In short
Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer offered after ‘Isha and before Fajr.
Its time begins after sleeping and waking up, though many scholars also use “night prayer” for prayer offered before sleep. The best time is the final third of the night. It is prayed in pairs of two rak‘ahs (units of prayer), followed by Witr if you have not already prayed it.
Step by step
- 1Make the intention in your heart to pray Tahajjud for Allah.
- 2Pray two rak‘ahs like any other voluntary prayer: recite Al-Fatihah and whatever Qur’an you know, bow, stand, prostrate, and sit calmly between the prostrations.
- 3End every two rak‘ahs with tashahhud (the testimony recited while sitting) and salam.
- 4Pray as many pairs as you comfortably can—there is no fixed minimum beyond two. Finish with Witr, an odd-numbered prayer, if you have not prayed it already.
- 5Make du‘a after the prayer, especially before Fajr.
Keep in mind
Pray with calmness rather than rushing; the Prophet ﷺ taught that each posture should be completed with ease and stillness (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 757). If you fear you will not wake up, pray Witr before sleeping; if you do wake up, you may still pray Tahajjud without repeating Witr.
Sources
Sahih al-BukhariHadith 757sahih
