Introduction

Tahajjud is a night prayer, recommended on Muslims to offer Namaz Tahajjud as voluntary prayer, not obligatory to perform and not even from five obligatory prayers. However, it is recorded that Prophet Muhammad SAAW regularly offered Tahajjud prayer in His whole life used to advice His companions (Sahaba R.A) to offer Tahajjud prayer off and on.

According to some of the Islamic scholars and Jurists, Tahajjud was obligatory to perform on Prophet Muhammad SAWW specifically; however, Muslims are not bound to offer Tahajjud Namaz regularly. It is Mustahib (Prefferable) on Muslims to offer Tahajjud Salat when they want to offer by following the accurate method defined by Prophet SAWW at specific Tahajjud time.
 

Time to Perform Tahajjud Prayer

From the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWW, Tahajjud should be offer before the time start of Fajr prayer, and after Ishah prayer time exceeded i.e. the middle part of the night. It is the most followed opinion in Muslim world and amongst the Islamic scholars and jurists (Mujtahideen). As ibn e Hajar says,
 

“There was no specific time in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform his late night Prayer; but he used to do whatever was easiest for him”

As it is Hadith narrated by Amr ibn `Absah that he heard from Prophet Muhammad SAWW,
 

“The closest that a servant 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.” (At-Tirmidhi).

 

The Numbers of Rak`ahs in Salat Tahajjud

Muslims are not bound to offer limited (Specific) or unlimited numbers on Rakats in Tahajjud. You can offer as many rakats in Tahajjud as you like. Minimum one  Rak`ah is to be offered in Tahajjud prayer, but you can pray as many as possible.

However, traditionally most of the Muslims used to offer two (2) Rak`ahs in Salat al Tahajjud, as it is the Sunnah of Prophet SAWW. There is a hadith in Bukhari, 990 that Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that Muhammad SAWW said,
 

"Salatul Layl (Night Prayer, i.e. Tahajjud) is offered as two rak'at followed by two rak'at and (so on) and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one rak'at and this will be a Witr for all the rak'at which he has prayed before."
 

Evidence in the Quran for Tahajjud Salah

In the Quran, Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala advices His beloved Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Sallallah o Alaih e Wasallim) to offer Tahajjud prayer to purify the soul, enabling to approach the Realm of Allah (God). Allah SWT says,
 

“And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory” (Al-Isra 17:79)

This verse (ayah) of Kuran although specific for Prophet Muahmmad SAWW, and according to some scholars obligating Tahajjud Salah on Prophet Muhammad, however, it is also an advice for Prophet’s Ummah to follow him as recommended. In another verse of Quran, Allah SWT says,
 

“And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing” (Al-Furqan 25:64)

Aforementioned ayat (Verse) of the Holy Quran is not merely addressing the Prophet SAWW, but also generally whole of the Ummah, which is indirectly recommending prayer of Tahajjud on Muslims.


 

Evidence in Hadith for Tahajjud Prayer

There are numbers of Hadith regarding the subject Tahajjud Prayer, all of them could not be mentioned here, however, some of them regarding etiquettes and method to perform Tahajjud Namaz are given here. Some of the hadith we have mention above in different sections, as Rasool Allah SAWW says,
 

"Salatul Layl (Night Prayer, i.e. Tahajjud) is offered as two rak'at followed by two rak'at and (so on) and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one rak'at and this will be a Witr for all the rak'at which he has prayed before."
 

In another hadith, Prophet SAWW says, reposted by Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah,
 

“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” (Al-Bukhari).

This was regarding Tahajjud, what is Tahajjud prayer and its significance, meanings of Tahajjud Salah, evidences from Quran and Hadith (Sunnah) for Tahajjud Prayer, and time, method and quantity of Rakats to perform Tahajjud. If you have question still in your mind regarind Tahajjud, please as because we are here to guide to regarding Tahajjud prayer and abouth other rituals of Islamm such as Hajj, Umrah, Zakat, Namaz etc.