How to Pray Tahajjud: Rakats, Time and Steps Explained

Tahajjud is the voluntary night prayer prayed after sleeping for part of the night and waking up before Fajr. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers, but it is one of the most valued voluntary acts of worship in Islam. This guide answers the three questions most people ask: when exactly its time begins, how many rakats to pray, and what the steps are, with a worked time example you can copy for your own city.

What Is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud means waking up at night to pray after you have slept. That sleep is the key difference between Tahajjud and other night prayers:

• Taraweeh is prayed in Ramadan, in congregation, soon after Isha.
• Tahajjud is prayed in the last part of the night, after sleeping, at any time of year.
• A prayer offered late at night before sleeping is a night prayer (qiyam), but scholars generally describe Tahajjud as the prayer after sleep.

You do not need a mosque, a congregation, or any special equipment. You need wudu, a clean place, and a few quiet minutes before Fajr.

When Is the Time for Tahajjud?

The time for Tahajjud starts after Isha prayer and ends when Fajr time begins. The best and most recommended part is the last third of the night — the part closest to Fajr, when the night is quietest.

Worked Example: Finding the Last Third of the Night

You can find the last third with simple subtraction. Take a typical winter night in Lahore as an example:

1. Maghrib time: 5:00 PM. In this method, the night is counted from Maghrib to Fajr.
2. Fajr time: 5:00 AM the next morning.
3. Total length of the night: 12 hours (from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM).
4. Divide by 3: 12 / 3 = 4 hours. Each third of the night is 4 hours long.
5. First third: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
6. Second third: 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
7. Last third: 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM.

So in this example, the last third of the night — the best time for Tahajjud — begins at 1:00 AM and ends at Fajr at 5:00 AM. If you wake up at 3:00 AM, you are inside the last third and have 2 hours before Fajr.

Try the same method with your own city times: night length = Fajr time minus Maghrib time; one third = night length divided by 3; last third starts = Fajr time minus one third. In summer the nights are shorter, so the last third starts later — for example, a 10-hour night gives thirds of about 3 hours 20 minutes each, so the last third may start around 1:40 AM instead of 1:00 AM. Always check your own city times rather than copying a time from another city.

To work this out automatically, use the Islamic Midnight Calculator: enter your Maghrib and Fajr times and it works out the middle and the last third for you. To check Fajr time for your city, use Prayer Times.

How Many Rakats Are There in Tahajjud?

There is no single fixed number, and that flexibility is deliberate. The common practice is:

• Minimum: 2 rakats. If you pray only 2 rakats before Fajr, you have prayed Tahajjud.
• Prayed in pairs: 2 rakats, then salam, then another 2 rakats, and so on. Most people pray 4, 6, or 8 rakats this way.
• The well-known practice was 8 rakats of Tahajjud, followed by 3 rakats of Witr, making 11 in total. That is why 8 + 3 = 11 is the number many people aim for.
• Witr at the end: Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night prayer. If you already prayed Witr after Isha, you do not repeat it after Tahajjud; you simply pray your Tahajjud rakats in pairs. If you have not yet prayed Witr, pray it after your Tahajjud rakats.

Start small and stay regular. Two rakats every night are better than eight rakats once and then nothing for a month. Build up slowly: 2 rakats for a week, then 4, then 6 or 8 when waking up feels easier.

How to Pray Tahajjud, Step by Step

1. Sleep first, then wake up. Go to bed after Isha. Set an alarm for the last third of the night — in the example above, any time between 1:00 AM and Fajr.
2. Make wudu. Follow the normal wudu steps. If you are unsure of the order, see the Wudu Steps Guide.
3. Make your intention (niyyah). Intention is in the heart: you intend to pray Tahajjud. You do not need to say a fixed formula out loud.
4. Pray 2 rakats. Stand, say Allahu Akbar, recite Surah Al-Fatiha followed by any other Surah or verses you know, bow (ruku), prostrate (sujood), sit, and complete the second rakat the same way. End with salam.
5. Repeat in pairs. Pray another 2 rakats the same way, and keep going for as many pairs as you planned — 4, 6, or 8 rakats in total.
6. Make dua after the prayer. After finishing, raise your hands and make dua in your own words, in any language. The last third of the night is described as a time when dua is especially accepted, so this is a good moment to ask for what matters to you — health, family, work, guidance, or forgiveness.
7. Pray Witr if you have not yet prayed it. Pray 3 rakats of Witr to close the night prayer.
8. Rest until Fajr. If Fajr is still some time away, you can sleep again, or stay awake in dhikr and Quran reading until Fajr begins.

There is no special Surah that you must recite in Tahajjud. Recite what you know well. Some people recite longer passages, and others recite short Surahs — both are fine. What matters is that you pray with attention, not speed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting for a perfect night. Do not wait until you can pray 8 rakats perfectly. Start with 2.
• Setting the alarm too close to Fajr. Leave at least 20 to 30 minutes so you are not rushing through wudu and prayer.
• Copying another city time. Prayer times change by city and by season. The last third in Karachi is not the same as in Islamabad on the same date.
• Repeating Witr twice in one night. If you prayed Witr after Isha, do not pray it again after Tahajjud.
• Giving up after one missed night. Missing a night is normal. Set the alarm again the next night and continue.

A Simple First-Week Plan

• Night 1 to 3: Sleep after Isha, wake 30 minutes before Fajr, make wudu, pray 2 rakats, make dua.
• Night 4 to 7: Wake 45 minutes before Fajr and pray 4 rakats in two pairs, then dua.
• Week 2 onwards: Move your alarm earlier in small steps until you reach the last third of the night, and build toward 6 or 8 rakats plus Witr.

Use the Prayer Habit Tracker to tick off each night. Seeing a row of completed nights is a strong motivator to keep going.

Quick Summary

• Tahajjud is the voluntary prayer after sleeping, before Fajr.
• Its best time is the last third of the night — find it by dividing the Maghrib-to-Fajr night into three equal parts.
• Pray in pairs of 2 rakats: 2 is the minimum, 8 plus Witr is the well-known practice.
• End with Witr if you have not already prayed it, and finish with dua in your own words.
• Start with 2 rakats and build up slowly. Regularity matters more than length.

This guide is general educational information, not a religious ruling. Practices can differ, so for a personal question please confirm with a local scholar.

Frequently asked questions

When does Tahajjud time start?

Tahajjud time starts after Isha prayer and ends when Fajr begins. The best part is the last third of the night. To find it, take the time from Maghrib to Fajr, divide it into three equal parts, and the last part is the best time. For example, if Maghrib is at 5:00 PM and Fajr is at 5:00 AM, the night is 12 hours, each third is 4 hours, and the last third runs from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM.

How many rakats are there in Tahajjud?

The minimum is 2 rakats, prayed as one pair. Most people pray 4, 6, or 8 rakats in pairs of 2, ending with salam after each pair. The well-known practice is 8 rakats of Tahajjud followed by 3 rakats of Witr, making 11 in total. There is no fixed number you must reach, so start with 2 and build up slowly.

Do I have to sleep before praying Tahajjud?

Yes, sleeping first is what makes a prayer Tahajjud. A prayer offered late at night before sleeping is a voluntary night prayer, but Tahajjud specifically means waking up after sleeping to pray. Sleep after Isha, set an alarm for the last third of the night, and then pray.

Do I pray Witr again if I already prayed it after Isha?

No. Witr is prayed once per night. If you already prayed Witr after Isha, pray only your Tahajjud rakats in pairs and do not repeat Witr. If you have not yet prayed Witr, pray 3 rakats of Witr after your Tahajjud rakats to close the night prayer.

What should I recite in Tahajjud, and can I make dua in my own language?

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha followed by any Surah or verses you know well. There is no special Surah that you must recite in Tahajjud, and reciting short Surahs with attention is fine. After the prayer, you can make dua in your own words and in any language, asking for whatever matters to you.