Tahajjud is a special voluntary (nafl) night prayer—a quiet, intimate moment set aside just for you and Allah.
Its window opens right after the ‘Isha prayer and stays open all the way until the first call (adhan) for Fajr. While you can offer Tahajjud at any point during these quiet night hours, there is a sweet spot: the last third of the night. This is when the atmosphere of the world stills, and the doors to divine mercy and answered prayers open wide.
The Prophet ﷺ captured the incredible beauty of this moment, saying:
“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and He says: ‘Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me so that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?'”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758
- Tahajjud raises the status of the worshipper in the Hereafter.
- Tahajjud connects us directly with Allah while the rest of the world sleeps.
- Tahajjud is the most beloved nafl (voluntary) prayer in Islam.
- Tahajjud brings forgiveness, answered du’as, and the promise of a palace in Jannah.
“And rise from sleep during the night as well — an additional prayer for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station.”
— Surah Al-Isra (17:79)
“Indeed, those who fear Allah will be among gardens and springs, accepting whatever their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would seek forgiveness.”
— Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:15–18)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most virtuous prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1163)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me, so that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?’”(Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside and the inside can be seen from the outside, prepared for those who speak good words, feed others, fast regularly, and pray at night while the people are asleep.”(Sunan Ibn Majah 1326, graded Hasan by Al-Albani)
Tahajjud Opening Dua — Full Text & Explanation
Tahajjud Opening Dua — Full Text & Explanation
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1120, narrated by Ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما. Bukhari reports this supplication when the Prophet ﷺ rose at night for Tahajjud.
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ (أَوْ: لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ)
English meaning
O Allah, all praise belongs to You. You are the Upholder of the heavens and the earth and everyone in them. All praise belongs to You; to You belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and everyone in them. All praise belongs to You; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth. All praise belongs to You; You are the Truth, Your promise is true, meeting You is true, Your Word is true, Paradise is true, Hell is true, the Prophets are true, Muhammad ﷺ is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I have relied, and to You I have returned. With Your help I have disputed, and to You I have submitted judgment. So forgive me what I have done before and what I have done after, what I have concealed and what I have disclosed. You are the One who brings forward and the One who puts back. There is no deity except You — or: there is no deity other than You.
Allah’s authority
“You are the Upholder of the heavens and the earth.” The opening recognizes Allah as the One who sustains and governs creation.
Allah’s ownership
“To You belongs the dominion…” The worshipper turns to the One who owns and controls everything.
Allah’s light
“You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.” The wording connects the night prayer with Allah’s light and guidance.
Affirming the truth
The dua affirms Allah, His promise and Word, meeting Him, Paradise, Hell, the Prophets, Muhammad ﷺ, and the Hour as true.
Submission, faith and tawakkul
“To You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I have relied.” It joins surrender, iman and reliance on Allah.
Returning to Allah
“To You I have returned.” This expresses turning back to Allah in repentance and devotion.
Seeking forgiveness
The servant asks forgiveness for what was done before and after, and what was concealed and disclosed—an intentionally comprehensive request.
Tawhid
It ends with “There is no deity except You,” returning the entire dua to sincere worship of Allah alone.
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 1120 — https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1120
Sahih Muslim 769a — https://sunnah.com/muslim:769a
Sahih Muslim 770 — https://sunnah.com/muslim:770