ALLAH INVITES YOU

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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

THE BEAUTY OF QIYĀM AL-LAYL AND TAHAJJUD

Have you ever wondered why some people willingly leave their comfortable beds in the middle of the night just to stand before Allah SWT?

It is not because they have no problems. It is not because their lives are perfect. Rather, they recognise that there is something more precious than sleep, comfort, money and worldly pleasures: the opportunity to stand before their Creator when most of the world is asleep.

WHAT IS QIYĀM AL-LAYL AND TAHAJJUD?

Qiyām al-Layl refers to voluntary worship performed at night, including prayer, remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Qur'an.

Tahajjud commonly refers to voluntary night prayer performed after waking from sleep.

Both are beautiful acts of worship, and both offer opportunities to draw closer to Allah SWT.

WHEN DOES THE TIME FOR TAHAJJUD BEGIN AND END?

The time for night prayer begins after Ṣalāt al-‘Ishā’ and continues until the break of dawn, when Fajr begins.

However, praying during the last third of the night is particularly virtuous. It is a precious time when a believer can seek Allah's forgiveness, ask for His mercy, make du‘ā' and pour out the worries of the heart before Him.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains…”

📚 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1145; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 758.

What an extraordinary opportunity! While many are sleeping, you can be awake, seeking the mercy of the One who controls everything.

TAHAJJUD: A BATTLE AGAINST YOUR COMFORT

Tahajjud is not literally translated as war, but it can feel like a personal battle.

A battle against your warm bed.

A battle against your heavy eyelids.

A battle against laziness and the whispers of Shayṭān, who may tempt you to say:

“Sleep a little longer. You can pray tomorrow. You are tired. It is not compulsory.”

Yet, the believer who longs for Allah's pleasure learns to resist these whispers and rise according to their ability.

Allah SWT describes such believers in the Qur'an:

“Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope.”

📚 Surah As-Sajdah 32:16.

Pause and reflect on that verse.

Their beds offer comfort, but their hearts desire closeness to Allah. They leave the warmth of their resting places to seek His mercy, hoping for His reward and fearing His displeasure.

When you rise for Tahajjud, you demonstrate that your desire to worship Allah can be stronger than your desire for comfort.

This is an act of devotion worth nurturing, seeking sincerity in every step.

MY PEOPLE, LISTEN!

Money is important, but it is not everything.

If angels were distributing naira and dollars during Tahajjud, perhaps many people who struggle to wake up for night prayer would suddenly find the strength to stay awake!

We can make sacrifices for overtime, business, examinations and worldly opportunities. Yet, when it comes to standing before Allah for a few minutes, we sometimes find it difficult.

Why?

Is it because we have forgotten the immeasurable value of the One we are worshipping?

My brothers and sisters, let us reflect.

The reward of Tahajjud cannot be measured in naira or dollars. It is an opportunity to seek forgiveness, strengthen our connection with Allah, express our deepest needs and prepare for the Hereafter.

And remember, Allah knows the struggles you face. Begin with what you can sustain.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO START WITH EIGHT RAK‘AHS

Do not allow the thought of praying eight rak‘ahs to discourage you from beginning.

Start with two rak‘ahs.

If you can pray more, Alhamdulillāh. If two are what you can manage consistently, begin there and gradually build upon them.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are done regularly, even if they are few.”

📚 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6464; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 783.

Consistency matters. Sincerity matters. And beginning, even with a small deed, matters.

Do not wait until you feel spiritually perfect before you begin. Start by asking Allah to help you, and keep striving.

YOUR OBLIGATORY PRAYERS COME FIRST

As beautiful as Tahajjud is, never allow voluntary worship to make you neglect your obligatory prayers.

The five daily prayers remain the foundation of a Muslim's relationship with Allah. Voluntary prayers are an additional means of drawing closer to Him and, by Allah's permission, making up deficiencies in one's obligatory prayers.

The Prophet ﷺ explained that voluntary deeds would be considered when deficiencies are found in a person's obligatory prayers.

📚 Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī 413.

Therefore, guard your five daily prayers, fulfil your obligations and then beautify your worship with voluntary night prayer.

DO NOT BE SOMEONE WHO STARTS AND THEN ABANDONS IT

The Prophet ﷺ once warned ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (RA) against becoming like a man who used to pray at night but later abandoned the practice.

📚 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1152; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1159.

This teaches us the importance of maintaining our worship and not allowing our good habits to disappear unnecessarily.

If you miss a night, do not despair. Return to the practice. If you become weak, ask Allah for strength. If you struggle to wake up, sleep earlier and take practical steps to make it easier.

Do not let one missed night become a reason to abandon the journey altogether.

FINALLY, ALLAH IS CALLING YOU TO SOMETHING BETTER

Imagine the peace of standing before Allah in the quietness of the night, reciting His words, asking for forgiveness and making du‘ā' for the things you cannot even explain to another human being.

No audience.

No applause.

No need to impress anyone.

Just you, your worship and your hope in the mercy of Allah SWT.

You may be carrying burdens that nobody understands. You may be waiting for a breakthrough, seeking forgiveness, asking for healing or praying for a better future.

Rise and ask Allah.

And if you cannot manage a long prayer, offer what you can sincerely and consistently.

Tonight, make a decision. Do not merely admire those who pray Tahajjud. Take your own first step.

May Allah SWT make us among those who establish the five daily prayers, stand before Him during the night, remember Him consistently, receive His forgiveness and attain Jannatul Firdaus.

Āmīn, Yā Rabb al-‘Ālamīn.