VIRTUES OF THE TAHAJJUD PRAYER ~ My love for الله is greater than any other love

ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATHULAHI WABARAKATUHU

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM

VIRTUES OF THE TAHAJJUD PRAYER

This is related by at-Tabarani and al-Bazzar. Anas quoted Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as saying: • "Prayer in my mosque is equal to ten thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the Sacred Mosque is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the battlefield is equivalent to one million prayers [elsewhere]. And what is more than all of that is two rak`ahs performed by a servant [of Allah] during the middle of the night."

It is best to delay this prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu Hurairah quoted that the Messenger of Allah, as saying: • "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?"

Abu Hurairah quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as saying:• "May Allah bless the man who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up his wife and who, if she refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah bless the woman who gets up during the night to pray and wakes up her husband and who, if he refuses, sprinkles water on his face."

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: • "If a man wakes his wife and prays during the night or they pray two rak`ahs together, they will be recorded among those (men and women) who (constantly) make remembrance of Allah."

Abu ad-Darda' quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as saying:• "Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up and praying during the night, but, being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have recorded for him what he has intended, and his sleep will be reckoned as a charity (an act of mercy) for him from his Lord."

Salman al-Farsi quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as saying:• "Observe the night prayer, it was the practice of the righteous before you and it brings you closer to your Lord and it is penance for evil deeds and erases the sins and repels disease from the body."

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, • “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.”[Muslim]

It is reported from Hazrat Anas R.A. that he heard our Beloved Nabee Sallallahoo Alayhi Wasallam say:• "Two Raka'ats of prayer performed in the middle of the night are dearer to me than the entire world and everything therein."

METHOD OF PRAYING TAHAJJUD PRAYER

1160. 'A'isha said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to get up to pray at night to the extent that his feet became swollen. I said to him, 'Why do you do this, Messenger of Allah, when you have been forgiven your past and future wrong actions?' He said, 'Should I not be a thankful slave?'"

Hudhayfa said, "I prayed with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, one night and he began al-Baqara. I said, 'He will go into ruku' after a hundred.' He continued and I said, 'He will pray one rak'at with it.' But he continued. I said, 'He will go into ruku' with it.' Then he began Surat an-Nisa' and recited it and then began Ali 'Imran and recited it. He recited slowly and when he passed through an ayat of glorification, he glorified Allah. When he passed a question, he asked it. When he passed an ayat of seeking refuge, he sought refuge. Then he went into ruku' and began to say, 'Glory be to my Lord, the Immense.' His bowing was about as long as his standing. Then he said, 'Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, yours is the praise.' Then he stood for a long time, nearly as long as his bowing. Then he prostrated and said, 'Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.' His prostration was almost as long as his standing." [Muslim]

Number of Rakaats in Tahajjud

The number of rakaats performed by Nabi varied according to the prevailing circumstances. Although on certain occasions sufficient time was available, Nabi would perform less rakaats reciting lengthy Qiraat. [Khasa'ile Nabawee p 156]

Deducing from the various narrations four to twelve rakaats in units of two or four have been recommended. [Imdaadul Fatawa vol 1 -Baab finnawaafil / Maraqiyul Falah]

However if two rakaats are performed in the prescribed time it will be regarded as Tahajjud. [Raddul Mukhtaar 1/715]

Dua to Assist in Waking Up for Tahajjud

A person remarked to Abdullah bin Abbas , "I always intend awakening in the last portion of the night to perform Salaat but sleep overpowers me." Ibne Abbas replied, "Before sleeping recite from "QUL LAW KAANAL BAHRU MIDADAL..." to the end of Surah Kahf. Allah Ta'ala will waken you at whatever time you intend rising." [Tha'labi-Ma'ariful Quraan vol 5]

Witr
Niyya will be for 3 Witr Wajib

1st Rakat
1. Start with Takbir -e- Tahrima
2. Thana ( SubhanakAllah Humma Wabi...)
3. Ta'awuz (A'oodhu..)
4. Tasmia (Bismillah..)
5. Al-Fatiha
6. Tasmia (if reciting from beginning of Sura)
7. Sura
8. Ruku+Sujud

2nd Rakat
9. Repeat 4 - 8 above
10. Sit for Tashahhud - Attihiyyat upto 'Abduhoo WaRaSooluh ( i.e. stop before reciting Durood -e- Ibrahim )
12. Say "Allahu Akbar" and Stand Up for Third Rakaat

3rd Rakat
13. Repeat 4 - 7
14. Say "Allahu Akbar" and Raise the Hands ( as done when initiating Salaah)
15. Recite Dua -e- Qunoot* (see below)
16. Perform Ruku+Sujood
17. Sit again, Recite Attihiyyat, Durood Shareef, Dua
18. End with Salaams