How Many Rakats Are in the Tahajjud Prayer? A Complete Guide

How Many Rakats Are in the Tahajjud Prayer? ~ Whatever your reasons and goals for reading this article, we'll strive to meet your expectations. We will clarify many points about the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We are confident that the explanation of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is the essential information you are seeking.

Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are a fundamental part of this prayer. Why? The simplest answer is that Rakats are integral to prayer in Islam. A Rakat consists of the components of prayer, including standing, bowing (Rukuk), and prostration (Sujud).

The Meaning of Rakats in the Tahajjud Prayer

Before we delve deeper into "How Many Rakats Are in the Tahajjud Prayer?", let's first explore the meaning of Rakats in this prayer. It is essential to understand this meaning so that you can grasp everything about the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer that we will discuss in this article.

Before discussing the meaning of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer, we highly recommend understanding the literal meaning of Rakats. This will assist you in comprehending the significance of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer we are discussing today.

In simple terms, you can find a description of the meaning of Rakats in the following sentence:

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

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

If you understand the meaning of Rakats as we have quoted above, you can conclude that Rakats are the elements of prayer, comprising specific sayings and movements that are fixed in Islam. Therefore, not all utterances may be spoken during prayer, just as not all movements may be performed in prayer.

Read Also: How to Make Niyyat for Tahajjud Prayer

Currently, we will state that the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer consist of specific utterances and movements within that prayer.

Why Are Rakats in the Tahajjud Prayer Important?

You may be wondering, "Why are Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer important?"

In the previous paragraphs, we described that Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are specific utterances and movements. Thus, Rakats are a significant component of the Tahajjud prayer.

Therefore, the answer to the question "Why are Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer important?" is that Rakats are essential parts of the Tahajjud prayer. Without Rakats, our Tahajjud prayer is invalid.

Questions and Answers About the Number of Rakats in the Tahajjud Prayer

The next essential aspect of "How Many Rakats are in the Tahajjud Prayer?" that we will discuss is the questions and answers about the number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We want you to understand each of these because they are all common features of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer that Muslims must know.

Many key points about the number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are often asked by Muslims in various countries, such as Pakistan, India, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Mauritius, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the Maldives, the US, and so on. This is one of the reasons we created this article.

Listed below are some essential questions about Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. We'll discuss everything briefly and quote related hadiths (if there are any that describe them).

How Many Rakats are in the Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, "How many Rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?", the answer is, "There is no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer." The reason is that Prophet Muhammad performed the Tahajjud prayer with varying numbers of Rakats. We can find this explanation in the following hadith:

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 that he asked Aisha (radiyallahu anha) about the night prayer of Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). She said, "7 Rakats, or 9 Rakats, or 11 Rakats, apart from the two Rakats in Fajr prayer."

The hadith above explains that sometimes Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed up to seven, nine, or eleven Rakats at night. These Rakats are in addition to the two Rakats in the Fajr prayer. Therefore, we can conclude that he performed 6, 8, or 10 Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.

What is the Minimum Rakats for the Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, "What is the minimum number of 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 (radiyallahu anhuma) said, "Someone asked Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad), 'How do I perform the night prayer?' He said, 'Two Rakats, two Rakats. If you fear that you will not be able to perform the Fajr prayer, then do the Witr prayer with one Rakat.'"

The above hadith explains that the Tahajjud prayer is performed in sets of 2 Rakats. Therefore, we can conclude that the minimum number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is 2.

What is the Maximum Rakats for the Tahajjud Prayer?

If you ask us, "What is the maximum number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer?", the answer is, "There is no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer because there is no hadith that specifically describes the maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer." Thus, you can perform any number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer.

However, one vital point we want to emphasize here is that we must not force ourselves to perform the Tahajjud prayer with too many Rakats, which could burden us. As normal human beings, we have many obligations to fulfill in the early morning. Therefore, the Tahajjud prayer should not hinder us from fulfilling our responsibilities. Remember! The Tahajjud prayer is a Sunnah. If we perform it, we will be rewarded; but if we do not, we are not held accountable.

How Many Rakats Did the Prophet Pray for Tahajjud?

This is one of the questions often asked by many Muslims: how many Rakats did the Prophet pray for Tahajjud? Before we clarify the answer to this question, we will quote several hadiths that specifically clarify the Rakats prayed by the Prophet for Tahajjud.

Some of the hadiths that particularly discuss the Rakats prayed by the Prophet for Tahajjud are as follows:

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) that she said, "The Prophet (Muhammad) (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed at night a total of thirteen Rakats, including the Witr prayer and 2 Rakats in the Fajr prayer."

The above hadith explains that Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed a total of thirteen Rakats at night, which included one Rakat for the Witr prayer and two Rakats for the Fajr prayer. Therefore, we can assume that he performed 10 Rakats in the 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 that he asked Aisha (radiyallahu anha) about the prayer of Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) at night. She said, "7 Rakats, or 9 Rakats, or 11 Rakats, apart from the 2 Rakats in Fajr prayer."

The hadith above explains that sometimes Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) prayed at night up to 7 Rakats, 9 Rakats, or 11 Rakats. These Rakats are in addition to the two Rakats in the Fajr prayer. So, we can infer that he performed 6, 8, or 10 Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.

Is Tahajjud 2 Rakats?

This is one of the fundamental questions regarding the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer: Is Tahajjud 2 Rakats?

Once again, I would like to emphasize that there is no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. This means that the Tahajjud prayer can be performed with any even number of Rakats (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and so on). However, 2 Rakats is the minimum number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer.

You can find this explanation 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 do we perform the night prayer?' He replied, 'Two Rakats, two Rakats. If you fear that you will not be able to perform the Fajr prayer, then do the Witr prayer with one Rakat.'"

Can I pray 6 Rakats of Tahajjud?

In the previous paragraphs, I described that the Tahajjud prayer can be carried out in 4 Rakats. So, if you ask, "Can I pray 6 Rakats of Tahajjud?", the answer is, "Absolutely! You can pray 6 Rakats of Tahajjud." Don't be confused about that.

How Many Rakats Are Best for Tahajjud?

This is one of the most common questions regarding the Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer. Many Muslims inquire: how many Rakats are best for Tahajjud?

Before we discuss the answer to this question, let's reference a number of hadiths that specifically describe the best variety of Rakats for Tahajjud. Some of the hadiths we will refer to are as follows:

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 that he said, "Once, the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam entered the Mosque and saw a rope hanging between two pillars. He asked, 'What is this rope?' The people replied, '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 energetic, 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 that she said, "A woman from the tribe of Bani Asad was sitting with me when Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam came to my house and asked, 'Who is this?' I replied, '(She is) So and so. She does not sleep at night because she is engaged in prayer.' The Prophet then said disapprovingly, 'Do (good) deeds that are within your capacity, as Allah never gets tired of giving rewards until you tire 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 ، وَلَأَهْلِكَ حَقٌّ ، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ ‏‏

It was narrated from Abu al-Abbas that he said, "I 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 night and fast during the day.' I replied, '(Yes) I do so.' He said, 'If you do so, your eyesight will weaken and you will become frail. Indeed, your body has a right over you, and your family has a right over you, so fast for some days and do not fast on others; pray for some time 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 that "A man came to the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam while he was delivering a sermon and asked him how to offer the night prayers. The Prophet replied, 'Pray two Rakats at a time, then two more, and so on. If you fear the dawn (the approach of the Fajr prayer), then pray one Rakat, and that will serve as the Witr for all the Rakats you have prayed.'"

If we understand some of the hadiths above, we can conclude that the best Rakats for Tahajjud are those that do not burden us. We should not force ourselves to perform a large number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer if we are unable to do so.

How Many Rakats of Tahajjud Should I Pray?

In the previous couple of paragraphs, we clarified the best Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer. We also mentioned that an excellent number of Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer is one that does not cause us worry.

So, if you ask us, "How many Rakats of Tahajjud should I pray?" the answer is: "Pray Rakats of Tahajjud that do not burden you—Rakats that won't prevent you from fulfilling your obligations after the Tahajjud prayer." It's important for you to understand this.

Tahajjud Total Rakats: Important Conclusions

Now, we'll summarize our conclusions about the Rakats of the Tahajjud prayer (we hope you understand it all):

1. The minimum number of Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is 2.
2. There is no maximum limit for Rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.
3. The best Rakats for the Tahajjud prayer are those that we can perform comfortably.

That is a brief explanation of "How Many Rakats for the Tahajjud Prayer?" and some important points about it. We hope you find it useful. Amen.