Tahajjud Prayer & Taraweeh Time, Dua, Benefits, and More

Tahajjud is the term used in Islam for a sort of recommended / voluntary night prayers offered by a Muslim to please God ‘Allah’. Tahajjud is not one of the five daily (day and night) obligatory prayers that a Muslim is commanded to offer but an addition. Both Quran and Sunnah magnanimously praised and mentioned its rewards.

What Is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud in Islam Linguistically is staying up late at night. Technically, Tahajjud is a sort of recommended / voluntary prayers; a Muslim performs it at night or especially after some sleep; to please God ‘Allah’.

What is Taraweeh prayer?

Tarawih prayer is the night prayer that is performed in in congregation with Muslims in the month of Ramadan after the Isha Prayer. Taraweeh Prayer was a prayer performed by Prophet Muhammad who led the people in prayer three times, and on the fourth day he did not go out to them (Becuase it is sunnah Prayer). 

Taraweeh prayer is performed by four rak’ahs followed by a rest (could contain a short Khurbah), then another four prayers followed three rakats.

Is Sleeping Important for Tahajjud?

Sleeping before Tahajjud “the voluntary night prayer” is not a condition for taking its reward from Allah Almighty. Still, some scholars mentioned that this night prayer is called tahajjud only if it is preceded by sleeping, as the word tahajjud in its linguistic sense carries this indication. Fortunately, we tackle the qiyam prayer in its wider sense in another article.

What Is the Ruling of Tahajjud in Islam?

Tahajjud is a Sunnah mu’akkadah (a confirmed Sunnah) of Muhammad (PBUH). 

Tahajjud was an obligation on all Muslims at the beginning of Islam. After a year or so, this obligation was abrogated and reduced to a recommendation to whoever wants to offer it. In Al-Muzzamil, one of the very first Surahs revealed of Quran, you find:

O you who wraps himself [in clothing] (1) Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little (2) – Half of it – or subtract from it a little (3) Or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation. Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word. (5) Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.”

[Quran 73-1:6] 

It is interesting to know that Muhammad (PBUH) rarely missed Tahajjud because Allah addresses him in Quran:

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] 

What Is the Tahajjud Prayer Time?

Tahajjud Prayer Time is recommended to be offered every night, or as often as a Muslim can, after ‘Ishaa’ (obligatory night prayer) up until Fajr (dawn obligatory prayer).

 It is preferable to perform it after the actual mid-of-night time (mid-time between dusk and dawn, not twelve o’clock midnight). Ideally, Muslims should perform Tahajjud during the last third of the nighttime after some sleep.

Abu Huraira narrated: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said:

When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’”

[Sahih al-Bukhari] 

What Are The Benefits of Tahajjud? 

There are so many shreds of evidence on the benefits and rewards taht Allah Almighty grants for those who keep Tahajjud:

1. Hidden reward guaranteed by Allah Almighty:

Allah describes those who pray at night in Quran saying: (English interpretation of meaning)

“They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.”

[Quran 32-16:17] 

2. Honour of the Believer:

Al-Haakim narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “… Remember that the believer’s honour is his praying at night, and his pride is his being independent of people.”  

Thus, this hadith is to emphasize the greatness of the rewards earned by whoever recites numerous verses in Tahajjud.

3. Means for keeping steadfast:

Allah Almighty mentions the effect of night worship, saying:

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًۭٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا

“Indeed, worship in the night is more impactful and suitable for recitation.”

[Quran 73:6]

These are not all of the evidences, but a few of them to show the honor and rewards that a Muslim earns by keeping Tahajjud.

What Are the Tahajjud Prayer Benefits during Ramadan?

Actually, the best of rewards is for offering Tahajjud during the month of Ramadan especially the last ten nights of it. Aisha narrated:

With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (PBUH) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.”  

[Sahih al-Bukhari] 

What is Tahajjud And Taraweeh Prayer Duaa?

One of the most famous duaa (supplication) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) opens his tahajjud prayer with is that one:

O Allah, Lord of Jibraīl, Mīkaīl and Israfīl (great angels), Creator of the heavens and the Earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen. You are the arbitrator between Your servants in that which they have disputed. Guide me to the truth by Your leave, in that which they have differed, for verily You guide whom You will to a straight path.”

Still, throughout tahajjud prayer and in your sujud (prostration), you can say whatever duaa mentioned in the Quran or sunnah, or even not mentioned and you prefer or need.

Why My Tahajjud Duaa Not Answered?

In Islam, there is no duaa not answered as long as the believer is sincere and keeping away the barriers of answer, like earning unlawful money and becoming hasty.

Still, there are many forms for answering your duaa mentioned in this hadith:

“Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful or which involves breaking ties of relationship will be given for it by God one of three things:

1. He will give him a speedy answer, 
2. or store it up for him in the next world, 
3. or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.”

[Ahmad transmitted it.]

Also, you can know more about how your duaa works by reading this article.

Is There Taraweeh And Tahajud prayer Dua for Success?

There is no specific duaa reported for success in specific. Still, the Muslim can say this duaa used by Prophet Moses (PBUH) in similar context:

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى*  وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى 

“My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, and make my task easy.”

[Quran 20: 25-26]

Also, the Muslim can say this duaa narrated by Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):

اللَّهُمَّ لاَ سَهْلَ إِلاَّ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً

“O Allah, there is no ease other than what You make easy. If You please You ease sorrow.”

[Sahih Ibn Hibban]

Is There Tahajjud Dua for Marriage?

There is no specific duaa reported for marriage facilitation in specific. Still, the Muslim can use the duaas reported in facilitating matters like the one mentioned in the previous paragraph. Moreover, the Muslim should keep close to Allah Almighty, believe in Allah’s Wisdom, be sincere in his duaa, and avoid the barriers of answering duaa.  

Conclusion – Why Tahajjud?

 In Conclusion, tahajjud is confirmed Sunnah that Muhammad (PBUH) and his honored companions kept. He and them being the perfect role models. Therefore, Muslims in every place, at anytime, and age should follow their example. Actually, this is how Muslims seek steadfastness and that connection which we all as humans aspire for to acquire tranquility and peace. Tell us how you find your tranquility and peace?