“And those who guard their prayers—these are the ones who will be honored in the gardens of Paradise.”
The Virtues of Tahajjud
Tahajjud is a highly esteemed prayer. After the obligatory five daily prayers, it is considered the most significant. It is a reality that getting out of bed and leaving the comfort of sleep during the night is quite difficult for human nature; hence, Allah has deemed worship in the last part of the night superior. Let us explore its virtues in the light of the Quran and Hadith.
The Virtues of Tahajjud in Quranic Verses
Tahajjud is a form of night prayer. The difference lies in the fact that it requires sleeping first. Allah mentions in the Quran the characteristics of His servants:
“And those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrating and standing.” (Surah Al-Furqan, 64)
In another verse:
“Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope.” (Surah As-Sajda, 16)
Those Whom Allah is Pleased With
It is narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Our Lord is very pleased with two people: one is he who stands for prayer from his bed, leaving behind his cover, family, and loved ones, seeking Allah’s reward and fearing His punishment. The other is a person who fights in Allah’s path, runs away with his companions, reflects on the consequences of fleeing, and then returns, even to the point of shedding his blood.” (Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir)
Teachings of the Prophet Regarding Tahajjud
- “There is a time during the night when a Muslim asks Allah for any good in this world and the Hereafter; Allah will certainly grant him that good. This time occurs every night.” (Sahih Muslim)
- “According to Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘The best fasts after Ramadan are in the month of Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is that which is performed at night.’” (Sahih Muslim)
- “The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that there are certain palaces in Paradise that are transparent, which Allah has prepared for those who feed the needy, spread greetings, and pray at night while others are asleep.” (Sahih Ibn Hibban)
- “Whoever wakes up at night and awakens his family, then both of them pray two units of prayer, will be recorded among those who remember Allah abundantly.” (Mustadrak Al-Hakim)
- “The best of my Ummah are those who carry the Quran and worship Allah at night.” (Al-Targhib wa Al-Tarhib)
- “The Prophet (peace be upon him) once advised his companions, ‘Do not sleep excessively at night, for excessive sleep at night will make a person poor in terms of good deeds on the Day of Judgment.’” (Tadhkirat Al-Huffaz)
Tahajjud and the Righteous
It is narrated that after the passing of Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi (RA), someone saw him in a dream and asked, “O Abu Qasim! What happened to you after your death?” He replied, “Scholarly discussions and intricate details were of no use, but the prayer (Tahajjud) performed in solitude brought immense benefit.” (Advice to his son)
When asked by Hasan Al-Basri (RA), “Why do the faces of those who pray Tahajjud appear more beautiful than others?” he responded, “They choose solitude for Allah, so Allah adorns them with the garment of His light.” (Bahr Al-Dumu’)
Imam Jalaluddin Al-Suyuti (RA) regularly performed Tahajjud prayer. If he ever missed it, he would be so distressed that he would fall ill. (The Bright Decisions of the Madani Prophet)
Why the Lack of Willpower?
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) was approached and said, “We cannot stand for prayer at night.” He replied, “Your sins have rendered you incapacitated.”
It was reported to Hasan Al-Basri (RA), “We cannot perform night prayers.” He stated, “Your sins have shackled your feet.”
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