How to Pray Tahajjud: Steps, Time and Rakats
Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer, prayed in sets of two rakats with no fixed limit; the best time is the last third of the night, and it is closed with Witr.
Last updated:
How Many Rakats Is Tahajjud?
There is no minimum or maximum. Two rakats is enough, and the Prophet ﷺ prayed more. His night prayer is described as 11 rakats (Aisha) and, in another report, 13 rakats (Ibn Abbas), in Bukhari and Muslim; this describes his own practice, not an upper limit.
| Rakats | Source |
|---|---|
| 2 | The least that counts as night prayer, prayed in a set of two. |
| 11 | Aisha: the Prophet ﷺ did not exceed 11 rakats in Ramadan or outside it (Bukhari, Muslim). |
| 13 | Ibn Abbas described 13 rakats in the Prophet’s night prayer (Bukhari, Muslim). |
| More | Allowed. The Prophet ﷺ said: the night prayer is two by two (Bukhari, Muslim). |
How to Pray Tahajjud Step by Step
- Sleep first if you can, then wake for prayer. Tahajjud means the prayer after waking; if you cannot sleep, any night prayer after Isha still counts as qiyam.
- Make wudu and make the intention in your heart for Tahajjud.
- Begin with two light rakats (Sahih Muslim), then pray the rest in sets of two, each ending with the salam.
- Recite what you know, as long as you like, and make your sujood long. The Prophet ﷺ stood so long that his feet swelled.
- Make dua in sujood and after the salam, especially in the last third of the night.
- End the night prayer with Witr.
The Best Time for Tahajjud
Any time between Isha and Fajr is valid. The most excellent time is the last third of the night, when, as the Prophet ﷺ said, our Lord descends to the nearest heaven and asks who is calling on Him that He may answer (Bukhari, Muslim). The most beloved night prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud: he slept half the night, stood for a third, and slept the sixth (Bukhari, Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ also said the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer (Sahih Muslim).
Tahajjud, Taraweeh and Witr
Taraweeh is the Ramadan night prayer, prayed after Isha, usually in congregation. Tahajjud is prayed after sleeping, and Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night. Many people pray all three in Ramadan.
Sources
- General guidance from widely cited hadith. The schools differ on some details, so follow a scholar you trust for your own case.
- Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: 11 and 13 rakats of the Prophet’s night prayer; “the night prayer is two by two”; the prayer of Dawud; the descent of Allah in the last third of the night.
- Sahih Muslim: begin the night prayer with two light rakats; the best prayer after the obligatory is the night prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no fixed number. Two rakats is enough, and the Prophet’s own night prayer is described as 11 or 13 rakats, in sets of two, ending with Witr.
The last third of the night, though any time between Isha and Fajr is valid.
They are both night prayer. Taraweeh is the Ramadan form after Isha; Tahajjud is prayed after waking from sleep. Scholars differ on whether they are one prayer, and you can pray both.
Tahajjud literally means the prayer after sleep, but praying qiyam at night after Isha without sleeping is also rewarded.
Never lose count in salah again
Prayer Memory keeps the count for you, silently, so you can give your attention to the prayer. Free to download, with an optional Pro upgrade inside the app.
