How do I perform night vigil (tahajjud) prayer?

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful & Compassionate

Allah Most High says,

“And stay awake for prayer during part of the night as a supererogatory action for yourself. It may well be that your Lord will raise you to a Praiseworthy Station,” (17:79)

And He says,

“Their sides eschew their beds,” (32:16)

And the Almighty says,

“The part of the night they spent asleep was small.” (51:17)

Voluntary (nafl) prayer at night (qiyam al-layl) is more virtuous than voluntary prayer during the day. ‘Night prayer’ is any prayer performed after Isha time.

However, the full reward mentioned in the Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths refers to worship that was preceded by sleep. This is also understood from the very linguistic meaning of ‘tahajjud’ (night vigil), which is to struggle rid oneself of sleep. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Ibn Amir Haajj’s Halba]

Faraz Rabbani

Additional Reading:

Imam Nawawi’s Riyad al-Salihin: 212. Chapter: On the excellence of rising in the night to pray