The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ lifts his hands in the middle of the night, and hours later, Badr is won. Salahuddin Ayyubi sheds tears in the night, and by morning, the enemy retreats. Ismail Haniyeh? His son reveals the first secret to his honour: Tahajjud. And a mother? She wakes up in the middle of the night, praying for her son’s recovery—against all odds, he’s healed.
You see the pattern? It’s not just any prayer—it’s Tahajjud.
We’ve all heard the stories. The victories, the miracles, the moments when the impossible became possible—all in the quiet hours before dawn. The battles you’re fighting in silence, the dreams you’ve kept hidden, the healing you desperately need—Tahajjud might just be the key.
So, what’s stopping you?
Let’s dive into some practical, no-fluff tips on how to wake up, stay consistent, and make this powerful prayer a part of your life.
- Ask Allah (SWT) to wake you up
No matter how many alarms you may set, at the end of the day, it’s not an alarm that will wake you up—it’s Allah (SWT). Before going to sleep, make a sincere dua and ask Allah (SWT) to wake you up for Tahajjud.
- Assess your Niyah (intention)
What’s driving you to wake up for Tahajjud? What’s exciting you and motivating you to do it? Is it because you want to ask for something that seems impossible to you? Is it because you’re craving the peace and quiet of the last third of the night so you can reflect and talk to Allah (SWT)? What is your ‘why’? Let your Niyah be so strong that it fuels you to get up.
- Set your alarm for 15 minutes before Fajr
A practical tip to get up for Tahajjud is to simply set your alarm for 15 minutes before Fajr. You have to wake up for Fajr anyway. If you wake up 15 minutes before Fajr begins, you can reap the benefits of Tahajjud, pray Fajr, and then have a great start of your day ahead.
- Drink lots of water before going to sleep
This may sound funny, but it works! If you’re the kind of person who can never wake up from an alarm, drinking lots of water before sleeping might just work for you. You’ll have to wake up at some point during the night to use the bathroom. You can use that time to pray Tahajjud.
- End your night well
Despite having a strong Niyah and setting multiple alarms, there may still be days when you just can’t wake up for Tahajjud, and it leaves you wondering why. Start paying attention to see if you can notice a pattern between the days you’re able to wake up for Tahajjud and the days you’re not. You’ll likely find that the way you end your night has a direct impact on how your morning begins. If you end your night poorly—whether by mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and falling asleep with your phone or gossiping with friends right before bed—it makes waking up for Tahajjud the next day much harder.
There are many ahadith that emphasise the importance of ending your night well. Whether it’s by performing Wudu or reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping, it’s crucial to finish your night in a way that aligns you with Allah (SWT). That way, when you wake up in the morning, you’re already oriented toward Allah (SWT), ready to return to the same spiritual state you went to sleep with. You’ll be in a much better place spiritually, which will help you wake up for Tahajjud and start your day honourably, just as you ended your night.
Ali (RA) once said that the dua made at Tahajjud is like an arrow that never misses its target.
We often feel like we’re so used to asking for the mundane, we forget that we’re making dua to a God who can give us anything. Think of something that gives you butterflies. Something that ignites a spark in you. Let the need to talk to Allah (SWT) and ask of Him fuel you to wake up for Tahajjud.
May Allah (SWT) grant us all the Tawfeeq (ability) to wake up for Tahajjud, ameen.
