Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s tahajjud and the duas he would recite

Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s tahajjud and the duas he would recite

Q: Explain the manner of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s tahajjud and the duas he would recite upon awakening for tahajjud.

A: Upon awakening for tahajjud, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would recite the last ten verses of Surah Aal-e-Imraan. Thereafter, before commencing the tahajjud, he would recite the following:

(1) Allahu Akbar ten times
(2) Alhamdulillah ten times
(3) Subhaanallahi wabihamdihi ten times
(4) Subhaanal Malikil Quddoos ten times
(5) Astaghfirullah ten times
(6) Laa ilaaha illallah ten times
(7) He would recite the following dua ten times:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ ضِيْقِ الدُّنْيَا وَضِيْقِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَة
O Allah Ta’ala ! I seek Your protection from the constraints of this world and the consrtaints of the Day of Qiyaamah.

In the narration of Sunan Ibni Maajah, it is reported that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would also recite the following dua ten times:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ
O Allah Ta’ala! Forgive me, bless me with guidance, grant me sustenance and bestow me with aafiyah (comfort and ease).

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would perform eight rakaats of tahajjud. The first two rakaats would be short while the remaining rakaats would be lengthy.

This was the manner in which Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) generally performed his tahajjud salaah.

It is reported in the mubaarak Ahaadith that after commencing the tahajjud salaah, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would recite certain duas (in place of the thana) before commencing the qiraat (recitation).

The following are some of these duas which he would recite:

Dua One
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ اَنْتَ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّوْنَ حَقٌّ وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلّٰى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ

O Allah Ta’ala, all praise belongs to You and You are the Maintainer of the heavens and the earth and whoever is contained within them. All praise belongs to You and to You belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whoever is contained within them. All praise belongs to You and You are the noor (i.e. light) of the heavens and the earth and whoever is contained within them. You are Haqq, Your promises are true and Your meeting is true. Your speech is true, Jannah is true and Jahannum is true. The Ambiyaa (alayhimus salaam) are true and Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is true. The last hour is true. O Allah Ta’ala, only to You have I surrendered. Only upon You have I brought Imaan. I have placed my trust and reliance only upon You. It is only towards You that I turn. It is only on account of You (i.e. with Your help) that I dispute (with the kuffaar in proving the truth). It is only towards You that I turn for judgement. Thus, forgive my sins – my past sins and my future sins, those sins commited in secret and those sins committed openly. You are the first and You are the last. There is none worthy of worship besides You, and there is no power (to do good) nor any ability (to abstain from evil) except with the help of Allah Ta’ala.

Dua Two
اَللهُ أَكْبَر اَللهُ أَكْبَر اَللهُ أَكْبَر ذُوْ الْمَلَكُوْتِ وَالْجَبَرُوْتِ وَالْكِبْريَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ

Allah Ta’ala is the greatest! Allah Ta’ala is the greatest! Allah Ta’ala is the greatest, the Possessor of the entire kingdom, the Possessor of all might, the Possessor of all grandeur, the Possessor of all greatness.

Dua Three

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيْلَ وَمِيْكَائِيْلَ وَإِسْرَافِيْلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيْمَا كَانُوْا فِيْهِ يَخْتَلِفُوْنَ اِهْدِنِيْ لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيْمٍ

O Allah Ta’ala , the Rabb of Jibreel, Mikaaeel and Israafeel, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who has complete knowledge of the hidden and the apparent, You judge between Your servants in that which they differ. Guide me to the truth in matters of difference with Your permission, surely You guide who You wish to the straight path.