Tahajjud time tonight, the last third of the night.
Find when the last third of the night begins where you are, the best time for tahajjud, with Islamic midnight, Fajr and the next 30 nights.
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| Night of | Maghrib | Midnight | Last third | Fajr |
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Guide
Tahajjud, the night prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who is calling on Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?"1 He also said the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the prayer at night.2
How the times are worked out
The Islamic night runs from sunset (Maghrib) to true dawn (Fajr). Its length is divided into three. The last third begins one third of the night before Fajr, and Islamic midnight is halfway between Maghrib and Fajr. Some websites measure the night to sunrise instead, which puts their times about half an hour to an hour later. We follow the view of the majority, including the Hanafi school, that the night ends at Fajr.
How to pray tahajjud
Tahajjud is a confirmed sunnah. Pray at least two rakahs after Isha, ideally after some sleep, in pairs of two with a salam after each two. The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eight rakahs and then witr. If you trust yourself to wake, delay witr until after tahajjud. If not, pray witr after Isha, and pray tahajjud later without repeating witr.3
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i, Hanbali
- The same in most points. They pray witr as one rakah after the night prayer, or three with a single salam in some views.
- Maliki
- Night prayer is prayed in pairs, and witr is a single rakah after them.
Tips for waking up
- Sleep early, after Isha, and make wudu before bed.
- Make the intention to wake, and set the 30-night alarm above.
- Start with two rakahs once or twice a week, then build up.
- If you wake late, pray even two quick rakahs before Fajr.
Tahajjud times by city
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1145; Sahih Muslim 758.
- Sahih Muslim 1163.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1147; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, on witr and night prayer. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know.
What time is tahajjud?
Any time after Isha until Fajr. The best time is the last third of the night, which the tool above shows for your location.
How many rakahs is tahajjud?
At least two. The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eight, then witr.
Do I have to sleep before tahajjud?
Many scholars say tahajjud is the night prayer after sleeping, but any prayer at night after Isha is rewarded.
Is midnight 12 am for Isha and tahajjud?
No. Islamic midnight is halfway between Maghrib and Fajr, which changes every night. The tool shows it for tonight.