Hazrat Abu Hurayra RA reported that the Prophet SAW said,
"The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the Night Prayer (Tahajjud).” – [Sahih Muslim: 1163(a)]
Tahajjud Prayer is observed after the Fard Isha Prayer and before the Fajr Prayer, but on the condition that one sleeps after Isha. It is believed that the Night Prayer (Tahajjud) is when Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala listens to and answers all our prayers while forgiving our sins. Indeed, praying Tahajjud is one of the best ways to get closer to the Almighty.
Today, we will discuss some of the best tips on how to wake up for Tahajjud Prayer consistently, making it a part of our lifestyle with ease.
1- Intention Comes First
Whether you’re praying Tahajjud to meet a particular goal that you wish for or to please Allah, it should always be a given that your ultimate intention is to get closer to the Almighty and get His guidance at every corner of life.
2- Make Dua Before Sleeping
Make a Dua just before going to sleep, and state your wish of waking up to pray Tahajjud. Then ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for His help in fulfilling your wish. Indeed, when you make a Dua that pleases Allah as much as a person waking up in the middle of the night just for the sake of connecting with Him, it never gets denied.
3- Be An Early Bird
Train your body to be an early bird and go to sleep at such a time that you wake up fresh after a full night’s sleep the next day. Some people pray Tahajjud, then go to sleep before rising again for the Fajr Prayer. Others prefer to wake up when they can observe Tahajjud Prayer and do some Dhikr until it is time to say the Fajr Prayer.
Similarly, some people are satisfied with a six-hour sleep, but on the other hand, many people prefer at least eight hours of sleep to function properly the next day. So remain aware of your body’s needs when defining the right time to hit the bed at night and waking up for Tahajjud and Fajr Prayers.
4- Set the Alarm
Of course, setting the alarm helps extensively in ensuring you wake up for Tahajjud every day with consistency. Also, waking up every night at the same time trains your body accordingly and with time, you get accustomed to the routine without a problem.
5- Perform Ablution Before Sleeping
Performing ablution before going to bed means you are sleeping in a state of purity. When your body is pure, and you intend to please Allah, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala makes it easier on you to fulfill your desire of waking up for Tahajjud on time during the night.
6- Don’t Overdo Yourself
Take it one step at a time. When you wake up for Tahajjud in those early days while your body is still getting accustomed to the new routine, pace yourself and don’t overdo it by praying so many Rakats that you get up late in the morning afterward - missing the Fajr Prayer or messing up your work-life balance.
“Pray at night when people are asleep and you will enter Paradise.” – [Tirmidhi: 2485]
