Timing for Tahajjud Salah

QUESTION:

Assalmu Alikum

On this website there is a daily Timetable for 5 daily salaah. Where can I find the daily times for Tahajud. I have read on how to calculate the time but it’s very confusing to me. JazakAllah

 

ANSWER

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

Although there is no specific timing given for the ‘Tahajjud Salah’, (on the Salah timing chart), you can identify the time  when you know the beginning (time) for Fajr Salah. On the chart where you see the timing for Fajr Salah, this means the beginning time for Fajr, and the time for Tahajjud  ends just before this time.

With respect to what is the beginning time for this Nafl Salah at night, a number of Ahadith (traditions) and books of Fiqh have mentioned that the time for Tahajjud Salah starts after one completely finishes one’s  Isha Salah. In other words, if after performing the Isha Salah, one performs a few optional rakaats of Salah in twos with the intention of Tahajjud Salah or ‘Qiyam Al Lail’, then he will receive the rewards of performing the Tahajjud Salah. However, the most virtuous act is that one takes a rest (sleep) at night and then gets up to perform this Salah, and this was the continuous practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet (SAW). (At Tabrani in Al Kabeer; Shami  2/467 Zakariyya  – Kitab An Nawazil vol. 4 pg. 582 Darul Isha’at Karachi 2016  ; Kitab Al Fatawa vol. 2 pg. 374 Zam Zam Karachi 2007).

Based on the Ahadith, it is evident that the best time for Tahajjud Salah is the last third of the night (which ends with the break of dawn- the beginning time for Fajr Salah). Regarding this, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Whoever fears that he may not stand up (in Salah) at the end of the night, should perform the Witr Salah at the beginning of the night, and whoever hopes to stand (in Salah) at the end of the night, then let him perform the Witr at the end of the night. For certainly, Salah at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels), and it is more  virtuous’ (Muslim).

From the above, it is evident that the most virtuous time for optional Salah at night (Tahajjud)  is the last part of the night, although it is permissible to perform it at the beginning (of the night).

In another tradition, the Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said, ‘Our Lord descends every night when the last third of the night remains, to the lowest heaven and then says, ‘Is there anyone calling on me, so that I may respond to his call? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness from me, that I may forgive him? Is there anyone asking from me, so that I may grant him?’ (Bukhari, Muslim). This hadith also shows the virtues of the last part of the night.

Therefore, with these guidelines, it will be easy for you to identify the time for Tahajjud Salah.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Waseem Khan

22/12/2021.