How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud? The Explanation You're Looking For

How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud? ~ Whatever your reasons and goals for reading this article, we’ll try not to disappoint you. We will describe many feature of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We are very sure that the description of Rakat in the Tahajjud prayer is the main aspect that you are looking now.

Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are an vital part of the Tahajjud prayer. Why? The simplest answer is because Rakats are an main part of prayer in Islam. Rakat is among the components of the prayer that describes standing, bowing (Rukuk), and prostration (Sujud).

Please note! “How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?” is one of the vital features of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer which we will clarify in this article. Of course, we will not only explain that. There are many aspect of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer which we’ll discuss today. So, we truly hope that you read this article throughout so that you obtain a good understanding of the Rakats of the Tahajjud prayer after reading this article.”

The Meaning of Rakats in Tahajjud Prayer

Before we describe more about “How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?”, firstly, we will discuss the meaning of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. Definitely, you have to understand that first so you can understand everything about Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer which we will describe in this article.

Before we discuss the meaning of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer, we strongly recommend that you understand the meaning of Rakats literaly. That will help you to understand the meaning of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer which we are discussing now.

In simple phrases, you can find an explanation of the meaning of Rakats in the sentences listed below:

رَكَعَاتُ الصَلَاةِ هِيَ : أَقْوَالٌ وَأَفْعَالٌ مَخْصُوْصَةٌ فِيْ الصَلَاةِ ، تَتَكَوَّنُ مِنْهَا ، وَكَيْفِيَتُهَا مُحَدَّدَةٌ بِاتِّبَاعِ الشَّرْعِ

Rakats of prayer are certain sayings and movements in prayer that are a component of prayer, and the manner of performing them is determined by following the Sharia.

If you understand the meaning of Rakats as we have priced estimate over, you can conclude that Rakats are the parts of prayer that consist of unique sayings and movements in prayer. These sayings and movements are established in Islam. So, not all utterances may be uttered in prayer, equally as not all movements may be performed in prayer.

Today, particularly, we will say that the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are certain utterances and movements in the Tahajjud prayer.

Why is Rakat in Tahajjud Prayer Important?

Maybe presently you are wondering, “Why is Rakat in the Tahajjud prayer important?”.

In the previous paragraphs, we have discussed that Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are certain utterances and movements in the Tahajjud prayer. So, Rakat is among the essential components in the Tahajjud prayer

So, the answer to the question “why is Rakat in the Tahajjud prayer important?” is because Rakats are one of the significant elements in the Tahajjud prayer. Without Rakats, our Tahajjud prayer are invalid.

Questions and Answers About the Number of Rakats in Tahajjud Prayer

The next significant aspect about “How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?” that we will discuss currently are the questions and answers about the number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We want you to understand all of that because those are all common things about Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer that Muslims must understand.

There are many essential points about the number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer which are asked by Muslims in various countries, such as in Pakistan, India, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Mauritius, United Kingdom, South Africa, Maldives, US, and so on. That’s one of the reasons we wrote this article.

Below are some main questions about Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We’ll explain all of it quickly. We will also quote related hadiths (if there are any hadiths that explain them all).

How Many Rakats in Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, “How many Rakats in Tahajjud prayer?”, the answer is, “There is no maximum limit for Rakats in Tahajjud prayer.” The reason is because Prophet Muhammad performed Tahajjud prayer with many number of Rakats. We can find this explanation in the following hadiths:

عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ ، قَالَ : سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ‏ .‏ فَقَالَتْ : سَبْعٌ وَتِسْعٌ وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ سِوَى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ‏‏

It was narrated from Masruq, he said, “I have asked Aisha radiyallahu anha about the prayer of Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at night. She then said, “Seven (Rakats), or 9 (Rakats), or eleven (Rakats) apart from two Rakats in Fajr prayer.”

The hadith over explains that sometimes Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at night up to seven Rakats, 9 Rakats, or 11 Rakats. These Rakats are along with the 2 Rakats in Fajr prayer. So, we can presume that he performed six Rakats or 8 Rakats, or ten Rakats in Tahajjud prayer.

What is the Minimum Rakats for Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, “what is the minimum Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer?”, the answer is 2 Rakats. We can find this description in the hadith listed below:

قَالَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : إِنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَ :‏ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏‏‏

Abdullah bin Umar radliyallahu anhuma said, “Someone asked Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad), “How to do the night prayer?” He said, “2 Rakats, two Rakats. If you are worried that you will not be able to perform the Fajr prayer (because of that), then do the Witr prayer with 1 Rakat.”

The above hadith explains that Tahajjud prayer is performed per 2 Rakats. We can also conclude that the minimum rakat in Tahajjud prayer is two Rakats.

How much Maximum Rakats for Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, “what is the maximum Rakats for Tahajjud prayer?”, the answer is “There’s no maximum limit for Rakats in Tahajjud prayer because there is no hadith that especially explains the maximum limit for Rakats in Tahajjud prayer.” So, we can do any number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer.

But one essential feature that we want to say here is that we must not force ourselves to perform the Tahajjud prayer with many Rakats which can burden us. As normal person, we have several obligations that we must carry out in the early morning. So, the Tahajjud prayer that we do should not be a factor for us not doing our obligations. Note! Tahajjud prayer is sunnah. If we do that, we’ll be rewarded. But if we do not do that, we are innocent.

How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?

This is among the things that’s often asked by many Muslims: how many Rakats did the prophet pray for tahajjud? Before we describe the solution to this question, we will quote several hadiths that especially clarify the Rakats did the prophet pray for tahajjud.

Some of the hadiths that particularly clarify the Rakats did the prophet pray for tahajjud which we suggest are as complies with:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا , قَالَتْ : كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوِتْرُ وَرَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ‏‏

It was narrated from Aisha radiyallahu anha, she said, “The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at night as many as 13 Rakats of which were Witr prayer and two Rakats in Fajr prayer.”

The above hadith explains that Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at evening up to 13 Rakats which were one Rakat for the Witr prayer and 2 Rakats for Fajr prayer. So, we can think that he performed 10 Rakats in Tahajjud prayer.

عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ ، قَالَ : سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ‏ .‏ فَقَالَتْ : سَبْعٌ وَتِسْعٌ وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ سِوَى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ‏‏

It was narrated from Masruq, he said, “I have asked Aisha radiyallahu anha about the prayer of Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at night. She then said, “Seven (Rakats), or nine (Rakats), or eleven (Rakats) apart from two Rakats in Fajr prayer.”

The hadith over explains that sometimes Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at night up to seven Rakats, 9 Rakats, or 11 Rakats. These Rakats are along with the 2 Rakats in Fajr prayer. So, we can presume that he performed 6 Rakats or eight Rakats, or ten Rakats in Tahajjud prayer.

Is Tahajjud 2 Rakats?

This is one of the basic questions about Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer: is Tahajjud 2 Rakats?

Once again, I would certainly like to say that there is no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. The meaning is that the Tahajjud prayer may be performed with any even number of Rakats (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and so forth). 2 Rakats are the minimum number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer.

You can find this description in the hadith listed below:

قَالَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : إِنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، كَيْفَ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَ :‏ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خِفْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ‏‏‏

Abdullah bin Umar radliyallahu anhuma said, “Someone asked Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad), “How to do the night prayer?” He said, “2 Rakats, two Rakats. If you are worried that you will not be able to perform the Fajr prayer (because of that), then do the Witr prayer with one Rakat.”

Can I pray 4 Rakats of Tahajjud?

In the previous few paragraphs, I have discussed that the Tahajjud prayer can be carried out in 4 Rakats. So, if you ask us, “Can I pray 4 Rakats of Tahajjud?”, the answer is “Absolutely. You can pray 4 Rakats of Tahajjud.” Don’t be confused about that.

How Many Rakats Are Best for Tahajjud?

This is one of the popular questions of the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. Many Muslims ask this: how many rakats are best for Tahajjud?

Before we describe the answer this question, we will quote a couple of hadiths that particularly describe the variety of Rakats that best for Tahajjud. Some of the hadiths we indicate are as complies with:

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِذَا حَبْلٌ مَمْدُودٌ بَيْنَ السَّارِيَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ :‏ مَا هَذَا الْحَبْلُ ؟‏ قَالُوا هَذَا حَبْلٌ لِزَيْنَبَ فَإِذَا فَتَرَتْ تَعَلَّقَتْ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏:‏ لاَ ، حُلُّوهُ ، لِيُصَلِّ أَحَدُكُمْ نَشَاطَهُ ، فَإِذَا فَتَرَ فَلْيَقْعُدْ ‏‏

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik radliyallahu anhu, he said, “Once the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam entered the Mosque and saw a rope hanging in between its two pillars. He said, “What is this rope?” The people said, “This rope is for Zainab who, when she feels tired, holds it (to keep standing for the prayer.)” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, “Don’t use it. Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and when you get tired, sit down.”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ : كَانَتْ عِنْدِي امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ ‏:‏ مَنْ هَذِهِ ؟‏ قُلْتُ فُلاَنَةُ لاَ تَنَامُ بِاللَّيْلِ‏.‏ فَذُكِرَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهَا. فَقَالَ : مَهْ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا تُطِيقُونَ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ‏‏

It was narrated from Aisha radliyallahu anha, she said, “A woman from the tribe of Bani Asad was sitting with me and Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam came to my house and said, “Who is this?” I said, “(She is) So and so. She does not sleep at night because she is engaged in prayer.” The Prophet said disapprovingly: Do (good) deeds which is within your capacity as Allah never gets tired of giving rewards till you get tired of doing good deeds.”

عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا ـ قَالَ لِيْ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ :‏ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ ‏؟ قُلْتُ : إِنِّي أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ : فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ عَيْنُكَ وَنَفِهَتْ نَفْسُكَ ، وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ حَقٌّ ، وَلأَهْلِكَ حَقٌّ ، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ ‏‏

It was narrated from Abu al-Abbas, he said, “I’ve heard Abdullah bin Amr bin al-Ash radiyallahu anhuma say, “Once Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to me, “I have been informed that you offer Salat (prayer) all the night and observe Saum (fast) during the day.” I said, “(Yes) I do so.” He said, “If you do so, your eye sight will become weak and you will become weak. No doubt, your body has right on you, and your family has right on you, so observe Saum (for some days) and do not observe it (for some days), offer Salat (for sometime) and then sleep.”

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَر رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : أَنَّ رَجُلاً جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يَخْطُبُ ، فَقَالَ : كَيْفَ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ ؟ فَقَالَ : مَثْنَى مَثْنَى، فَإِذَا خَشِيتَ الصُّبْحَ فَأَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ ، تُوتِرُ لَكَ مَا قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ

It was narrated from Ibn Umar radliyallahu anhuma, “A man came to the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam while he was delivering the sermon and asked him how to offer the night prayers. The Prophet replied, “Pray 2 Rakats at a time and then two and then two and so on and if you are afraid of dawn (the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer) pray 1 Rakat and that will be the with for all the Rakats which you have prayed.”

If we understand some of the hadiths above, we can conclude that best Rakats for Tahajjud are Rakats that doesn’t burden us. We should not force ourselves to do a great deal of Rakats in Tahajjud prayer even though we are unable to do everything.

How Many Rakats of Tahajjud Should I Pray?

In the previous couple of paragraphs, we have discussed about the best Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer. We have also said that an excellent Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer is one that does not problem us.

So, if you ask us, “how many Rakats of tahajjud should i pray?”, the answer is “Rakats Tahajjud that don’t burden you. Rakats Tahajjud which are not the cause for you not being able to do your commitments after the Tahajjud prayer.” So, only you know about it particularly.

Tahajjud Total Rakats: Important Conclusions

Today we’ll make some conclusions about the Rakats of the Tahajjud prayer (we really hope you understand all of it):

• The minimum Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is 2 Rakats.
• There’s no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.
• Best Rakats of Tahajjud prayer are Rakats that we can do.

That is a short description of “How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?” and some essential aspects of it. Hope it is useful. Amen.