The Tahajjud prayer is one of the most spiritually rewarding acts of worship in Islam. Offered after Isha and before Fajr, it is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer that brings a believer closer to Allah. Reciting a heartfelt tahajjud dua during these quiet hours is a powerful way to seek forgiveness, guidance, and success in this life and the Hereafter.
What Is the Tahajjud Prayer?
The Tahajjud prayer is performed in the last third of the night after waking from sleep. Unlike the obligatory five daily prayers, it is optional but highly recommended. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regularly prayed Tahajjud, emphasizing its virtues and the special closeness to Allah during this time.
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Time: After Isha until the adhan of Fajr.
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Rakat (units): Minimum of 2, but many offer 8 or more depending on ability (tahajjud namaz rakat can be adjusted to your capacity).
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Intention: Purely for the pleasure of Allah and seeking His help.
Complete Tahajjud Dua in Arabic and English
📖 Source: Sahih Bukhari & Muslim (from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه)
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ
Allāhumma laka al-ḥamdu, anta qayyimu al-samāwāti wa al-arḍi wa man fīhinna
O Allah! All praise is for You. You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them.
وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ
Wa laka al-ḥamdu, laka mulku al-samāwāti wa al-arḍi wa man fīhinna
And all praise is for You; Yours is the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them.
وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
Wa laka al-ḥamdu, anta nūru al-samāwāti wa al-arḍi
And all praise is for You; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.
وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ مَلِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
Wa laka al-ḥamdu, anta maliku al-samāwāti wa al-arḍi
And all praise is for You; You are the King of the heavens and the earth.
وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ
Wa laka al-ḥamdu, anta al-ḥaqqu, wa waʿduka al-ḥaqqu, wa liqā’uka ḥaqqun
And all praise is for You; You are the Truth, and Your promise is true, and the meeting with You is true.
وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ
Wa qawluka ḥaqqun, wa al-jannatu ḥaqqun, wa al-nāru ḥaqqun
And Your Word is true, Paradise is true, and the Fire is true.
وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ
Wa al-nabiyyūna ḥaqqun, wa Muḥammadun ﷺ ḥaqqun, wa al-sāʿatu ḥaqqun
And the Prophets are true, and Muhammad (ﷺ) is true, and the Final Hour is true.
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ
Allāhumma laka aslamtu, wa bika āmantu, wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu
O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You I have believed, and upon You I have relied.
وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ
Wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khāṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu
And to You I have turned in repentance, and by You I argue (my case), and to You I turn for judgment.
فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ
Faghfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu, wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlantu
So forgive me for what I have done before and what I will do later, what I have kept secret and what I have made public.
أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
\Anta al-muqaddimu wa anta al-mu’akhkhiru, lā ilāha illā anta
You are the One who brings forward, and You are the One who delays. There is no deity but You.
✅ Tips for Tahajjud Ki Dua:
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Pray 2, 4, 6, 8 Rak’ahs in sets of 2.
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End with Witr (1 or 3 Rak’ahs).
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Recite this Dua after Salah, especially when making sujood or sitting after the prayer.
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Make personal duas from your heart in your own language after this Sunnah dua.
🌙 Other Related Dua for Tahajjud / Qiyam al-Layl
1. Dua for Forgiveness (Sayyidul Istighfar)
📖 Sahih Bukhari 6306
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration:
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’udhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa abu’u laka bidhanbi, faghfir li fa’innahu la yaghfiru al-dhunuba illa anta.
Translation:
O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I uphold Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.
2. Dua Taught by Jibreel (as) – For All Needs
📖 Tabarani; Sahih
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ اهدِني فيمَن هَدَيتَ، وعافِني فيمَن عافَيتَ، وتولَّني فيمَن تولَّيتَ، وبارِكْ لي فيما أعطَيتَ، وقِني شرَّ ما قضَيتَ، فإنك تقضي ولا يُقضى عليك، وإنه لا يذِلُّ من والَيتَ، تباركتَ ربَّنا وتعالَيتَ.
Transliteration:
Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a‘tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu la yadhillu man walayt, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta‘alayt.
Translation:
O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, and grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being to. Take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, and bless me in what You have given. Protect me from the evil You have decreed. Surely, You decree, and none can influence You. He whom You befriend is not humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.
3. Dua of Yunus (AS) – For Distress and Forgiveness
📖 Qur’an 21:87
Arabic:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration:
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimeen.
Translation:
There is no god but You. Glory be to You! Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers.
📝 Highly effective when you feel trapped or in hardship—best recited repeatedly during sujood or du’a.
4. Dua for Mercy and Guidance
📖 Qur’an 3:8
Arabic:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Transliteration:
Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba’da idh hadaytana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah. Innaka anta al-Wahhab.
Translation:
Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself. Indeed, You are the Bestower.
5. Dua for a Blessed End (Husn al-Khatimah)
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ اجعلْ خيرَ أعمالِنا خواتيمَها، وخيرَ أيامِنا يومَ نلقاكَ
Transliteration:
Allahumma aj‘al khayra a‘malina khawatimaha, wa khayra ayyamina yawma nalqaka.
Translation:
O Allah, make the best of our deeds the last of them, and the best of our days the day we meet You.
Step-by-Step Guide to Praying Tahajjud
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Make Niyyah (Intention): A quiet intention in the heart for tahajjud prayer dua is enough; no verbal statement is required.
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Perform Wudu: Cleanliness is essential for any salah.
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Pray 2 or More Rakat: Start with two rakat. You may pray 8 or more, finishing with Witr if not prayed earlier.
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Recite Personal Duas: After the prayer, raise your hands and recite the dua tahajjud, asking Allah for forgiveness, mercy, or specific needs.
Tips for a Heartfelt Tahajjud Dua Experience
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Consistency Over Quantity: Even two rakat prayed sincerely are beloved to Allah.
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Private Space: Pray in a quiet place where you can focus.
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Supplicate Freely: After the formal dua, speak to Allah in your own words—this is a special time when prayers are most likely to be accepted.
Spiritual Benefits of Tahajjud
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Closeness to Allah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said the Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, answering the call of His servants.
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Inner Peace: Night prayer calms the heart and reduces stress.
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Forgiveness of Sins: Sincere dua tahajjud wipes away minor sins.
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Life Success: Many Muslims testify that making tahajjud dua for success brings unexpected opportunities and ease.
🕌 Read Also: Istighfar Dua
Final Thoughts
Praying Tahajjud and reciting the Tahajjud Prayer Dua is a beautiful way to connect with Allah. Whether you need guidance, forgiveness, or are seeking tahajjud dua for success, the stillness of the night amplifies sincerity. Make it a habit, even if only a few nights a week, and experience the immense spiritual benefits.
? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many rakat should I pray for Tahajjud?
You can pray Tahajjud Dua a minimum of 2 rakat. Many pray 8 or even more depending on energy and time.
2. Can I recite my own dua in Tahajjud?
Yes. After completing the prayer, you can make personal supplications in any language, alongside the traditional tahajjud dua.
3. What is the best time for Tahajjud Dua?
The last third of the night—roughly the final couple of hours before Fajr—is the most virtuous time.