Ruling on performing Salatul Tahajjud

Question

I would like to read Tahajjud prayers regularly inshallah. However, I have been on some islamic websites and asked some imams on how to perform this salaah, and I have been given/read very different ways. please tell me how one can perform Tahajjud, and after the nafl, does one pray 3 rakaat of witr namaaz, or one rakaat. some websites i have been on, state that its only one rakaat. Jazakallah Kheir. Wasalaam.

Answer

The Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform twelve rakaats of Tahajjud Salaah. This is established from those ahaadith which state that the Prophet (Sallalallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed fifteen rakaats of salaat during the night, twelve of which were Tahajjud Salaat and the remainder Witr Salaat, as explained by Mulla Ali Qaari (rahimahullaah). (Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh, vol 3, pg 122, Imdaadiyya ) It was the general habit of Nabi to perform eight rakats of tahajjud prayer. At times Nabi performed 4, 6, 8 and 10 rakats. It is therefore advisable to perform eight rakats of tahajjud prayer. If one is unable to perform eight rakats then one should perform any amount which is possible (i.e. 2,4,6,8 or 10). As for your query regarding the witr salaah, there is no such salaah that only has one rakaat in it. Witr rakaats consists of three rakaats . After the sitting in qaada and reciting atahiyaat one should say Allahuakbar and get up read Bismillah, Surah fatiha and a surah after the surah lift hands up (to the earlobes for men and up to the shoulders for women) and recite Dua-e-Qunoot or any other dua (The recitation of any Du'aa after the Surah in the third Rakaat of Witr is Waajib. If no Du'aa at all was recited, then it is Waajib to repeat that Salaat. If any Du'aa was recited then the Salaat will be valid. However, the Du'aa-e-Qunoot specifically is Sunnat. (Ahsanul Fataawa part3 pg.449) ). After doing so one should say Allah huakbar and go into ruku and complete the salaah as one would normally. The Prophet Sallallah Alhi wa Sallam has ordered us to make the witr salath the last prayer of the night. So if someone is habitual of performing tahajjud salath, then he should perform witr after tahajjud. Otherwise, one should pray before one sleeps.

And Allah knows best.

Ask Alimah Team

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