How to Pray Qiyam al-Layl (Tahajjud)
Qiyam al-Layl, also called Tahajjud, is the voluntary night prayer Allah commands the Prophet to perform in Quran 17:79: 'And from part of the night, pray Tahajjud as an additional prayer for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station.' It is the most beloved nafl prayer to Allah and is prayed in pairs of two rakats, concluded with witr.
أَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ.
“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer (Qiyam al-Layl).”
Step 1Sleep first, then rise in the last third of the night
The strongest form of Qiyam is Tahajjud — prayer offered after waking from sleep. The most beloved time is the last third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven (as authentically narrated). If that is too hard, any time after Isha and before Fajr counts as Qiyam.
Step 2Wake with dhikr, perform Wudu, and pray two short rakats
On waking, recite the dua for waking and pause to recite the last ten verses of Surah Al-Imran (3:190-200) — the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Then make wudu and begin with two short rakats as the Prophet did.
Step 3Pray in pairs of two rakats
The Prophet said: 'The night prayer is two by two.' Pray as many pairs as you can — two, four, six, eight, or more. There is no fixed maximum. Make the recitation, ruku, and sujood long if you can.
Step 4Lengthen the recitation, ruku, and sujood
Sunnah of Qiyam is to lengthen the recitation. The Prophet sometimes recited Surah al-Baqarah, Aal Imran, and an-Nisa in a single rakah. If that is too long, recite what is comfortable while preserving khushu (humble focus).
Step 5If it is one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, recite this dua
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught Aisha (RA) to recite this dua especially on Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree — which falls on one of the odd nights of the last ten of Ramadan.
Arabicاللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي.
Transliteration
Allahumma innaka 'Afuwwun Karimun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.
Step 6End with witr (an odd number of rakats)
Conclude Qiyam with witr — a single rakah, three rakats, five, seven, or nine. The most common form is three: pray two and end with salaam, then pray one more with the Qunut dua. Witr is the seal of the night prayer.
Note
If you fear you will not wake for Qiyam, pray witr before sleeping. If you wake and pray Qiyam, do not pray a second witr — there is no witr after witr.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Skipping sleep entirely. Tahajjud, by definition, follows a period of sleep.
Praying witr immediately after Isha and then trying to add a second witr after Qiyam — the Prophet forbade two witrs in one night.
Burdening yourself with a long Qiyam you cannot sustain. The Prophet praised consistent small acts over occasional grand ones.
Reciting aloud loudly enough to disturb sleeping family members. Recite at a moderate volume.
Treating Qiyam as obligatory and feeling sinful for missing it. Qiyam is highly recommended (sunnah muakkadah) but not fardh except for the Prophet himself.