Quran Verses and Hadith About Tahajjud
Every key text on the night prayer in one place, with full references — the command, the portraits of those who keep the night, the promise of the last third, and the Prophet's ﷺ own practice. Translations are renderings of meaning; verify any line against the reference given, and time the practice itself with the tahajjud calculator.
The command — Quran 17:79
"And from the night, keep vigil in it as an extra for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station." (Quran 17:79)
The founding verse: night vigil commanded to the Prophet ﷺ, with the praised station (maqaman mahmuda) promised on the other side of it. The ummah takes the practice from his example as a voluntary devotion of the highest rank.
The portraits — those who keep the night
"They forsake their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope… No soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them, as a reward for what they used to do." (Quran 32:16–17)
"They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would seek forgiveness." (Quran 51:17–18)
"Indeed, the rising of the night is stronger in impression and more proper in speech." (Quran 73:6)
"Is one who devoutly obeys in the watches of the night, prostrating and standing, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord [like one who does not]?" (Quran 39:9)
Fear and hope together; hidden reward for hidden worship; forgiveness at dawn's edge; speech that lands. The Quran's description of the night people is the benefits page in seed form.
The promise — the last-third hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145; Sahih Muslim 758)
The centre of the whole topic — the reason this website exists. Every night, without exception, the last third carries this call. The only question the calculator answers is when it falls in your city.
The rank — best after the obligatory
The Prophet ﷺ was asked which prayer is best after the prescribed prayers, and he said: "Prayer in the middle of the night." (Sahih Muslim 1163)
And its companion in practice: "The night prayer is two by two" (Sahih al-Bukhari 990; Sahih Muslim 749) — the form every rak'ah count on this site is built from.
The Prophet's ﷺ nights — Aisha's reports
Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray more than eleven rak'ahs in the night prayer, in Ramadan or outside it. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147; Sahih Muslim 738)
"Make Witr the last of your prayer at night." (Sahih al-Bukhari 998; Sahih Muslim 751)
Eleven, in pairs, sealed with Witr, kept across years — the pattern our rak'ahs guide and Witr guide unpack. Add his night-opening supplication (Sahih Muslim 770), gathered on the dua page, and the Sunnah's picture of the night is complete: rise, open with praise, pray in pairs, ask in the last third, seal with Witr, meet the dawn.
Frequently asked questions
Which Quran verse commands Tahajjud?
Surah Al-Isra, verse 79: "And from the night, keep vigil in it as an extra for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station." The command was addressed to the Prophet ﷺ, and the ummah follows him in it as a beloved voluntary act — the verse is the foundation text of the whole topic.
Where is the last-third hadith found?
In the two most authentic collections: Sahih al-Bukhari 1145 and Sahih Muslim 758, narrated by Abu Hurairah. It is the hadith of the descent — Allah calls out in the last third of every night to whoever will ask, seek and be forgiven — and it is the reason the last third outranks every other part of the night.
Are the translations on this page exact?
They are careful renderings of meaning, as all translation is. Arabic carries shades no English sentence fully holds; where precision matters for practice, read the verse or hadith with a teacher and a recognised translation beside it. Our references are given so you can check every line yourself.
Which hadith describes how the Prophet ﷺ prayed at night?
Aisha's reports are the fullest: he did not exceed eleven rak'ahs in the night prayer in Ramadan or outside it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147; Sahih Muslim 738), prayed them in pairs (Sahih al-Bukhari 990), and made Witr his last prayer of the night (Sahih al-Bukhari 998). Together they are the operating manual this site is built on.
The texts promise the hour. The calculator tells you when it is, tonight, where you live.
Open the Tahajjud Calculator