Question: If we wake up for Tahajjud, how many rak’ahs are most virtuous to pray? Should we pray two, four, or is it necessary to pray eight rak’ahs? And if someone does not remember long surahs from the 30th Juz, but only short surahs, can they repeat them in the rak’ahs? Also, someone mentioned that it is permissible to read from the Quran during prayer. Is this true?
Answer: The number of rak’ahs for Tahajjud is eleven. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consistently prayed this number throughout the year. It is narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
كانَ النبيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، فإذا طَلَعَ الفَجْرُ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ علَى شِقِّهِ الأيْمَنِ، حتَّى يَجِيءَ المُؤَذِّنُ فيُؤْذِنَهُ (صحيح البخاري: 6310)
Translation: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray eleven rak’ahs at night, and when dawn broke, he would pray two light rak’ahs (Sunnah of Fajr). After that, he would lie on his right side until the Mu’adhdhin came to inform him of the prayer time.
Therefore, we should also strive to pray Tahajjud in the same manner as the Prophet (peace be upon him). Occasionally, if the number of rak’ahs is less or more, it is not a problem, but the ideal is to follow the Prophet’s example and pray eleven rak’ahs.
Regarding the recitation, you can recite the surahs you know, whether they are short or long. However, it is not recommended to repeat the same surah multiple times in one prayer, as there is no evidence for this practice in the Hadith. Instead, recite whatever you know, as Allah says:
فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ (المنزل: 20)
Translation: Recite whatever is easy for you from the Quran.
It is our shortcoming if we do not know enough Quran to pray Tahajjud. We should strive to memorize enough Quran to perform Tahajjud properly. Until then, it is permissible to read from the Quran during Tahajjud out of necessity.
Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله ❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫
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