Tahajjud (qiyam al-layl): how to pray at night, step by step
The night prayer: when to pray it, its rak‘ahs two by two, the voice, and Witr to finish
Tahajjud, or qiyam al-layl, is the voluntary prayer of the night. It is prayed after Isha and before Fajr, preferably in the last third of the night, 2 rak‘ahs at a time, aloud or silently, with moderation. No number is imposed; the Prophet ﷺ did not go beyond 11 rak‘ahs, Witr included.
What the schools agree on
The night prayer is a sunnah, with no imposed number. It is prayed between Isha and dawn; the last third of the night is the most recommended time.
Without an imam, you recite aloud or silently, without waking or disturbing others. Witr comes last, to close the night.
| Rak‘ahs | 2 at a time, no imposed number |
|---|---|
| Time | at night, preferably the last third |
| Voice | aloud or silent, as you choose |
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وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
wamina llayli fatahajjad bihī nāfilatal laka ʿasā 'ay yabʿathaka rabbuka maqāmam maḥmūdā
And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation of the Qur’ān] as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.
The Prophet ﷺ said that every night, when its last third remains, our Lord descends to the nearest heaven, and that He answers whoever calls on Him, gives to whoever asks Him and forgives whoever asks His forgiveness.
At night the Prophet ﷺ heard Abu Bakr praying in a very low voice and ‘Umar in a loud one; he asked the first to raise his voice a little, and the second to lower it a little.
A night of prayer, step by step
One way to do it, as Ibn ‘Abbas saw it: waking, ablution, rak‘ahs two by two, then Witr.
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Waking up
On waking, you can recite the last ten verses of Surah Ali 'Imran, as the Prophet ﷺ did, then make ablution.
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Two rak‘ahs, then two
Each pair is prayed like a two-rak‘ah prayer: Al-Fatiha and a surah in each rak‘ah, the tashahhud, then the salam.
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Taking your time
At night, the recitation can be long, and so can the prostration: it is a time to call upon Allah.
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Ending with Witr
You end with Witr, if you have not already prayed it before sleeping.
Ibn ‘Abbas spent a night at his aunt Maymunah’s: waking around the middle of the night, the Prophet ﷺ recited the last ten verses of Surah Al ‘Imran, made ablution, then prayed two rak‘ahs at a time before ending with Witr.
Asked about the night prayer, the Prophet ﷺ answered that it is prayed two rak‘ahs at a time, and that whoever fears the coming of dawn adds one rak‘ah, which makes odd all that he has prayed.
Aisha said the Prophet ﷺ prayed no more than eleven rak‘ahs at night, in Ramadan as in the rest of the year: four long and beautiful ones, then four, then three.
The four schools, all valid
The Prophet ﷺ said that two Witrs are not prayed in one night.
What to recite at night?
No surah is fixed for the night: you recite what you know, and you may lengthen it. On waking, the Prophet ﷺ recited the last ten verses of Ali 'Imran.
Frequently asked questions
How many rak‘ahs for Tahajjud?
No number is imposed: you pray 2 rak‘ahs at a time, as many as you can. According to Aisha, the Prophet ﷺ did not go beyond 11 rak‘ahs, Witr included.
Do I need to have slept before praying Tahajjud?
Many scholars keep the word tahajjud for the prayer made after sleeping; any night prayer after Isha remains qiyam al-layl.
I have already prayed Witr: can I pray at night?
Yes: you pray two by two without repeating Witr. This is the position of the four schools, summed up above.
Are Tahajjud and Tarawih the same prayer?
Tarawih is the night prayer of Ramadan, often prayed in congregation at the mosque. Tahajjud is prayed all year round, most often without an imam.
How can I check my Fatiha and the surahs I recite in prayer?
Recite them out loud in the Tilawa app: it follows your recitation word by word and shows you the words and tajweed rules to work on. During prayer, it can also follow the verses you recite.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error