Tahajjud prayer, though not Farz namaz, has significant importance in our holy religion, Islam. It’s a Nafl, which means it is optional, and missing it is not a sin. But performing the tahajjud prayer was very close to the heart of our beloved Prophet. Tahajud is called the most loved and dear prayer to ALLAH Almighty. This prayer brings Muslims closer to Allah Almighty, and their life is filled with peace and brightness.
The Tahajjud prayer is usually performed after Isha (which is the farz night prayer) and before performing Fajr (the farz morning prayer).it is mainly asked if it is necessary to sleep before Tahajud. We will tell you in detail the exact method of performing the tahajjud prayer, its timings, and dua with reference from the Quran and hadith.
Is it necessary to sleep before tahajjud; Let’s discover with us;
Importance of Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud is an Arabic word that means to remain awake at night or to break and give up sleep. That’s why it is performed in the last third part of the night.at this part of the night, Allah descends to the lowest sky and showers his blessings on those who wake up from their sleep and worship Allah. It is also known as the qiyam ul lail( night prayer). This prayer is considered as most virtuous and highly rewarding by Allah.
There are many verses in the Quran and the hadith of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (s.A), which emphasize the importance of tahajjud prayer.
In surah Al-ISRA, Allah ensures a reward for those who worship late at night(tahajud)
And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” (Quran, 17:79)
In surah AL-FURQAN, Allah appreciates the people who stand before him at night:
“And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing.” (Quran, 25:64)
In Bukhari Shareef and Muslim, the importance of tahajjud prayer is narrated in these words:
“The Lord descends every night to the lowest Heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness that I may forgive him?'” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“The closest that the Lord is to His slave is in the latter part of the night, so if you can be one of those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.” (Al-Tirmidhi and al-Nisaa’i)
Prophet (PBUH) said:
“During the night, there is a time when the Muslim does not ask for the good of this world and the Hereafter, but it will be given to him, and that happens every night.”
Is it Necessary to Sleep Before Tahajjud?
Primarily, people have queried whether it is mandatory to sleep before tahajjud. There are different beliefs regarding this question. Some scholars believe that it is necessary to sleep after isha and then wake up in the third part of the night to perform tahajjud….but most scholars of all sects believe that it is not mandatory to sleep before tahajjud You can perform tahajjud between isha and Fajr. Prayer without taking a nap. But it is better to sleep and then get up at night to perform tahajjud as Allah highly appreciates this action, and it’s a sunnah of the Holy Prophet.
Tahajjud Namaz Time
You can offer tahajjud prayer at any time between Isha and Fajr. But the best time to perform this special Islamic prayer is the last part of the night before Fajr.at this part of the night, angels descend from Heaven on the command of Allah. Allah himself descends to the lower sky to shower his blessings on the people who worship him and accept their prayers.it is the time when Allah accepts the repentance and forgives the sinners.
Niyyah (Intention) Of Tahajjud Prayer
When you are waking up after sleeping in the middle of the night, take ablution (wudu). Next, face the Qibla direction and say the intention of this tahajjud prayer:
I pray tahajjud two rak’ahs because of Allah Ta’ala.
How to Pray Tahajjud Namaz
For Tahajjud prayer, there are usually two rakats minimum and maximum you can offer as per your wish but in hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to perform nearly 13 rakats frequently, which include 3 with isha and 2 sunnah of Fajr. vitr is usually offered with isha prayer. Suppose you are sure to get up for tahajjud, then it’s better to perform with tahajud as per the sunnah of our Prophet. Here, it is also important to remember that for Tahajjud prayer, rakats should be performed in pairs.
Dua for Tahajjud
Tahajud is the best time for the acceptance of prayers. After the rakats, you can add your own set of dua for the Tahajjud prayer. Pray with sincerity and devotion and ask Allah almighty for forgiveness. Allah loves those who offer tahajjud and fulfill their wishes. While performing the prayer, make a sincere promise not to repeat the mistakes and try to become a good Muslim.
Here is a masnoon dua for tahajjud:
Meaning:
O Allah, to You, is all praise. You are the enforcer of the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them. Praise be to You. You are the King of the heavens and the earth. Glory be to You, the radiant light of Heaven and earth. Praise be to You, You are faithful, Your promise is true, Your meeting is actual, Your word is real, Heaven is honest, Hell is accurate, the prophets are true, Prophet Muhammad SAW is accurate, and the Day of Judgment is actual.
O Allah, to You I surrender; to You, I return; to You I miss; and to You, I judge. Forgive me for my mistakes and the previous ones, both what I have hidden and what I have stated. You are the first God and the last God. There is no God but You. There is no power and strength except with (the power of) Allah.
Another masnoon dua for tahajjud is:
Dua: “Subhanallahil-`Adheem, Wabihamdihi, Subhanallahil-Azhim”
Translation: Glory be to Allah, the Most Great, and all praises are due to Him, and glory be to Allah, the Almighty.
Final Words
So it’s not necessary to sleep before tahajjud, but the importance is the devotion and sincerity towards Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Do pray at night because it is the habits of the pious before you, a way to get closer to Your God, and the redeemer of all the bad practices, prevent the practice of sin and prevent disease.
— Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ahmad R.A
Tahajud prayer promises peace of mind, an abundance of risk, and acceptance of prayers by Allah Almighty.
Tahajjud prayers also make us healthier and more dynamic. Tahajjud is the honor of a believer because it gives personal time between God and us. Make up your routine for tahajud and be among the persons who are loved by ALLAH.
FAQs
How should one recite the rakats in the Tahajjud Prayer?
All rackets in the tahajjud prayer should be recited in pairs.
What is the best time for Tahajjud prayer?
Tahajjud prayer can be offered anytime between Isha and Fajr, but The best time to offer Tahajjud prayer is the last third portion of the night.
How often should we perform Tahajjud?
Tahajjud is not a fard prayer, and there is no set requirement to perform it. But It is the most rewarding Nafl prayer, so it is suggested to perform it more often with sincerity and devotion to get blessings of ALLAH.
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