There is a prayer the Quran describes as a private appointment: “And in part of the night, pray tahajjud as an extra offering for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station.” (Surah al-Isra, 17:79). No congregation, no announcement — just you, standing while the city sleeps.
What is tahajjud, exactly?
Tahajjud is voluntary prayer performed at night, ideally after some sleep. It falls under the broader term qiyam al-layl (standing in the night). The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)
When is the best time?
Any time between Isha and Fajr counts, but the most beloved window is the last third of the night, when — as the Prophet ﷺ told us — our Lord descends in a manner befitting His majesty and asks: “Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him?” (al-Bukhari, Muslim)
To find it: divide the time between Maghrib and Fajr into three. In a Gulf summer, with Fajr around 4 a.m., the last third begins roughly around 1:30 a.m. — which sounds heroic until you realise even 20 minutes before your suhoor-time alarm counts fully.
How many rak’ahs?
There is no minimum. The Prophet ﷺ most often prayed eleven rak’ahs: pairs of two, closed with witr (Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, in al-Bukhari). A beginner’s version that takes ten minutes:
- Two light rak’ahs to open
- Two rak’ahs with longer recitation — take your time in sujud, this is where dua pours out
- One rak’ah of witr (if you have not prayed witr after Isha)
Five rak’ahs, and you have prayed tahajjud. Quality of presence beats quantity every time.
How to actually wake up (the honest section)
- Sleep with the intention. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever goes to bed intending to pray at night and sleeps through has the reward written anyway (an-Nasa’i). Intention costs nothing and changes everything.
- Prepare the runway. Wudu before bed. Prayer mat unrolled, prayer dress laid out beside it. At 2 a.m., every removed obstacle counts double — if you have to search the wardrobe, you will choose the pillow.
- Start with two nights a week. Consistency converts; ambition burns out. “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if small.” (al-Bukhari)
- Put the alarm across the room, labelled with the hadith about the last third. Argue with that.
- Guard the evening. The real battle for tahajjud is fought at 11 p.m. against the phone screen.
What to ask for
Everything. This is the hour of Zakariyya’s dua and of hearts mended. Keep a note in your phone of the people who asked you to pray for them — the night prayer is when you honour it. And if a decision weighs on you, pair the night with the prayer of istikhara.
Begin tonight, small. Two rak’ahs in the dark, in a garment kept just for Him — and see what it does to your days.