admin- Posted on
How to Perform Tahajjud Prayer: Definition and Steps for Voluntary Namaz
The Tahajjud prayer is a voluntary Salah (Nafl) during the night and is of immense importance in Islam. Muslims can learn how to perform Tahajjud prayer after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer. It is a powerful spiritual gateway to connect with Allah Almighty, bringing clarity, peace, and forgiveness.
Tahajjud Salah is an ideal source of getting answer for your prayers. You need the conscious effort, dedication, and sincerity to wake up in the last third of the night to perform Salah. At the online Quran academy, we teach you about the Tahajjud prayer, the ideal time, the number of rakats, the intention, and supplications. Whether you are new or looking to deepen your spiritual understanding, you can make the most of your duas with this prayer.
What is Tahajjud Prayer Rakat?
It is a non-obligatory prayer in the middle of the night. It is not necessary like the five daily prayers, but it is highly encouraged for Muslims. Tahajjud derived from the Arabic word “hajada,” which means to stay awake. This means that you have to perform Tahajjud when you wake up from your sleep during the night, usually one-third of the night.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the significance of Tahajjud, stating that the ideal time to make a dua is nighttime, particularly when the rest of the world is sleeping. You can enroll in an online Prayer course to connect with Allah Almighty, purify yourself, and reflect on spirituality.
Several Muslims want to establish a steady habit of performing the Tahajjud Namaz to enhance their relationships with God and invoke His mercy. It is essential for Muslims to understand its timing and rakats.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Perform Tahajjud Prayer
The Tahajjud Salah has a simple structure but needs sincerity and dedication. Here, you can learn how to pray Tahajjud step by step.
1. Prepare for the Tahajjud Prayer
You make sure that you are in spiritual and physical purity before performing the Tahajjud Namaz.
- Make Ablution (Wudu): You muste ensure that you have physical purity for the Tahajjud prayer. It is necessary to perform ablution if required.
- Set an Intention (Niyyah): The clear intention in the heart is necessary to perform this prayer for the sake of Allah Almighty. Your Niyyah is essential while knowing how many rakats in each prayer for the act of worship.
- Select a Quiet Place: It is important to find a peaceful and quiet place for prayer to avoid disturbance. It allows you to focus better on the Tahajjud Salah.
2. Timing the Prayer
The most frequently asked question about how to perform Tahajjud prayer is knowing the ideal time. The perfect time to pray Tahajjud starts after the Isha Salah and until the Fajr Salah.
- Ideal Tahajjud Time: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “The night is divided into three parts: the first part, the middle part, and the last part. The best time for Tahajjud prayer is the last part of the night.”
- Calculator of the Last Third of the Night: You can calculate the last third of the night by dividing the time into three portions from sunset to sunrise. The last part of the night is the ideal time to offer Tahajjud with Tajweed rules.
If you still confused about the exact time for Tahajjud, it’s recommended to use the online prayer time calculators to determine last third of the night.
3. Perform the Two Rakats of Tahajjud
Tahajjud prayer is performed with at least two rakats. Usually, Muslims pray more than two rakats, 8 or more rakats. Hazrat Muhammad’s (PBUH) consists of His deep dedication to the night prayer. It encourages Muslims to perform Tahajjud as much as they can, with a minimum 2 rakats.
- Begin with Takbir Al-Ihram: You need to say “Allahu Akbar” to start the Tahajjud Namaz.
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha: It’s time to recite Surah Al-Fatiha after the Takbir. Now you have to recite another Surah, usually Surah An-Nas, Surah Al-Falaq, or Surah Al-Ikhlas. You can also recite the last two ayat of Surah Baqarah after the Surah Al-Fatiha.
- Ruku: You have to perform Ruku (bowing) after the recitation and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem” three times.
- Sujood: It’s time to go into sujood (prostration) 2 times after standing up from bowing and say “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” three times.
- Stand Up and Perform the Second Rakat: You need to stand up again after first sujood for the second rakat and perform same steps as you did in the first rakat.
- Tashahhud and Salaam: It is necessary to sit for tashahhud (faith testifiation) after completing two rakats. You have to conclude the Salah via Salaam “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah” by turning your head right and left.
You can perform additional rakats, two by two, completing with the tasleem after the last rakat.
4. Make Duas and Seek Forgiveness
It is a good approach to make the Tahajjud prayer dua after completing the Salah. There are different duas, just like the dua for Quran Khatam. The time after Tahajjud is the perfect moment to make supplications because Allah Almighty is more merciful at this specific time. You can make dua for the Muslim Ummah, including yourself and your family.
What are Recommended Tahajjud Namaz Rakats?
A most common query among Muslims is, How many rakats should we perform in Tahajjud prayer? The minimum number of rakats for Tahajjud is two. However, it is recommended to pray 4 or 8 rakats. Moreover, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) usually prayed Tahajjud in sets of two rakats, even though there is no fixed limit.
The common practice is to perform 4, 6, or even 8 rakats. It is reported that Hazrat Aisha (RA) said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray 11 rakats of night prayer: four rakats, then four rakats, then three rakats.” The flexibility of rakats allows you to maintain sincerity and consistency in the worshipping.
Conclusion
Performing the Tahajjud is an ideal spiritual approach to boost your closeness to Allah Almighty while seeking forgiveness. Whether you offer two rakats or more, consistency and sincerity are important in the prayer. This voluntary pray allow Muslims to improve their spiritual connection with God while enhancing their faith.
At Mahad Al Islami Lil Banat, we teach our students how to perform Tahajjud prayer to build brotherhood in the Muslim community while meeting the spiritual goals. You can enroll in a course at our academy and we also guide you about the Tahajjud prayer.
FAQs
How many rakats are in Tahajjud?
Answer: There is no fixed number, but commonly 2, 4, 6, or 8 rakats.
How to pray Tahajjud step by step?
Answer: Begin with Takbir Al-Ihram, recite Surah Al-Fatiha, Ruku, Sujood, stand up and perform the second rakat, and Tashahhud and Salaam.
What are the rules of praying Tahajjud?
Answer: Make ablution, make intention, perform 2 rakats, and make supplications.
What dua is used in Tahajjud prayer?
Answer: “Allahumma Rabba Jibra’eel, wa Meeka’eel, wa Israfeel, Faatiro as-samaawaati wal-ard, ‘Aalima al-ghaybi wash-shahaadah, Anta tahkumu bayna ‘ibaadika feemaa kaanoo feehi yakhtalifoon. Ihdinee limakhtulifa feehi minal-haqqi bi idhnik, innaka tahdee man tashaa’u ilaa Siraatin Mustaqeem.” (Bukhari)
