Page 26a: Making qada’ for the missedtahajjud

Muslim records that ‘Aishah said: “If the Prophet sallallahu alehiwasallam missed the late-night prayers due to pain or anything else, hewould pray twelve rak’at during the day.”

‘Umar reports that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: “Whoeversleeps past his full portion [of the late-night prayers] or part ofthem, he should pray between the dawn and noon prayers and it would berecorded for him as if he had prayed during the night.” This is relatedby the group except for al-Bukhari.