Let's start THAJJUD from Today On

Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping?

Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping? Nafl Ibadat is a special means of getting closer to Allah Ta’ala. And the best of the supererogatory acts of worship is the supererogatory prayers.

Again, the best of the supererogatory prayers is the prayer of Tahajjud. But when to read the prayers of Tahajjud? can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping?

What is Tahajjud prayer?

Tahajjud is a word with opposite meanings. It has a meaning – sleep. And the other meaning is – to stay awake.

And technically, Tahajjud is – waking up and praying

Again, the root of the word Tahajjud is – ‘Jahad’ which means – to work, to suffer.

Since it is a difficult task to perform prayers while waking up or not sleeping, these prayers are called Tahajjud prayers.

Above all, Tahajjud prayers are a special type of nafl prayer. It is collected from midnight to last night.

Can we pray Tahajjud just before Fajr?

The time for Tahajjud prayers starts from the end of Esha prayers. It lasts till the end of the night.

Therefore, all the nights from Esha to Fajr are the time of Tahajjud’s prayers. However, the best time for the Tahajjud prayer is the last night.

The last night means – the time closest to the Fajr prayers or the last third of the night.

Narrated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):

If a person is afraid that he will not be able to wake up on the last night, then he should perform Vitr in the first part of the night.

And he who believes that he will be able to wake up on the last night should perform Vitr on the last night. Because last night’s prayer Mashhudah is the best.

From this hadith, it can be understood that the best prayer is the last-night prayer. However, if Tahajjud is recited in the early part of the night, it will be pure.

Can I pray Tahajjud without sleeping?

Shaykh Wa’izah ‘Uthman said:

Sleep is not a condition for Qiyamul Tyler. He further said that if a person performs Nafl’s prayers after Esha’s prayers, it will be considered his Tahajjud.

It is not a condition to wake up and perform prayers. But it is better to pray in the last third of the night.

However, many have again considered waking up as a condition for Tahajjud.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

After the obligatory prayers, the best prayers are the night prayers. (Sahih Muslim – 1163)

Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night (for such a long time) that his legs would swell.

Then Aisha said – O Messenger of Allah, why do you do this? But God has forgiven all your past and future sins?

Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘I will not be a slave who collects pigs.’ (Sahih Bukhari – 4556)

Hajjaj Ibn Amr Al Ansari said:

Let none of you thinks that if he prays from night to morning, it will become Tahajjud.

Tahajjud will be only that which is realized by waking up. Such was the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

But the most correct thing is – there is no need to sleep for Tahajjud prayers. If one prays in the middle of the night from waking up, it will be considered Tahajjud.

And if you wake up and perform Tahajjud prayers, it is certainly good and praiseworthy. Because you have to accept more sacrifices in waking up and praying.

If you pray Tahajjud without sleeping, is the reward less?

We have already discussed that it is better to perform Tahajjud prayers on the last night. However, it is also legal to collect in the middle of the night.

But if the question of thawab comes up, then the person who performs Tahajjud prayers on the last night and after waking up will have more thawab.

Because waking up and engaging in the worship of Allah bears proof of greater love for Allah.

The virtue of Tahajjud prayers

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: After the end of the first third of the night, Allah first descended to the sky.

He came and said – I am the owner, I am the owner. Who are you to pray to me? Then I will answer his prayer.

Whoever you are, ask me and I will give it to him. Whoever you are, ask forgiveness from me and I will forgive him. This continues till Fajr.

In another hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: Which part of the night (accepting prayers) is more suitable?

Then he said, late in the night. So pray at the end of the night as you wish.

From these two hadiths, the virtue of Tahajjud prayers is proved. It is more suitable to accept prayers at the end of the night.

Moreover, in the Holy Qur’an, Allah Ta’ala praises those who perform Tahajjud prayers and says:

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ

Their bodies become detached from the bed. (Surat as-Sijdah – 6)

السلام و علیکم ورحمتہ اللہْ

May Allah help us all. Remember me and the entire Muslim Ummah in your Duas.
Allah' slave.