Colin Snow
There is some debate in the Islamic community about whether Tahajjud prayers can be offered without sleeping beforehand. While some scholars, particularly the Shafi`i, recommend sleeping before performing Tahajjud, prominent Azhari scholar Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh states that there is nothing wrong in performing Tahajjud and Witr Prayer before sleeping or without sleeping. He adds that this is a valid practice even if one does not follow his recommendation to sleep before offering Tahajjud. Similarly, some Muslims believe that the best time to perform Tahajjud is during the last third of the night, after waking up from sleep, as this is when a slave is closest to their Lord. However, others argue that Tahajjud can be performed at any time after Isha and before Fajr, regardless of whether one has slept or not.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tahajjud prayer validity | Sleeping is not a condition for validity. |
| Best time to pray | Last third of the night. |
| Tahajjud meaning | Cast away sleep and then stand up to pray. |
| Can you pray without sleeping? | Yes, but it is recommended to wake up from sleep and pray. |
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What You'll Learn
- Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer, and it is valid any time after Isha
- It is best to delay Tahajjud until the last third of the night, as this is when Allah descends to the lowest heaven
- While some scholars recommend sleeping before Tahajjud, it is not a requirement for the prayer's validity
- The term Tahajjud is derived from the Arabic word for to cast away sleep and then stand up (to pray)
- There is greater reward for waking from sleep to pray as it involves more Juhud (struggle)
Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer, and it is valid any time after Isha
Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer that Muslims are encouraged to perform at night. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers, and it can be said any time after Isha, the obligatory night prayer.
While Tahajjud is valid any time after Isha, it is considered best to perform it during the last third of the night. This is based on the following Hadith:
> Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, asking: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?'"
Some scholars, particularly the Shafi`i, recommend sleeping before offering Tahajjud. This is based on the interpretation of the Arabic word for Tahajjud, which is derived from hajada or hajjada, meaning "he slept" or "he remained awake or was sleepless in the night". However, sleeping before prayer is not a condition for its validity. Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh, a prominent Azhari scholar, states:
> There is nothing wrong in performing Tahajjud and Witr Prayer before sleeping or without sleeping and they are valid even if the Shafi`i scholars are of the opinion that one should sleep before offering Tahajjud. But this is some sort of ijtihad (personal reasoning) that does not prevent the validity of the Tahajjud and Witr Prayer performed by one before going to sleep.
Therefore, Muslims who are unable to sleep before Tahajjud for exceptional reasons can still perform the prayer without sleeping.
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It is best to delay Tahajjud until the last third of the night, as this is when Allah descends to the lowest heaven
Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer that can be offered without sleeping. While some scholars, particularly the Shafi`i, recommend sleeping before performing Tahajjud, it is not a requirement for the prayer's validity. Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh, a prominent Azhari scholar, states that there is nothing wrong with performing Tahajjud and Witr Prayer before sleeping or without sleeping. These prayers are valid even if one has not slept beforehand.
However, it is considered best to delay the Tahajjud prayer until the last third of the night. This is based on the following Hadith: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said, "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?'" `Amr ibn Abasah also reported hearing the Prophet say, "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so."
Therefore, performing Tahajjud during the last third of the night is considered more virtuous as it is believed to be the time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and listens to the prayers and supplications of His servants. This time is specifically mentioned in the Hadith, highlighting its significance in the Islamic tradition.
It is worth noting that Tahajjud can still be performed at any time before Fajr after performing the obligatory Isha prayer. However, delaying it until the last third of the night is seen as the most preferred and rewarding time, as it aligns with the Prophet's teachings and allows one to draw closer to Allah during this sacred portion of the night.
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While some scholars recommend sleeping before Tahajjud, it is not a requirement for the prayer's validity
While Tahajjud is considered a voluntary prayer, it is regarded as a significant act of devotion in Islam. The prayer is offered after the obligatory Isha prayer, ideally during the last third of the night, as it is believed that the Lord descends to the lowest heaven during this time, answering the calls of those who pray to Him.
There are differing opinions on whether sleeping before Tahajjud is necessary. Some scholars, particularly those of the Shafi`i school of thought, recommend sleeping before performing the prayer. This is based on the interpretation of the word "Tahajjud," which is derived from the Arabic word "hajada," meaning "to sleep." Therefore, true 'Tahajjud' signifies the act of casting away sleep and then standing up to pray, representing a struggle or "juhud."
However, despite these recommendations, sleeping before Tahajjud is not a mandatory requirement for the prayer's validity. Prominent Azhari scholar Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh clarifies this point, stating that performing Tahajjud before sleeping or without sleeping is perfectly acceptable. This view is supported by a hadith reported by Abu Ad-Dardaa', in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended performing the Witr Prayer before sleep, indicating that Tahajjud can also be performed before sleeping.
Additionally, there may be circumstances where an individual is unable to sleep before Tahajjud due to personal or emotional issues keeping them awake. In such cases, it is understood that one can perform Tahajjud without sleeping beforehand, as there is no restriction from Sharia law prohibiting this. While the preferred time for Tahajjud is during the last third of the night, it is still valid to perform the prayer at any time after Isha and before Fajr.
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The term Tahajjud is derived from the Arabic word for to cast away sleep and then stand up (to pray)
The Tahajjud prayer is a voluntary prayer that is offered to attain mental strength and peace. It is also known as the 'night prayer' and is not considered obligatory. However, devoted Muslims often incorporate it into their daily lives as a form of worship and to earn Allah's forgiveness and blessings.
The term Tahajjud is derived from the Arabic word "hajada" or "tahajjada", which means to cast away sleep and then stand up to pray. The Arabic word "juhud" means to struggle, signifying the struggle of getting up after sleep. Thus, Tahajjud refers specifically to a prayer that is prayed after rising from sleep, while the term qiyam al-layl refers to standing at night, regardless of whether one has slept or not.
While Tahajjud is ideally performed during the last third of the night, it can also be offered at any time after Isha, the compulsory nightly prayer, and before Fajr, the mandatory morning prayer. This last third of the night is considered a blessed time, as it is believed that Allah descends to the lowest heaven during this time, seeking to answer any believer who is worshipping Him.
There are differing opinions on whether it is necessary to sleep before performing the Tahajjud prayer. Some scholars, such as Sheikh `Abdul-Majeed Subh, state that there is nothing wrong with performing Tahajjud without sleeping, and that it is still valid. However, others recommend sleeping first and then waking up to perform the prayer, as it is believed to have more reward due to the struggle of getting up after sleep.
The Tahajjud prayer consists of any number of rak'ahs that can be long or short and can be performed in a group or alone. It is recommended to make Wudu (ablution) after waking up from sleep before performing the prayer.
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There is greater reward for waking from sleep to pray as it involves more Juhud (struggle)
While Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer, it is considered more rewarding to wake up from sleep to pray as it involves more Juhud, or struggle. The term 'Tahajjud' is derived from the Arabic words 'hajada' and 'hajjada', which mean 'to sleep', and 'tahajjada', which means 'to cast away sleep and then stand up to pray'.
According to the prominent Azhari scholar, Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh, there is nothing wrong with performing Tahajjud and Witr Prayer before sleeping or without sleeping. These prayers are still valid even if some scholars, particularly the Shafi'i, recommend sleeping before performing them. However, this recommendation is based on personal reasoning and does not invalidate the prayers performed before sleep.
The preferred time to perform Tahajjud is during the last third of the night, as supported by the following Hadith:
> Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, asking: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’”
This is also supported by the narration of Amr ibn Abasah, who reported hearing the Prophet say:
> “The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so.”
Therefore, while it is not necessary to sleep before performing Tahajjud, the greater reward for waking up from sleep to pray is associated with the struggle and effort involved in casting away sleep to stand up and pray.
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Frequently asked questions
No, sleeping is not a requirement for Tahajjud to be considered valid. While some scholars, particularly the Shafi`i, recommend sleeping before offering Tahajjud, it is not a condition for the prayer’s validity.
The most preferred time to perform Tahajjud is during the last third of the night. This is based on the following Hadith: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, asking: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?'
Tahajjud can be performed any time before Fajr after performing the obligatory Isha prayer. However, it is best to delay it until the last third of the night as mentioned above.
