Question
Assalamu alaikum malam. What is the difference between Qiyam, Tahajjud and Tarawih prayers? Please provide a clear and detailed explanation.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the
worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the most noble of prophets and
messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
This is an excellent question
that touches upon three of the most virtuous acts of worship in Islam—all of
which are connected to the night, a time when Allah descends to the lowest
heaven, calls out to His servants, and offers His mercy and forgiveness. The
night prayer holds a special status in Islam, as Allah Himself praised those
who abandon their beds to worship Him in the quiet hours of the night. These
three terms—Qiyam, Tahajjud, and Tarawih—are often used interchangeably by many
Muslims, yet they have distinct meanings, timings, and rulings in Islamic
jurisprudence. Understanding these differences allows a believer to worship
with greater precision and intentionality, following the example of the Prophet
Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the early generations of Muslims.
The Virtue of Night Prayer in
the Qur'an and Sunnah
Before delving into the
distinctions, it is essential to appreciate the immense virtue of standing
before Allah in the darkness of the night, when voices are silent, distractions
fade away, and the heart becomes fully present before its Creator. Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala) says in the Qur'an:
الآيَةُ: ﴿إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ
وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا﴾
Translation: "Indeed, the
hours of the night are more effective for concurrence (of heart and tongue) and
more suitable for clear words." (Surat Al-Muzzammil, 73:6)
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) also emphasized the greatness of night prayer. He said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ
صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ»
Translation: "The best
prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer." (Sahih Muslim,
1163)
Furthermore, Allah describes the
righteous servants who are destined for Paradise as those who:
الآيَةُ: ﴿كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ
مَا يَهْجَعُونَ﴾
Translation: "They used to
sleep but little of the night." (Surat Adh-Dhariyat, 51:17)
With this understanding of the
virtue of night prayer, let us now explore the three terms in detail.
Qiyam al-Layl (Standing at
Night)
Linguistic and Technical
Meaning
The term "Qiyam
al-Layl" literally means "standing at night." In Islamic
terminology, it refers to any voluntary prayer performed during the night,
whether in the early part, the middle, or the last third of the night. It is
the broadest and most general of the three terms, encompassing all night
prayers other than the obligatory Isha and Fajr prayers.
Timing of Qiyam
Qiyam al-Layl begins after the
Isha prayer (once the time for Isha has entered and the obligatory Isha has
been performed) and extends until the break of dawn (Fajr). It can be performed
at any point during this period, whether immediately after Isha, in the middle
of the night, or in the last third of the night.
Number of Rak'ahs
There is no fixed number of
rak'ahs for Qiyam al-Layl. A person may pray as few as two rak'ahs or as many
as Allah enables him to pray. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would
pray eleven or thirteen rak'ahs in total, including Witr, as narrated by
'Aishah (Radhiyallahu Anha):
الْحَدِيثُ: «مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى
اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلَا فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى
عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً»
Translation: "The Messenger
of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not exceed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan
or outside of Ramadan." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2013; Sahih Muslim, 738)
However, this was his regular
practice, not a mandatory limit. It is permissible to pray more, as the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked about night prayer and he said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى،
فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ
صَلَّى»
Translation: "Night prayer
is (offered) two rak'ahs by two rak'ahs. If any of you fears the approach of
dawn, let him pray one rak'ah which will make what he has prayed odd-numbered
(Witr)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 990; Sahih Muslim, 749)
Ruling on Qiyam
Qiyam al-Layl is a confirmed
Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
consistently practiced and encouraged. It is not obligatory, but its reward is
immense. Allah says in the Qur'an addressing the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam):
الآيَةُ: ﴿وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ
نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا﴾
Translation: "And during the
night, wake up and pray (Tahajjud) as an extra prayer for yourself; perhaps
your Lord will raise you to a praised station." (Surat Al-Isra', 17:79)
Place of Prayer
It is recommended to pray Qiyam
al-Layl at home, as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ صَلَاةُ الْمَرْءِ
فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلَّا الْمَكْتُوبَةَ»
Translation: "The best
prayer is a person's prayer in his home, except for the obligatory
prayers." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 731; Sahih Muslim, 781)
This encourages sincerity and
avoids showing off (riya').
Tarawih Prayer
Linguistic and Technical
Meaning
The word "Tarawih" is
derived from the Arabic root "ra-wa-ha," which means to rest or to
take a break. It is called Tarawih because the early Muslims would take a short
rest after every four rak'ahs during this prayer. In Islamic terminology,
Tarawih refers to the special night prayers performed specifically during the
month of Ramadan, typically in congregation at the mosque.
Timing of Tarawih
Tarawih is performed after the
Isha prayer and before the Witr prayer, exclusively during the month of
Ramadan. It is not performed outside of Ramadan. Unlike general Qiyam, which
can be performed any night of the year, Tarawih is unique to the blessed month
of fasting.
Number of Rak'ahs
This is a matter on which the
scholars have differed, based on authentic narrations from the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the practices of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
The majority of scholars
(Hanafis, Shafi'is, and Hanbalis) hold that Tarawih consists of twenty rak'ahs,
prayed in units of two rak'ahs each, followed by three rak'ahs of Witr, making
a total of twenty-three rak'ahs. This is based on the narration from Ibn Abbas
(Radhiyallahu Anhuma) that:
الْحَدِيثُ: «كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِي رَمَضَانَ عِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً وَالْوِتْرَ»
Translation: "The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to pray twenty rak'ahs and Witr in
Ramadan." (Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in As-Sunan Al-Kubra, 4661;
authenticated by Al-Albani)
This practice was also
established by Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Radhiyallahu Anhu), who united the
people behind one imam for twenty rak'ahs, and the Companions agreed upon this
without objection, which constitutes consensus (ijma').
The Maliki school holds that
Tarawih consists of thirty-six rak'ahs, based on the practice of the people of
Medina. However, the more widely accepted view across the Muslim world is
twenty rak'ahs.
A minority view, held by some
scholars including Imam Abu Hanifah in one narration, is that Tarawih is eleven
rak'ahs (eight rak'ahs of Tarawih and three of Witr), following the general
practice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) who never exceeded eleven
or thirteen rak'ahs in any night prayer, including Ramadan.
Regardless of the number, all
scholars agree that Tarawih is prayed in units of two rak'ahs (with one taslim
after every two rak'ahs). It is not valid to pray four rak'ahs with a single
taslim for Tarawih, as this would resemble the obligatory prayers and
contradict the Sunnah.
Congregation
One of the defining features of
Tarawih is that it is highly recommended to pray it in congregation at the
mosque. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) initially prayed Tarawih in
congregation for a few nights, then stopped out of fear that it might become
obligatory upon his Ummah. After his passing, this fear was removed, and the
Companions revived the practice of congregational Tarawih. 'Aishah
(Radhiyallahu Anha) narrated:
الْحَدِيثُ: «خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى
اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ، فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ،
فَصَلَّى رِجَالٌ بِصَلَاتِهِ، فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ فَتَحَدَّثُوا، فَاجْتَمَعَ أَكْثَرُ
مِنْهُمْ فَصَلَّى فَصَلَّوْا مَعَهُ...»
Translation: "The Messenger
of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) went out one night in the middle of the
night and prayed in the mosque. Some men prayed behind him. In the morning, the
people spoke about it, and the following night more people gathered and prayed
with him..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2012; Sahih Muslim, 761)
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) refrained from continuing only out of concern for it becoming
obligatory. Today, Muslims around the world gather in mosques for Tarawih, and
it is a beautiful expression of communal worship and unity during Ramadan.
Recitation of the Qur'an
A distinctive feature of Tarawih
is that the imam typically recites longer portions of the Qur'an, with the goal
of completing the entire Qur'an (Khatm) over the course of the month. This
practice follows the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), who
would review the Qur'an with Jibril (Alayhis Salam) during Ramadan. Many
mosques complete one full recitation of the Qur'an during Tarawih, allowing the
congregation to listen to the entire Book of Allah over the thirty nights of
Ramadan.
Ruling on Tarawih
The majority of scholars hold
that Tarawih is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah) for both men and women.
It is not obligatory, but abandoning it without a valid reason is considered
blameworthy. Some scholars, particularly from the Hanafi school, consider it to
be wajib (necessary) upon men, though this is not the majority view.
Tahajjud Prayer
Linguistic and Technical Meaning
The word "Tahajjud" is
derived from the Arabic root "hajada," which means to stay awake at
night or to abandon sleep. In Islamic terminology, Tahajjud specifically refers
to the night prayer that is performed after waking up from sleep, even if the
sleep was brief. This is the most distinctive feature of Tahajjud: it is prayer
that follows sleep.
Timing of Tahajjud
Tahajjud is performed in the last
third of the night, after waking from sleep. The best time for Tahajjud is the
final portion of the night, just before the Fajr prayer. This is the time when
Allah descends to the lowest heaven and calls out to His servants, asking who
is seeking forgiveness so that He may forgive them. The Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى
كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرُ،
فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ؟ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ؟ مَنْ
يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ؟»
Translation: "Our Lord,
Blessed and Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven during the last
third of the night and says: 'Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who
is asking of Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may
forgive him?'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1145; Sahih Muslim, 758)
Number of Rak'ahs
Like Qiyam, there is no fixed
number for Tahajjud. It is prayed in units of two rak'ahs, and the worshipper
may pray as many as he wishes. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would
pray eleven rak'ahs (including Witr) as his regular practice. It is recommended
to conclude Tahajjud with Witr prayer, though if one has already prayed Witr
earlier in the night, he may still pray Tahajjud but should not repeat Witr (as
there cannot be two Witrs in one night).
The Necessity of Sleep
The defining characteristic of
Tahajjud is that it is performed after waking from sleep. If a person prays at
night without having slept at all, that prayer is generally considered Qiyam or
night prayer, but it is not technically called Tahajjud. However, some scholars
use the terms interchangeably, and the reward for standing before Allah at
night is immense regardless of whether one slept or not. Allah says:
الآيَةُ: ﴿تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ
يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا﴾
Translation: "Their sides
forsake their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope." (Surat
As-Sajdah, 32:16)
This verse describes those who
leave their beds (i.e., wake from sleep) to pray, which is the essence of
Tahajjud.
Praying Alone
Tahajjud is almost always prayed
individually, at home. While it is permissible to pray it in congregation, the
Sunnah is to pray it alone. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) prayed
Tahajjud in his home, and he encouraged his Companions to do the same. It is a
private, intimate conversation between the servant and his Lord, away from the
eyes of others.
Summary Table of Differences
For clarity, here is a summary of
the key differences between these three prayers:
|
Feature |
Qiyam al-Layl |
Tarawih |
Tahajjud |
|
Meaning |
Standing at night (general night prayer) |
Rest breaks (special Ramadan prayer) |
Praying after waking from sleep |
|
Timing |
Any time after Isha until Fajr |
After Isha in Ramadan only |
Last third of the night, after sleep |
|
Sleep Requirement |
No |
No |
Yes (must sleep first) |
|
Primary Month |
Any month of the year |
Exclusively Ramadan |
Any month of the year |
|
Congregation |
Preferably alone at home |
Preferably in congregation at mosque |
Always alone at home |
|
Number of Rak'ahs |
Flexible (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.) |
20 (majority) or 8 or 36 |
Flexible (usually 8-12 total) |
|
Recitation Length |
Can be short or long |
Usually longer, often completing Qur'an |
Can be short or long |
|
Witr |
Prayed at the end |
Prayed after Tarawih |
Prayed at the end |
Practical Guidance for Muslims
For a Muslim seeking to increase
his worship, understanding these distinctions helps in planning and intention.
Here are some practical recommendations:
1. In Ramadan: A Muslim can pray
Tarawih in congregation at the mosque (20 rak'ahs), then return home and, if he
wakes up in the last third of the night, pray Tahajjud (2-8 rak'ahs) and then
Witr (if he has not already prayed Witr at the mosque). If he prayed Witr at
the mosque, he should not repeat it but can still pray Tahajjud (without Witr).
2. Outside of Ramadan: A Muslim
can pray Qiyam al-Layl any night of the year. The best time is the last third
of the night, and it is recommended to wake from sleep to do so, making it
Tahajjud. He may pray 2, 4, 6, 8, or more rak'ahs, concluding with Witr.
3. For Those Who Cannot Wake at
Night: If a person knows that he will not wake up in the last third of the
night, he may pray Qiyam (general night prayer) after Isha before sleeping.
This is still virtuous, though the reward of Tahajjud (prayer after sleep) is
greater.
4. For Women: Women are also
encouraged to pray these night prayers. They may pray Tarawih at the mosque or
at home. Praying at home is often better for women, as the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from
the mosques of Allah, but their homes are better for them." (Sunan Abi
Dawud, 567). They may also pray Qiyam and Tahajjud at home.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Qiyam al-Layl is
the broad category of all night prayers. Tarawih is a specific type of Qiyam
performed only in Ramadan, usually in congregation, with a set number of
rak'ahs (20 being the majority view). Tahajjud is a specific type of Qiyam
performed after waking from sleep, ideally in the last third of the night, and
it is prayed alone at home.
All three are among the most
virtuous acts of worship a Muslim can perform. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) was consistent in his night prayer, and he encouraged his Companions
to pray at night as much as they were able. The night is a time when the gates
of heaven are opened, when supplications are answered, and when the sincere
servant finds himself alone with his Creator.
We ask Allah to grant us the
ability to stand before Him in the darkness of the night, to seek His
forgiveness in the last third of the night, and to benefit from the blessings
of Ramadan through Tarawih and Qiyam. May He accept our night prayers and admit
us to Paradise by His mercy.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ
وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
"O Allah, help us to
remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner."
Wallahu A'alam (Allah knows best).
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