The Tahajjud prayer is the ascension of a believer; it brings light to the heart, beauty to the face, and blessings to one’s life, age, and sustenance. Throughout the year, among the voluntary prayers, it is considered the most superior. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) paid great attention to the Tahajjud prayer, both during Ramadan and outside of Ramadan.
1. The Concept of Tahajjud:
It is said: «هَجَدَ الرَّجُلُ» (translation: “he spent the night sleeping”), and “hajada” means to pray during the night, while “mutahajjid” refers to someone who wakes up from sleep to stand for prayer.
2. Virtue of Tahajjud Prayer:
A: Night prayer and Tahajjud lead to entry into Paradise. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “In Paradise, there are rooms whose exteriors are visible from the interiors, and their interiors are visible from the exteriors. Allah Almighty has prepared these rooms for those who feed others, speak gently, fast voluntary fasts, spread peace, and pray at night while people are asleep.”
B: Qiyam al-Lail (Night Prayer) is an atonement for sins and a deterrent to committing sins. A narration from Abu Umama (MABH) from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) states: “You must perform Qiyam al-Lail (night prayer), for this was the practice of the righteous before you, and a means of drawing closer to your Lord; it is also an atonement for sins and a deterrent from committing sins.”
C: Tahajjud prayer brings light to the face. It has been narrated from Abu Sufyan from Jabir bin Abdullah who said: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Whoever prays frequently at night, his face will be beautiful and radiant during the day.”
3. The Predecessors and Tahajjud Prayer:
The predecessors and religious scholars paid special attention to the Tahajjud prayer, viewing it as a means of drawing closer to the Lord, gaining divine knowledge, illuminating the heart, and beautifying the face. They would worship with great focus, humility, and reverence during the night. Religious scholars have said: “I have never seen a righteous person who was not a night prayerer. Without a doubt, a person attains righteousness through night prayer. When righteousness is attributed to night prayer, would anyone abandon it?”
One of the great religious figures who particularly focused on Tahajjud and night prayer was Muhammad ibn Wasi’. When night would fall upon him, he would rise and engage in Tahajjud (night prayer). His family would say, “His condition was as though he had killed all the people of the world.”
Abu Sulayman al-Darani said: “By Allah, if there were no night prayer, I would not love the world. The people of the night have a joy during their nights that surpasses the joy of those engaged in worldly pleasures. Sometimes moments pass over my heart, and from the longing to remember Allah, my heart rejoices, and I say: ‘If the people of Paradise experience such bliss, then they are in great blessings.’”
It was asked of Hasan al-Basri (RA): “Why do those who stay up at night have the most beautiful faces?” He replied: “Because they secluded themselves with their Lord, and Allah granted them light from His own light.”
The Method of Performing Tahajjud Prayer:
The Tahajjud prayer is prayed in 8 rak’ahs, in pairs of 2 rak’ahs (like the Fajr prayer). However, in Ramadan, it is better for a person to pray 20 rak’ahs of Tarawih after the Isha prayer, and then at the end of the night, perform 8 rak’ahs of Tahajjud prayer, or at least 4 rak’ahs if possible, so that both traditions of Ramadan—Tarawih and Tahajjud prayer—are followed.
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