The stillness before dawn contains immense blessings. The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of each night, asking: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who will ask of Me so I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness so I may forgive him?” (Bukhari)
This hadeeth highlights the merits of Tahajjud, the late night prayer before Fajr. Through Tahajjud, we communicate directly with Allah, unlocking His mercy, guidance and forgiveness. In this comprehensive guide, we will dig deep into the immense spiritual and practical benefits of Tahajjud backed by insights from Quran, Sunnah and leading Islamic scholars like Mufti Menk.
What Is Tahajjud Prayer?
Tahajjud (Arabic: تهجد), comprises of voluntary nafl prayers offered between midnight and Fajr. Though optional, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم strongly encouraged praying during the last third of the night:
“The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” (Muslim)
When analyzing the sleep cycle of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, scholars conclude he would sleep early after Isha, wake up during the last third of the night and remain in prayer until Fajr.
So in the stillness before dawn, while most of humanity is asleep, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would stand before His Lord in intimate worship. Just like the Prophets before him including Dawud and Isa (AS), he would converse privately with The Creator. Tahajjud connected him to the way of all Prophets and the righteous people mentioned in Surah Al Imran.
Spiritual Benefits Of Praying Tahajjud
By consistently praying Tahajjud, we can unlock similar spiritual blessings in our own lives:
1. Seeking Forgiveness From Allah
Allah descends in a manner befitting His Majesty every night to the lowest heaven asking who will seek His forgiveness. What better time than Tahajjud then to repent from our sins and ask Allah for His mercy and pardon?
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Our Lord Tabarak wa Ta’ala descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhari)
Shedding tears while seeking forgiveness during Tahajjud has tremendous value. The supplication at such a blessed time with a sincere heart full of regret can wipe away our sins completely. Allah promises: “And those who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.” (3:17)
So let us use this blessed time to beg Allah to pardon our transgressions, conceal our faults and enter us into eternal gardens of Paradise.
2. Feeling Closer to Allah
Standing alone before The Creator in the darkness and silence before Fajr, one truly feels Allah‘s majesty, greatness and closeness. When the world sleeps, the hearts of believers become alive. As Mufti Menk reminds us, Tahajjud facilitates intimate conversation with Allah as if you are directly communicating with Him.
The impact of heartfelt supplication during such blessed moments cannot be put into words. The slave whispers, and The King replies. There is no barrier between the worshipper and his Lord. Many have experienced Allah responding immediately to their prayers by feeling His mercy and serenity pour into their heart.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said about such late night worshippers: “They used to rise from their beds with their faces resembling shinning stars in the sky due to staying up late at night (in worship).” (Ibn Majah)
Truly, nothing recharges the battery of faith like standing alone in front of Allah during Tahajjud and experiencing His majestic presence.
3. Increased Sustenance & Blessings
Ask and you shall receive. Allah says “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (40:60). When we call upon Him during Tahajjud by praising, glorifying and asking from Him, Allah grants our needs in miraculous ways.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him’.” (Bukhari)
Many have seen blessings in their wealth, health, family and lives by praying Tahajjud consistently. Some pray for guidance on decisions, while others call upon Allah for lawful provision. Tahajjud cleanses the heart of worldly attachments so Allah fills the empty space with goodness in both spiritual and material realms. Al Hasan Al Basri rightly said “The hallmark of the muttaqeen (God conscious) is the night prayer.”
Practical Life Benefits Of Tahajjud
Alongside immense spiritual blessings, Tahajjud also results in tangible life benefits:
1. Solutions to Problems
Mufti Menk stresses the importance of praying Tahajjud when going through difficulties. Calamities that seem unsolvable by human beings are a simple matter for Allah’s infinite wisdom and power.
Allah says: “Or, Who listens to the distressed when he calls upon Him, and relieves his suffering.” (27:62)
Those who call upon Allah sincerely at night witness their problems disappearing through divine decree. Yunus (AS) was taken out from the belly of the whale that no man could ever escape from by his crying to Allah in the darkness.
Tahajjud repairs our connection with The Creator allowing Him to inspire solutions within ourself or create a way out of dilemmas through an unseen extraordinary path.
2. Physical Health Benefits
It is no secret that prayer and spirituality have direct correlation with improved physical health outcomes. During Tahajjud, the body produces melatonin and human growth hormone which both have anti-aging properties. Tahhajud leads to better sleep quality as well.
According to Dr. Dawn Elise Snipes in her research paper, people who wake up at night for prayer report feeling energized and active the next day despite interrupted sleep cycles. This matches the way of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم who would sleep little yet fulfill all his worldly and spiritual duties with excellence.
3. Boosts Productivity
Waking up early for Tahajjud sets a productive momentum for the rest of your day. You have accomplished worship of Allah while most of the world enjoys slumber. This boosts intrinsic motivation to maintain efficiency in work and habits.
Studies show morning people have better proactive behaviors and overall work performance. Just like athletes workout hard before competition, starting the day by energizing your soul is the best warmup routine for success in deen and dunya.
The Barakah of Tahajjud results in achieving more throughout the day. Rising before Fajr eradicates laziness and stirs determination. No need for coffee, when connecting to The Creator fuels lasting drive.
Final Tips For Praying Tahajjud
If Tahajjud has inspired you to unlock its blessings or become more consistent in praying it, here are some tips that can help:
1. Protect Your Sleep
Ensure you recite Surah Al Kafirun, Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq, An Nas (Qul Auzu) and other supplications to protect yourself from Shaytan during sleep. This prevents nightmares or deep slumber that makes rising difficult.
2. Set Alarms
Use multiple alarms spaced 15 minutes apart to wake up. Keep your phone far from your bed so you have to physically get up to turn it off. Android apps like Alarmy even make you solve puzzles before switching off.
3. Fix A Witr
Pray witr before bed to automatically wake up before Fajr. Our sleep cycle adjusts around our body clock when we sleep at the same time daily. Praying witr helps lock a productive routine.
4. Ask Allah For Help
Don’t rely solely on your willpower. Make dua and ask Allah to bless you with the sincerity, health and strength to wake up for tahajjud and worship Him. Trust Allah and leave the rest on Him after making the effort.
5. Gradually Increase
Start with just 2 rakat focusing on the presence of your heart. Be consistent first, then gradually increase to 4, 6, 8 and even 12 rakat over time. Build a close relationship with the Quran during tahajjud through recitation, heartfelt reflection and abundant tears.
Through this humble collection of tips, analysis and reflections, I hope you are inspired to unlock the immense blessings within Tahajjud – the intimate secret between the believers and their Lord before Fajr appears.