The Virtues of Tahajjud Prayer

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh, Auzu Billahi Minashaytanir Rajeem. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem, Wassalatu Wassalamu ala Rasulina Muhammadin Sayyidul Awwalin wal Akhirin, Madad Ya Rasulallah, Madad Ya Sadat As’habi RasuLillah, Madad Ya Mashayikhina, Dastur Mawlana Sheikh Abdullah Faiz Daghestani, Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani. Madad. Tariqatunas sohba, wal khayru fil jamiyya.

A’ūdhu bi-Llāhi mina sh-shayṭāni r-rajīm. Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm:

(Qur’ān 73:06). Allah ﷻ states in the Holy Qur’an: ‘Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah).’ The night is harder and tougher. Worship performed at night is 100-1,000 times more virtuous than the worship performed during the day. Therefore, it has a big virtue when you take ablution before going to bed and pray two Rakaʿāt Qiyam ul-Layl, and then wake up to pray Tahajjud prayer after going to bed. It is a big favor. To do this is a good thing. It is not Fard but Nafilah, supererogatory. Nevertheless, it is a means for a big reward. It is given as a gift and favor to Muslims by Allah ﷻ.

There is great Thawab in the presence of Allah ﷻ for praying two Rakaʿāt Tahajjud prayer at home, before leaving the house to a mosque to join Jama’ah. You can pray Tahajjud as much as you want. Our Holy Prophet ﷺ sometimes prayed throughout the night. Allah ﷻ made it lighter afterwards, and He said that much is not necessary. What is performed is counted as if performed all night. It is something given to all people. But there weren’t many people who accepted Islam in the beginning. Many did not accept the right way. Actually, it is given to people as a favor. Those who can perform it should do so. And then most Muslims are not carrying out the orders of Allah ﷻ. Those who do a little cannot perform the night worship, because it is a little hard for people. Therefore, the ones who do it are lucky people. Allah ﷻ helps them. If they say that they are doing it without help of Allah ﷻ, it is not a good thing.

Once one of the Awliya woke up for Tahajjud prayer with his father. People were sleeping in the mosque. He said to his father, “Look, they are all sleeping whilst we woke up for the night worship”. Then his father, one of the great Awliya said, “If only you were sleeping too and hadn’t said this”. Whatever we do, we should not merit ourselves for doing it. We do it with the help of Allah ﷻ. It is His favor. Otherwise, we would not be able to do it ourselves. Therefore, we have to make Shukr to Allah ﷻ for helping us when we do it and for letting us carry out this hard duty. We have to make Shukr so that Allah ﷻ makes it last. Shukr to Allah ﷻ for doing so, and may Allah ﷻ help those who cannot do it.

Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 21 May 2021/9 Shawwāl 1442 Morning Prayer, Akbaba Dergah