Tahajjud Prayer (Qiyam al-Layl): Step by Step Guide

What is the best time and ruling for praying Tahajjud in Ramadan?

Tahajjud (also known as Qiyam al-Layl or Salatul Layl) is the most virtuous voluntary prayer after the five obligatory daily prayers (Sahih Muslim 1163). In Islamic jurisprudence, Tahajjud is a confirmed prophetic practice (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) performed after praying the obligatory Isha prayer and waking up from sleep, ideally during the final third of the night before the Fajr call to prayer.

Integrating Tahajjud into our daily Ramadan Suhoor to Iftar worship schedule unlocks immense spiritual reward because Allah descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of every night to answer supplications and grant forgiveness (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145). Combining night prayer with secret charity extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire. Before standing in prayer tonight, you can sponsor Ramadan food packs for displaced families or send an instant transfer through our non-custodial cryptocurrency donation gateway. At Islamic Donate, volunteers personally cover all administrative and marketing costs, ensuring 100 percent of your night charity reaches impoverished beneficiaries directly.

How many Rak’ahs is Tahajjud and how do you pray it stage by stage?

According to the Hadith of Ibn Umar in Sahih al-Bukhari (990), the night prayer is performed in pairs (two Rak’ahs at a time), concluded with a single odd Rak’ah of Witr if you have not already prayed Witr with the Imam after Tarawih. The minimum number of Rak’ahs for Tahajjud is two, while the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regularly prayed eight Rak’ahs of Tahajjud followed by three Rak’ahs of Witr (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147).

Follow these exact stages to perform each two-Rak’ah cycle of Tahajjud:

Stage 1: Perform Wudu and form the internal intention (Niyyah)
Wake up before Suhoor, brush your teeth with a Siwak or toothbrush, perform fresh ablution (Wudu), and stand facing the Qiblah. Form the intention in your heart to pray two Rak’ahs of Tahajjud for the sake of Allah. Do not need speak the intention aloud.

Stage 2: Pronounce Takbiratul Ihram and the Prophetic Night Opening Dua
Raise both hands to the level of your shoulders or earlobes, say اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allahu Akbar / Allah is the Greatest), and place your right hand over your left hand on your chest. Recite the authentic opening supplication used by the Prophet (peace be upon him) during night prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1120):

• Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ 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
• Transliteration: Allahumma lakal-hamdu Anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ardi wa man fihinna, wa lakal-hamdu laka mulkus-samawati wal-ardi wa man fihinna, wa lakal-hamdu Anta nurus-samawati wal-ardi wa man fihinna, wa lakal-hamdu Antal-haqqu, wa wa’dukal-haqqu, wa liqa’uka haqqun, wa qawluka haqqun, wal-jannatu haqqun, wan-naru haqqun, wan-nabiyyuna haqqun, wa Muhammadun sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallama haqqun, was-sa’atu haqqun. Allahumma laka aslamtu, wa bika amantu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khasamtu, wa ilayka hakamtu, faghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a’lantu, Antal-Muqaddimu wa Antal-Mu’akhkhiru, la ilaha illa Anta.
• Translation: “O Allah, to You belongs all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. To You belongs all praise; to You belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. To You belongs all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. To You belongs all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is the truth, the meeting with You is true, Your word is the truth, Paradise is true, the Fire is true, the Prophets are true, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I have relied, to You I have turned in repentance, by Your help I have disputed, and to You I have referred for judgment. So forgive me what I have sent ahead and what I have left behind, what I have concealed and what I have declared. You are the One Who brings forward and the One Who puts back. There is no deity worthy of worship except You.”

Stage 3: Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and a lengthy passage of the Quran
Seek refuge by saying أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ (A’udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim), then recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by آمِينَ (Amin). After Al-Fatihah, recite a prolonged portion of the Quran from memory or by holding a Mushaf (printed Quran or online Quran on a mobile screen) if you have not memorized long chapters.

Stage 4: Perform prolonged bowing (Ruku’) and standing (I’tidal)
Say اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allahu Akbar) and bow down with your back straight at a 90-degree angle and hands gripping your knees. Repeat at least three times (or many more in night prayer):

• Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
• Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim.
• Translation: “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.”

Rise from bowing while saying سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ (Sami’allahu liman hamidah / Allah hears the one who praises Him), and once standing upright, say:

• Arabic: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ
• Transliteration: Rabbana wa lakal-hamdu, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih.
• Translation: “Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise, an abundant, pure, and blessed praise.”

Stage 5: Perform prostration (Sujud) and pour out supplications
Say اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allahu Akbar) and descend into prostration placing seven bones on the ground (forehead with nose, both palms, both knees, and the toes of both feet). Repeat سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la / Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) at least three times, then add this prophetic night prostration Dua (Sahih Muslim 486):

• Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، لاَ أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
• Transliteration: Allahumma a’udhu biridaka min sakhatika, wa bimu’afatika min ‘uqubatika, wa a’udhu bika minka, la uhsi thana’an ‘alayka, Anta kama athnayta ‘ala Nafsika.
• Translation: “O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your pardon from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate praise of You; You are as You have praised Yourself.”

Sit briefly between the two prostrations saying رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي (Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li / My Lord, forgive me, my Lord, forgive me), then perform the second prostration identically.

Stage 6: Complete the second Rak’ah and conclude with Taslim
Rise for the second Rak’ah saying اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (Allahu Akbar), recite Surah Al-Fatihah and another Quranic passage, and repeat the bowing and two prostrations. Sit for the final Tashahhud, recite At-Tahiyyat and As-Salawat Al-Ibrahimiyyah, and conclude the two Rak’ahs by turning your head to the right and then the left, saying each time:

• Arabic: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
• Transliteration: As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah.
• Translation: “Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.”

May Allah accept your obligatory and recommended prayers, and bless you on your path toward a spiritual life and the Paradise of the Hereafter. Insha’Allah.