Tahajjud Prayer, The Complete Guide for Beginners

Q: How many rakaats is Tahajjud?

Minimum 2, typically 8 + 3 Witr.

AI Quick Answer

"What is Tahajjud and when should I pray it?"

Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer prayed after waking from sleep, during the last third of the night (approximately 2-3 hours before Fajr). It is one of the most beloved prayers to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night and says: Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer? Who is asking of Me, that I may give? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive?' (Bukhari)

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ

Wa minal-layli fatahajjad bihi nafilatan lak

And from part of the night, arise and pray as an additional prayer for you, Quran 17:79

How to Pray Tahajjud

Sleep after Isha, you must sleep first before Tahajjud counts
Set an alarm for the last third of the night (use MyTazki prayer times to calculate)
Make wudu when you wake
Begin with 2 light rakaats to warm up (this was the Prophet's ﷺ practice)
Then pray in sets of 2 rakaats, up to 8 or 12 rakaats total
End with Witr prayer (1 or 3 rakaats), the seal of the night prayer
Make personal dua after, this is the most accepted time for dua

The Best Duas to Make in Tahajjud

After your rakaats, sit and make personal dua in your own language. The Prophet ﷺ would say: 'Allahumma lakal hamd anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ard...' (O Allah, all praise is for You, You are the Sustainer of the heavens and earth). Then ask for everything, your deen, dunya, and akhira.

Key Statistics

• 5 daily prayers require approximately 25-30 minutes of total time per day — Islam established the world's largest daily mindfulness practice 1,400 years before the mindfulness movement (Prayer time analysis)
• Muslims who prayed 5 daily prayers had significantly lower systolic blood pressure and anxiety levels than non-praying Muslims (Journal of Religion and Health, 2016)
• 77% of American Muslims report praying at least some prayers daily — salah is the single most universally practiced Islamic ritual globally (Pew Research Center, 2023)

"Salah is the pillar of the religion. Whoever establishes it has established the religion, and whoever abandons it has demolished the religion."

— Ibn Al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Kitab As-Salat, p. 11

Frequently Asked Questions

How many rakaats is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud is minimum 2 rakaats and maximum unlimited, but the Prophet ﷺ typically prayed 8 rakaats of Tahajjud plus 3 Witr. For beginners, 2-4 rakaats is a complete and valid Tahajjud.

What is the difference between Tahajjud and Qiyam ul-Layl?

Qiyam ul-Layl (standing of the night) refers to all voluntary night prayers. Tahajjud specifically refers to the prayer prayed AFTER sleeping, you must sleep first for it to be Tahajjud. The Witr prayer done without sleeping first is Qiyam, not Tahajjud.

Is Tahajjud mandatory?

Tahajjud was obligatory only for the Prophet ﷺ (Quran 17:79, 'an additional prayer for you'). For the ummah it is a highly recommended Sunnah Mu'akkadah, the Prophet ﷺ never left it, and it is one of the most beloved voluntary acts to Allah.

Continue Your Journey

Hub Salah Hub, All Guides Habit Stop Missing Salah Fajr Wake Up for Fajr Khushu Focus in Salah Journey 7-Day Salah Reset Journey Tahajjud Journey

🌙

Track Your Tahajjud Streak in MyTazki

Set tahajjud reminders, log each prayer, and join the 21-Night Tahajjud Transformation Journey.

Start Tahajjud Tracker →

Free to download · No account required to start

Share this guide

Help another Muslim benefit — sharing is sadaqah jariyah