Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalamo alaikum

dear brother

could you pls. let me know the total number of tahajud prayers and which surahs to read and what is the time in the gulf for tahajud salah.
looking forward to have your answer in detail.

jazakallah.

a sister

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Answer:

 

Tahajud prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: could you pls. let me know the total number of tahajud prayers

The number of rakah for Tahajjud have not been fixed.   There is an authentic narration that the Messenger of Allah (saws) used to pray 11 rakahs including witr,  and there is also another narration that states that he (saws) prayed 13 rakahs including witr.  

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to pray the Tahajjud in the last third part of the night, and he would perform it in a two rakah combination and advised the believers to do the same.   There is no minimum number of rakahs set for Tahajjud prayers,  thus the minimum if one wishes to pray the voluntary night prayers would be two rakahs.   And there is no maximum set, thus one can pray any number of rakahs in a two rakah combination and end it with the witr prayers.  The Tahajjud or night prayers are voluntary and the more one prays, the more reward he/she will earn from Allah Subhanah.

 

Your Question: and which surahs to read

One may read any Surahs or verses of the Quran in their ‘tahajjud’ prayers, making sure that the Surahs or the Verses recited are in the order the Glorious Quran is compiled.

 

Your Question: and what is the time in the gulf for tahajud salah.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.25

It is best to delay the optional night prayers to the last third portion of the night.  Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "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?"'

Related by Bukhari, Muslim and others.

 

Amr ibn Abasah reports that he heard the Prophet (saws) say: "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so." Related by al-Hakim, Tirmidhi, and AnNasa'i.

 

Abdullah ibn 'Amr reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of David. And the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of David. He would sleep half of the night and then pray during the next third of the night and then sleep during the last sixth of the night. And he would fast one day and not fast the next."

Related by Bukhari, Muslim and others.

 

One may pray the ‘tahajjud’ prayers anytime after Isha prayers, but the absolute best time to offer these optional night prayers is in the last third portion of the night. 

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan