Prayer at Night (Tahajjud)

كتاب التهجد

Chapter 3: To perform a long prostration in the Tahajjud

Narrated `Aisha

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer eleven rak`at and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Qur'an) before he would lift his head. He used to pray two rak`at (Sunna) before the Fajr prayer and then used to lie down on his right side till the call-maker came and informed him about the prayer.

Chapter 5: The Prophet's (pbuh) exhorting to Tahajjud and Nawafil without making them compulsory

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) invited Fatima and Aliyah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them) for a night of prayer.
Narrated `Aisha

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to give up a good deed, although he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be made compulsory for them. The Prophet (ﷺ) never prayed the Duha prayer, but I offer it.

Chapter 6: Standing of the Prophet (pbuh) at night

Aisha said May Allah be pleased with her until his feet break. And breakfast cracks, {broke off} splintered.
Narrated Al-Mughira

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, "should I not be a thankful slave."

Chapter 7: Sleeping in the last hours of the night

Narrated Al-Ashath

He (the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ) used to get up for the prayer on hearing the crowing of a cock.

Chapter 8: Whoever took the Suhur and did not sleep before offering Fajr prayers

Narrated Qatada

Anas bin Malik said, "The Prophet (p.b.u.h) and Zaid bin Thabit took their Suhur together. When they finished it, the Prophet (ﷺ) stood for the (Fajr) prayer and offered it." We asked Anas, "What was the interval between their finishing the Suhur and the starting of the morning prayer?" Anas replied, "It was equal to the time taken by a person in reciting fifty verses of the Qur'an."

Chapter 9: To prolong the standing posture in the Tahajjud

Narrated Hudhaifa

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) got up for Tahajjud prayer he used to clean his mouth (and teeth) with Siwak.

Chapter 10: How was the Salat of the Prophet (pbuh) and how many Rak'a he used to offer at night?

Narrated Ibn `Abbas

The prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ) used to be of thirteen rak`at, i.e. of the night prayer.

Narrated `Aisha

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to offer thirteen rak`at of the night prayer and that included the witr and two rak`at (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.

Chapter 12: Satan'a tying of knots at the back of the head if one does not offer the ight prayer

Narrated Samura bin Jundab

The Prophet (ﷺ) said in his narration of a dream that he saw, "He whose head was being crushed with a stone was one who learnt the Qur'an but never acted on it, and slept ignoring the compulsory prayers."

Chapter 16: The Salat (prayer) of the Prophet (pbuh) at night in Ramadan and (in) other months

Narrated Abu Salma bin `Abdur Rahman

I asked `Aisha, "How is the prayer of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) never exceeded eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in other months; he used to offer four rak`at-- do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four rak`at, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three rak`at." Aisha further said, "I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Do you sleep before offering the witr prayer?' He replied, 'O `Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake'!"

Chapter 17: The Superiority of remaining with ablution during the day and night

Narrated Abu Huraira

At the time of the Fajr prayer the Prophet (ﷺ) asked Bilal, "Tell me of the best deed you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise." Bilal replied, "I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I prayed after that ablution as much as was written for me."

Chapter 21: The superiority of one who wakes up at night and offers the Salat with a loud voice

Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit

The Prophet (ﷺ) "Whoever gets up at night and says: -- 'La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-lmulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa 'ala kullishai'in Qadir. Al hamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha il-lal-lah wa-l-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il-la-bil-lah.' (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah). And then says: -- Allahumma, Ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me). Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted."

Chapter 25: What is said about the Nawafil being offered as two Rak'a followed by two and so on

Narrated `Aisha

After offering the two rak`at (Sunna) the Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to talk to me, if I happen to be awake; otherwise he would lie down.

Chapter 4: Leaving the night prayer by a patient

Narrated Jundab

The Prophet (ﷺ) became sick and did not get up (for Tahajjud prayer) for a night or two.

Chapter 5: The Prophet's (pbuh) exhorting to Tahajjud and Nawafil without making them compulsory

And the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, was made by Fatimah and Ali- peace be upon them- a night of prayer.
Narrated Um Salama

One night the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and said, "Subhan Allah! How many afflictions Allah has revealed tonight and how many treasures have been sent down (disclosed). Go and wake the sleeping lady occupants of these dwellings up (for prayers), perhaps a well dressed in this world may be naked in the Hereafter."

Narrated `Aisha the mother of the faithful believers

One night Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered the prayer in the Mosque and the people followed him. The next night he also offered the prayer and too many people gathered. On the third and the fourth nights more people gathered, but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not come out to them. In the morning he said, "I saw what you were doing and nothing but the fear that it (i.e. the prayer) might be enjoined on you, stopped me from coming to you." And that happened in the month of Ramadan.

Chapter 10: How was the Salat of the Prophet (pbuh) and how many Rak'a he used to offer at night?

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar

A man said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How is the prayer of the night?" He said, "Two rak`at followed by two rak`at and so on, and when you apprehend the approaching dawn, offer one rak`a as witr."

Chapter 18: It is disliked to exaggerate in matters of worship

Narrated Anas bin Malik Once the Prophet (p.b.u.h) entered the Mosque and saw a rope hanging in between its two pillars. He said, "What is this rope?" The people said, "This rope is for Zainab who, when she feels tired, holds it (to keep standing for the prayer.)" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Don't use it. Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and when you get tired, sit down."

Chapter 20

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr

Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "I have been informed that you offer Salat (prayer) all the night and observe Saum (fast) during the day." I said, "(Yes) I do so." He said, "If you do so, your eye sight will become weak and you will become weak. No doubt, your body has right on you, and your family has right on you, so observe Saum (for some days) and do not observe it (for some days), offer Salat (for sometime) and then sleep."