1. Tahajjud: Upon Waking: Last 10 Ayat of Surah Aal-Imran
إِنَّ فِىْ خَلْقِ السَّمـٰوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلٰـفِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لاٰيٰاتٍ لِّأُولِى الْأَلْبَـٰبِ. الَّذِيْنَ يَذْكُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلَىٰ جُنُوْبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ فِىْ خَلْقِ السَّمـٰوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ، رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بٰطِلًا ، سُبْحٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ ، وَمَا لِلظّـٰلِمِيْنَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ. رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُّنَادِىْ لِلْإِيْمَـٰنِ أَنْ اٰمِنُوْا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاٰمَنَّا ۚ ، رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوْبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـاٰتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ. رَبَّنَا وَاٰتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيـٰمَةِ ۗ ، إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيْعَادَ. فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّىْ لَآ أُضِيْعُ عَمَلَ عَـامِلٍ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ ، بَعْضُكُمْ مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۖ ، فَالَّذِيْنَ هَاجَرُوْا وَأُخْرِجُوْا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوْذُوْا فِىْ سَبِيْلِىْ وَقٰتَلُوْا وَقُتِلُوْا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّاٰتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِىْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهٰرُ ، ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ اللّٰهِ ۗ ، وَاللّٰهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ. لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا فِىْ الْبِلَـٰدِ ، مَتاَعٌ قَلِيْلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ. لٰكِنِ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِىْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهٰرُ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْهَا نُزُلًا مِّنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ ۗ ، وَمَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ لِّلْأَبْرَارِ. وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتٰبِ لَمَنْ يُّؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَمَآ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خٰشِعِيْنَ لِلّٰهِ لَا يَشْتَرُوْنَ بِاٰيٰتِ اللّٰهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا ۗ ، أُولـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ ، إِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ. يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اصْبِرُوْا وَصَابِرُوْا وَرَابِطُوْا وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ.
Inna fī khalqis samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa-khtilāfi-l-layli wan-nahāri la āyātil li-uli-l-albāb,
Alladhīna yadhkurūnal-lāha qiyāmaw-wa quʿudaw-wa ʿalā junūbihim wa yatafakkarūna fī khalqi-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi Rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bātilā, Subhānaka faqinā ʿadhāba-n-nār.
Rabbāna innaka man tudkhili-n-nāra fa-qad akhzaytah wa mā li-dhālimīnā min anṣār.
Rabbanā in-nanā samiʿnā munādiya-y-yunādi lil imāni an āminu bi Rabbikum fa āmannā; Rabbanā faghfir lanā dhunūbanā wa-kaffir ʿannā sayyi’ātinā wa tawaffanā maʿal abrār.
Rabbanā wa ātinā mā wa'dattanā ʿalā rusulika wa lā tukhzinā Yawmal Qiyāmah; innaka lā tukhliful miʿād.
Fastajāba lahum Rabbuhum annī lā udīu ʿamala ʿāmili-m-minkum min dhakariw-aw-unthā ba'dhukum min ba'dhin fal-l-adhīna hājaru wa ukhrijū min diyārihim wa ūdhū fī sabīlī wa qātalu wa qutilū la-ukaffiranna ʿanhum sayyi’ātihim wa la-udkhilannahum Jannātin tajrī min taḥtiha-l-anhāru thawābam min ʿindi-l-lāh; wallāhu ʿindahu ḥusnu-th-thawāb.
Lā yaghurrannaka taqal-lubul ladhīna kafarū fi-l-bilād. Matāʿun qalīl; thumma ma'wāhum Jahannam; wa bi'sa-l-mihād.
Lākini-l-ladhīna-t-taqaw Rabbahum lahum Jannātun tajrī min tahtiha-l-anāru khālidīna fīhā nuzulam-min ʿindil lāh, wa mā ʿindal lāhi khayrul-lil-abrār.
Wa inna min Ahli-l-Kitābi lamay-y-yu'minu billāhi wa mā unzila ilaykum wa mā unzila ilayhim khāshiʿeena lillāhi lā yashtaroona bi Āyātil lāhi samanan qaleelaa; ulā'ika lahum ajruhum 'inda Rabbihim; inna-l-lāha sarī'ul hisāb.
Yā-ayyuha-l-ladhīna āmanu-ṣbirū wa ṣābirū wa rābiṭū wa-t-taqul-lāha laʿallakum tufliḥūn.
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day there are signs for people of reason. (3:190)
(They are) those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (and pray), “Our Lord! You have not created (all of) this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. (3:191)
Our Lord! Indeed, those You commit to the Fire will be (completely) disgraced! And the wrongdoers will have no helpers. (3:192)
Our Lord! We have heard the caller to (true) belief, (proclaiming,) ‘Believe in your Lord (alone),’ so we believed. Our Lord! Forgive our sins, absolve us of our misdeeds, and allow us ˹each˺ to die as one of the virtuous. (3:193)
Our Lord! Grant us what You have promised us through Your messengers and do not put us to shame on Judgment Day—for certainly You never fail in Your promise.” (3:194)
So their Lord responded to them: “I will never deny any of you—male or female—the reward of your deeds. Both are equal in reward. Those who migrated or were expelled from their homes, and were persecuted for My sake and fought and (some) were martyred—I will certainly forgive their sins and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow, as a reward from Allah. And with Allah is the finest reward!” (3:195)
Do not be deceived by the prosperity of the disbelievers throughout the land. (3:196)
It is only a brief enjoyment. Then Hell will be their home—what an evil place to rest! (3:197)
But those who are mindful of their Lord will be in Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever—as an accommodation from Allah. And what is with Allah is best for the virtuous. (3:198)
Indeed, there are some among the People of the Book who truly believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you and what was revealed to them. They humble themselves before Allah—never trading Allah’s revelations for a fleeting gain. Their reward is with their Lord. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning. (3:199)
O believers! Patiently endure, persevere, stand on guard, and be mindful of Allah, so you may be successful. (3:200)
Bukhārī 183
2. Guaranteed Acceptance of Tahajjud & Duʿā
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ ، وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ [اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ] .
Lā ilāha illa-l-lāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lah, lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamd, wa Huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in Qadīr, alḥamdu li-llāh, wa subḥāna-llāh, wa lā ilāha illā-l-llāh, wa-llāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāh, allāhumma-ghfir lī.
There is no god worthy of worship except Allah. He is Alone and He has no partner whatsoever. To Him Alone belong all sovereignty and all praise. He is over all things All-Powerful. All praise be to Allah and Allah is free from imperfection. There is no god worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no power (in averting evil) or strength (in attaining good) except through Allah. O Allah, forgive me.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever gets up at night and says [the above] and then says: ‘O Allah, forgive me’ or makes duʿā’, it will be accepted. If he performs wuḍū’ and…
3. Tahajjud: Istiftah (The Opening Duʿa’) #1
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ جَبْرَائِيْلَ وَمِيْكَائِيْلَ وَإِسْرَافِيْلَ ، فَاطِرَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيْمَا كَانُوْا فِيْهِ يَخْتَلِفُوْنَ ، اِهْدِنِيْ لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ.
Allāhumma Rabba Jabrā’īla, wa Mīkā’īla, wa Isrāfīl, fāṭira-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ, ʿālima-l-ghaybi wa-sh-shahādah, Anta taḥkumu bayna ʿibādika fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn, ihdinī lima-khtulifa fīhi mina-l-ḥaqqi bi-idhnik, innaka tahdī man tashā’u ilā Ṣirāṭi-m-Mustaqīm.
O Allah, Lord of Jabrā’īl, Mīkā’īl and Isrāfīl; Creator of the heavens and the earth; Knower of the unseen and seen, You will judge between Your servants in what they used to differ. Guide me in what is contentious to the truth, by Your Will. Certainly, You guide whomsoever You will to a straight path.
Muslim 770
4. Tahajjud: Istiftah (The Opening Duʿa’) #2
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ ، أَنْتَ نُوْرُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ ، وَوَعْدُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّبِيُّوْنَ حَقٌّ ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ،
فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
Allāhumma laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Nūru-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Qayyimu-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka-l-ḥamd, Anta-l-Ḥaqq wa waʿduka ḥaqq, wa qawluka ḥaqq, wa liqā’uka ḥaqq, wal-jannatu ḥaqq, wa-n-nāru ḥaqq, wa-s-sāʿatu ḥaqq, wa-n-nabiyyūna ḥaqq, wa muḥammadun ḥaqq, Allāhumma laka aslamtu wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu wa bika āmantu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khaṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu. Faghfirlī mā qaddamtu wa mā akh-khart, wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlant, Anta-l-Muqaddimu wa Anta-l-Muakh-khir, lā ilāha illā ant.
O Allah, for You Alone is all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. For You Alone is all praise; You are the Maintainer of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. And for You Alone is all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is the truth, and Your speech is the truth. The meeting with You is the truth, Paradise is the truth, and Hell-Fire is the truth. The Final Hour is the truth, the Prophets are the truth and Muhammad is the truth. O Allah, I surrender myself to You Alone, I put my trust in You Alone, and I believe in You Alone. I turn to You Alone, I complain of my opponents to You Alone and I refer judgement to You Alone. So forgive me for what I have done in the past and for what I am yet to do, for what I have done privately and for what I have done publicly. You are the One who brings forward and the One who puts behind, and there is no god worthy of worship except You.
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrates: “When the Prophet ﷺ would stand for the night (tahajjud) prayer, he would say [the above].” (Bukhārī 6317, 7499)
5. Tahajjud: Istiftah (The Opening Duʿa’) #3
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ.
Subḥānallāhi Rabbi-l-ālamin, subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdih.
Allah is free from imperfection, the Lord of all the worlds. Allah is free from imperfection, and all praise is due to Him.
Rabīʿah bin Kaʿb al-Aslamī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “I used to stay overnight at the home of the Prophet ﷺ and I used to hear him when he prayed at night saying: [the above] for a long time.” (Nasā’ī 1618)
6. Tahajjud: Istiftah (The Opening Duʿa’) #4
اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ (x10)، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ (x10)، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ (x10)، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ (x10)، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ (x10)، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ ، أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ ضِيْقِ الْمَقَامِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.
Allāhu akbar (x10), alḥamdu li-llāh (x10), subḥāna-llāh (x10), lā ilāha illā-Allāh (x10), astaghfiru-l-llāh (x10), Allāhumma ghfir lī wa-hdinī wa-rzuqnī wa āfinī, aʿūdhu bi-llāhi min ḍīqi-l-maqāmi yawma-l-qiyāmah.
Allah is the Greatest. All praise be to Allah. Allah is free from imperfection. There is no god but Allah. I seek Allah’s forgiveness. O Allah, forgive me, guide me, grant me sustenance and wellbeing. I seek your protection from the anguish of standing on the Day of Judgement.
Repeat 10×
Nasā’ī 1617
7. Tahajjud: Istiʿadhah (Seek Allah's protection from Shaytan)
أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ.
Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi-s-Samīʿi-l-ʿAlīm mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm, min hamzihī wa nafkhihī wa nafthih.
I seek protection in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the rejected Shaytān; from him inciting madness, pride and reprehensible poetry.
Lifewithallah.com
8. Tahajjud: Rukuʿ #1
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوْتِ ، والْمَلَكُوْتِ ، والْكِبْرِيَاءِ ، والْعَظَمَةِ.
Subḥāna dhi-l-jabarūt, wa-l-malakūt, wa-l kibriyā', wa-l-ʿaẓamah.
How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness!
Nasā’ī 1132, Abū Dāwūd 873
9. Tahajjud: Rukuʿ #2
سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
Subḥānaka wa bi-ḥamdika lā ilāha illā ant.
How Perfect are You, and all praise is for You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.
Muslim 485
10. Tahajjud: Sujud #1
سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
Subḥānaka wa bi-ḥamdika lā ilāha illā ant.
You are free from imperfection, and all praise is to You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.
Repeat 3×
Muslim 485
11. Tahajjud: Sujud #2
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ ، وَبِكَ مِنْكَ ، لَا أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِكَ.
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bi-riḍāka min sakhatik, wa bi-muʿāfātika min ʿuqūbatik, wa bika minka, lā uḥṣī thanā’an ʿalayk, Anta kamā athnayta ʿalā nafsik.
O Allah, indeed, I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and in You from Your [aforementioned anger and punishment]. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) said, “One night, I noticed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was missing. I found him (in the Masjid), in prostration with his feet upright; he was saying [the above]” (Nasā’ī 1100)
12. Tahajjud: To be Read After Witr
سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوْسِ.
Subḥāna-l-Maliki-l-Quddūs.
How Perfect is the Sovereign, the Most Holy.
Repeat 3×
Nasā’ī 1699
