Does the Tahajjud Prayer Have to Sleep First?
Assalamualaikum. Ustadz, I want to ask a question.
Tahajjud prayer, if you haven't had time to sleep, what is the ruling? Can I?
Thank you, Ustadz.
Greetings, Fulanah
ANSWER:
Wassalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarokaatuh.
Bismillah… Tahajjud prayer or prayer ullail (night prayer) or qiyamullail (standing at night) are some terms for sunnah prayers performed at night. It is a sunnah practice that is highly recommended for every Muslim because it is included as the most important form of taqorrub (getting closer) to Allah SWT. This is because the night prayer in doing it must have more sincerity and effort than other sunnah prayers.
Allah SWT said:
لَّیۡلِ افِلَةࣰ لَّكَ رَبُّكَ امࣰا ا {سورة الإسراء: }
“And on some nights, perform the Tahajjud prayer (as an act of worship) additionally for you. May your Lord raise you to a commendable place.” {Surat al-Isra': 79}
The Prophet said:
الصِّيَامِ انَ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ لُ الصَّلَاةِ الْفَرِيضَةِ لَاةُ اللَّيْلِ (رواه لم)
“The best fasting after the fast of Ramadan is fasting in the month of Allah Muharram. The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer. (Hadith narrated by Muslim).
In another hadith the Prophet also said:
لَيْكُمْ امِ اللَّيْلِ الصَّالِحِينَ لَكُمْ امَ اللَّيْلِ إِلَى اللَّهِ اةٌ الْإِثْمِ لِلسَّيِّئَاتِ لِلدَّاءِ الْجَسَدِ
"You should do qiyamullail, for it is the custom of the righteous before you. And verily qiyamullail is a (form) closer to Allah, a deterrent from committing sins, an eraser of mistakes, and a repellent from disease from the body. (Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi)
Or, is there a difference between the three terms above?
Salatullail (night prayer) or qiyamullail (standing at night) is a form of synonymous terms. It's just, to do it is not required to sleep first. For example, the Tarawih prayer on the night of the month of Ramadan is included in the two terms above.
Then, when doing the Tahajjud prayer, night prayer, or qiyamullail must sleep first?
The Tahajjud prayer is a sunnah prayer that is performed after a person has slept first. Because the meaning of Tahajjud is waking up from sleep.
Al-Imam Qurtubi said, "Tahajjud is waking up after sleeping, then it becomes a term for sunnah prayers because someone is awake from sleep to perform prayers".
From the information above, it can be concluded that:
- Prayers or qiyamullail apply to night sunnah prayers that are done before or after sleeping at night. (general meaning)
- Tahajjud prayer applies only to the evening sunnah prayers that are performed after a person sleeps at night first. (special meaning)
So, if someone wants his prayer to be called Tahajjud, then he must sleep first.
Wallâhu a'lam bish-showâb.
Regards!
(Answered by: Ustadz Very Setiyawan, Lc., S.Pd.I., MH)
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