How Many Rakats Are in the Tahajjud Prayer? Find Out Here!
Hi, dear readers! Are you looking for an explanation of "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?" If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are now reading the right article. Why? Because that is exactly what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand this, which is why I wrote it. So, make sure to read it to the end!
Specifically, there are some important aspects regarding "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?" that I will address in this article. Some of these important points are as follows:
What Is Rakat in the Tahajjud Prayer?
The first important thing I will explain about "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?" is "What is rakat in the Tahajjud prayer?" I want you to grasp this concept before reading further explanations in this article, as it is the foundational aspect of our discussion that must be understood well.
Before I delve deeper into "What is rakat in the Tahajjud prayer?", I will clarify the meaning of rakat in prayer. It’s crucial to understand this first, as it is essential for comprehending the meaning of rakat in the Tahajjud prayer.
If we consult various Islamic legal texts regarding rakat in prayer, we will find the following explanation:
الرَّكَعَاتُ أَوْ رَكَعَاتُ الصَّلَاةِ هِيَ : أَقْوَالٌ وَأَفْعَالٌ مَخْصُوْصَةٌ ، فِيْ الدِّيْنِ الْإِسْلَامِيِّ ، تَتَكَوَّنُ مِنْهَا الصَّلَاةُ ، وَكَيْفِيَتُهَا مُحَدَّدَةٌ بِاتِّبَاعِ الشَّرْعِ
Rakats in prayer are specific utterances and movements in Islam that are components of the prayer, and the method of performing them is determined by following the sharia.
Dear readers, if we understand the meaning of rakat in prayer as I have just explained, we will see that the rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are specific utterances and movements that constitute the prayer, and their performance is guided by sharia.
Thus, we can conclude that the rakats in the Tahajjud prayer are an essential part of the prayer itself, as they are fundamental components of the Tahajjud prayer.
The Best Time to Perform Tahajjud Prayer According to the Quran and Hadith
That is a brief explanation of "What is rakat in the Tahajjud prayer?" As Muslims, we must understand this.
How Many Rakats Are in the Tahajjud Prayer?
The important point about "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?" that I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. Therefore, I truly hope you read the explanation below carefully.
Before I provide you with a specific answer to that question, I will quote some hadiths that are particularly related to this discussion. I want you to remember and understand them well.
Hadith About Rakats in the Tahajjud Prayer
As for the hadith regarding rakats in the Tahajjud prayer, it is as follows:
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, "A man asked Allah's Messenger (Prophet Muhammad), 'How should we pray at night?' He replied, 'Two rakats, two rakats. If you are concerned that you will not be able to perform the Fajr prayer, then do the Witr prayer with one rakat.'"
This hadith explains that the Tahajjud prayer is performed in sets of two rakats. We can also conclude that the minimum number of rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is two.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا , قَالَ : كَانَ صَلاَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً ( يَعْنِي بِاللَّيْلِ)
From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma, he said, "The prayer of the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam was thirteen rakats (referring to his night prayers)."
This hadith explains that Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at night for a total of thirteen rakats. The Witr and Tahajjud prayers are among the prayers he performed at night. Thus, we can deduce that he performed twelve rakats in the Tahajjud prayer and one rakat in the Witr prayer.
عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ ، قَالَ : سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِاللَّيْلِ . فَقَالَتْ : سَبْعٌ وَتِسْعٌ وَإِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ سِوَى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ
From Masruq, he said, "I asked Aisha radiyallahu anha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at night. She replied, 'Seven (rakats), or nine (rakats), or eleven (rakats) apart from the two rakats in the Fajr prayer.'"
This hadith indicates that sometimes Prophet Muhammad sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam prayed at night up to seven, nine, or eleven rakats, in addition to the two rakats of the Fajr prayer. Thus, we can infer that he performed six, eight, or ten rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهَا , قَالَتْ : كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوِتْرُ وَرَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ
From Aisha radiyallahu anha, she said, "The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prayed at night as many as thirteen rakats, including the Witr prayer and the two rakats of Fajr prayer."
This hadith clarifies that Prophet Muhammad sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam prayed at night up to thirteen rakats, including those for the Witr prayer and two for Fajr prayer. Therefore, we can deduce that he performed ten rakats in the Tahajjud prayer.
Now, if you ask me, "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer?" the answer is that the minimum number of rakats in the Tahajjud prayer is two, and there is no maximum limit. In other words, we can perform two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, or even twenty rakats in the Tahajjud prayer, and so on. That's the answer.
We understand that there is no maximum limit for rakats in the Tahajjud prayer because there are many hadiths that describe the variations in the number of rakats prayed by Prophet Muhammad.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding "How many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer" is essential for every Muslim seeking to enhance their spiritual practice. This article clarifies that the minimum number of rakats is two, as supported by various hadiths. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) often prayed more, typically up to thirteen rakats, which highlights the flexibility of this night prayer. The absence of a maximum limit encourages believers to engage in prolonged worship based on their devotion and capacity. The significance of rakats lies in their structured nature, helping us connect more profoundly with our faith during the serene hours of the night. By participating in Tahajjud, we not only follow a noble tradition but also open our hearts to reflection and prayer.
I hope this article has provided valuable insights, and I encourage you to incorporate this beautiful practice into your spiritual journey. Ameen.
Thank you for reading, and may you find peace in your prayers!
The way the article breaks down the concept of rakat in the Tahajjud prayer is very helpful. As a beginner, I wasn't entirely sure what rakat meant in the context of prayer, but after reading the explanation in the article, it's now much clearer to me. The distinction between specific utterances and movements in prayer makes sense, and it's comforting to know that these actions, while part of the prayer, are meant to help us connect deeply with Allah (SWT).
What really stood out to me was the simplicity of the explanation about how many rakats are in the Tahajjud prayer. I now understand that the minimum number is two, which was such a relief for me, as I was uncertain about how to start practicing this prayer. I also appreciate the flexibility highlighted in the article—there's no maximum limit to the number of rakats, and that gives me the freedom to increase the number as I grow in my worship and devotion. I didn't know that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sometimes performed 13 rakats for Tahajjud, including the Witr and Fajr rakats. This knowledge inspires me to follow his example and work my way up to those 13 rakats, InshaAllah.
The hadiths shared in the article were incredibly enlightening. They gave me a deep sense of connection to the practices of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), especially seeing how he prayed at night. Understanding that Tahajjud is a flexible and personal act of worship gives me the confidence to make it part of my spiritual journey without feeling overwhelmed. I feel encouraged to incorporate this beautiful practice into my daily routine, knowing that each prayer, no matter how many rakats I choose, is valuable and a chance to get closer to Allah.
This article has truly opened my eyes, and I am so grateful for the author's effort in making this explanation accessible and easy to understand. It's exactly what I needed at this stage in my journey, and I'm excited to start implementing it in my life. Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your work, and may Allah reward you abundantly for sharing this knowledge. Ameen.
Thank you once again for such a well-written and informative article!