Offering Tahajjud Without Sleeping
Understanding Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud Prayer is a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and is highly recommended for Muslims to perform regularly. While it is commonly observed during Ramadan, it is encouraged throughout the year.
Timing for Tahajjud
Tahajjud can be performed at various times during the night:
- Early part of the night
- Middle part of the night
- Latter part of the night
However, it must be offered after the obligatory Isha prayer. The most preferred time to perform Tahajjud is during the last third of the night. This preference is based on the following Hadith:
- Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, asking: ‘Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?’” (Reported by the group)
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`Amr ibn Abasah reported hearing the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so.”
Performing Tahajjud Without Sleeping
If a Muslim does not sleep at night, they can still perform Tahajjud any time before Fajr after performing Isha. While some scholars, particularly the Shafi`i, recommend sleeping before offering Tahajjud, it is not a condition for the prayer’s validity.
Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Subh, a prominent Azhari scholar, elaborates: “There is nothing wrong in performing Tahajjud and Witr Prayer before sleeping or without sleeping and they are valid even if the Shafi scholars are of the opinion that one should sleep before offering Tahajjud. But this is some sort of ijtihad (personal reasoning) that does not prevent the validity of the Tahajjud and Witr Prayer performed by one before going to sleep. In this regard, we read in the hadith reported by Abu Ad-Dardaa’, ‘The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended me to do three things (regularly): to fast three days every month, to perform Duha Prayer, and to perform Witr Prayer before I sleep.’”
Conclusion
Tahajjud Prayer can be performed without sleeping beforehand. It remains valid and is a significant act of worship, especially if performed during the last third of the night.
