Tahajjud

Tahajjud (Arabic: تهجد‎‎), also known as the "night prayer", is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, although the Islamic prophet, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was recorded as performing the tahajjud prayer regularly himself and encouraging his companions too.

In Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq elaborates on the subject of Tahajjud as follows:

And during a part of the night, keep awake by the prayer It is beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.

And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing.

Next to these Qur'anic verses, there also exist a number of hadiths (narrated and confirmed traditions from Muhammad) that reinforce the importance of Tahajjud Prayer In various hadiths, it has been mentioned as Qiyamul Layl (standing of night), Salatul Layl (prayer of night) and Tahajjud.

The following acts are recommended for one who wishes to perform the Tahajjud prayer:

Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention to perform the prayers. Abu Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) quoted Muhammad sallā llāhu ʿalay-hiwa-sallam as saying:

Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of mercy) for him from his Lord.

On waking up, it is recommended that one wipes the face, use a toothbrush, and look to the sky and make the supplication which has been reported from Muhammad

Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah reported:

Whenever the Prophet intended to go to bed, he would recite: (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection.

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