The Difference Between Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud

In this article, night prayer means the voluntary prayer performed after Isha, whether before or after sleeping. Some scholars use the expression more broadly to include nighttime recitation, remembrance, and dua. Tahajjud is also used for night prayer, although some scholars apply it specifically to prayer performed after sleeping.

Anyone who prays two rak'ahs after Isha with the intention of night prayer has performed qiyam, even without sleeping first. A person who sleeps, wakes, and prays has performed both night prayer and tahajjud. This terminological distinction does not change the prayer's form or the rulings explained here.

How Is Tarawih Related to Night Prayer?

Tarawih is the night prayer of Ramadan. It was given this name because people gathered for it and traditionally rested between its sets of rak'ahs. The rulings concerning the time and number of rak'ahs of night prayer apply in Ramadan and outside it, while standing in prayer during Ramadan has its own special virtue.

What Should Be Recited?

The Shariah has not assigned particular surahs to night prayer. After al-Fatihah, recite whatever is easy, whether short or long surahs according to your ability.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to lengthen his recitation, bowing, and prostration. He said:

Narrated by Muslim (756). Here, qunut means a long standing.

Lengthening the prayer is recommended for the person able to do so; it is not a condition for a valid night prayer. If lengthening causes boredom or leads to abandoning prayer, recite what is manageable while remaining calm and reflecting upon the recitation. A person may repeat a memorized surah and does not need to memorize long surahs before beginning night prayer.

Someone praying alone may recite aloud or quietly, choosing whichever produces greater humility, provided it does not disturb someone sleeping, praying, or reciting.

Dua During Night Prayer

A Muslim may supplicate in prostration, between the two prostrations with the reported words, and after the tashahhud before salam. During the final part of the night, increase in seeking forgiveness and asking Allah for the good of this world and the Hereafter.

There is no single dua that must be said in every tahajjud. Supplicate with established duas and whatever good you need, without transgressing in supplication or consistently treating an unestablished formula as a special Sunnah of night prayer.

Khushu is more important than varying and lengthening duas. See What Is Khushu in Salah and How Can You Achieve It?.

How Is Witr Connected to Night Prayer?

Witr is the conclusion of night prayer; it is not a name for all night prayer. The easiest method is to pray two rak'ahs at a time and then conclude with one rak'ah that makes the number odd.

Someone who fears not waking near the end of the night should perform Witr before sleeping. Someone who expects to wake should delay Witr until the end. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Narrated by Muslim (755).

Details about the number and forms of Witr and its qunut are available in Rawatib Sunnah Prayers and Witr.

What If Someone Prayed Witr and Then Woke Up?

A person who performed Witr before sleeping and later wakes may pray in sets of two without repeating Witr. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Narrated by Abu Dawud (1439), al-Tirmidhi (470), and al-Nasa'i (1679); authenticated by al-Albani.

Someone confident of waking should preferably delay Witr so it is the final prayer. But a person who has already prayed Witr and later feels able to pray should not refrain from night prayer.

May Night Prayer Be Performed in Congregation?

Outside Ramadan, the basic practice is to perform night prayer individually, although it is permissible to pray it occasionally with another person. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, prayed with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as recorded in the two Sahih collections. Hudhayfah and Ibn Masud, may Allah be pleased with them, also prayed with him, as recorded in Sahih Muslim.

Outside Ramadan, night prayer should not be made into a regularly scheduled congregation with a fixed time and form, because this was not transmitted from the Prophet's guidance, peace and blessings be upon him, or the practice of his Companions. In Ramadan, Tarawih is prescribed in congregation, and whoever stands with the imam until he leaves receives the reward of standing for an entire night.

Voluntary prayer is generally better at home. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best prayer of a person is in the home, except for the obligatory prayer.” Agreed upon: al-Bukhari (731) and Muslim (781). An exception is a prayer for which congregation is prescribed, such as Tarawih in Ramadan.

May a Missed Nightly Routine Be Made Up?

Night prayer is voluntary, so missing it is not sinful. A person who has an established nightly routine but is overcome by sleep or illness is prescribed to make it up during the day in an even number, after the sun has risen and before Dhuhr.

Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:

Narrated by Muslim (746).

A person whose normal routine was eleven rak'ahs including Witr makes it up as twelve during the day because Witr is not prescribed during the daytime.