Excellence of Tahajjud

 

Excellence of Tahajjud

 

If one sleeps for some time after offering Salaat Ul ‘Isha and then offers some Sunnah and Supererogatory Salaat, it is called as Tahajjud and the Sunnah and Supererogatory Salaat offered from Salaat Ul ‘Isha to Salaat Ul Fajr without sleeping are called Qiyam Ul Lail.

 

‘Allama Shaami (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has written that Tahajjud is a Sunnah for the Ummah as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would always offer it.  For this reason, some scholars have said that Tahajjud is a Compulsory Sunnah (Sunnah Maukkadah).  It is written in Durre Mukhtaar that Tahajjud is a Commendable (Mustahab) Salaat.  Muslims should not be lulled by the words “Commendable” as after the 5 Obligatory Salaat, the most excellent of all Salaat of the day and night is Tahajjud and the reward of Tahajjud is more than the reward of all others.

 

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

No doubt rising at night strictly subdues (the ill-commanding self), and makes the tongue deliver straight and clear speech (with the concentration of head and heart).  Surah Muzzammil (73:6)

 

The excellence of waking up for Tahajjud

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When any of you sleeps, then (the way sorcerers tie knots due to which the person on whom the magic has been performed is impeded from fulfilling his aim), Satan makes 3 knots at the nape of the neck and with each knot breathes into the heart of that person:  The night is still young, keep sleeping.  (The way the person affected by magic drives away the effect of the magic by himself and those knots are rendered useless, and thus that person fulfills his aim.  Similarly, when the person who sleeps doesn’t care for the whisper of Satan and wakes up all of a sudden and starts reciting the Sunnah supplications of that time, then the first knot of heedlessness tied by Satan is unraveled.

 

Then Satan keeps saying:  The night is still young, sleep for a bit, but that person doesn’t care for it and makes ablution, then the second knot of Satan is unraveled.

 

Now, when Satan sees that this person who gets up for Tahajjud has gone out of my power, he casts laziness and procrastination on that person, so that somehow that person does not offer Salaat.  If that person doesn’t care for it and stands up for Salaat, then the third knot of Satan (which was of laziness and procrastination) is also unraveled.

 

          Now when this person who offers Tahajjud starts the day, he (or she) is fresh and glad.  (Because, he has come out of the knots of Satan, heedlessness and laziness has been driven away from him and most of all, Almighty Allah is pleased with him.  Then what to say of the gladness of that person!  That’s why the faces of those who offer Tahajjud have a special radiance)

 

If that person is lulled by the words “The night is still young, keep sleeping” and neither did he make ablutions nor offer Tahajjud, then when this person starts the day, he wakes up pallid and lazy (neither does that person have any gladness like the person who offers Tahajjud nor is there any radiance on his face).

 

This hadith has been related by both Bukhari and Muslim.

 

Warnings on not waking up for Tahajjud

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) that mention was made before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) of such a person who sleeps until daybreak and doesn’t get up for Tahajjud.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  This is such a person that Satan urinates in his ears (that he doesn’t realize how much of the night has passed and he is overwhelmed by heedlessness and he is left sleeping.  That’s why some saints have said that a person who sleeps for the whole night, if he (or she) puts a finger in the ear, wetness of urine will be felt.

 

This Hadith has been related by both Bukhari and Muslim.

 

Women should also offer Tahajjud

 

It is narrated on the authority of the mother of the believers Hadhrat Umme Salma (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says:  One night I saw that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) suddenly awakened from sleep.  (I wanted to ask Him what had happened) He Himself said:  Glory be to Allah!  I have seen this night that the needfulness of My Ummah has been removed and they are being given boundless treasures.  (This is also a trial for My Ummah).  I have seen that various trials and tribulations are descending on My Ummah (due to which corruption and bloodshed will emerge in My Ummah).

 

Is there anyone who will awaken the ladies of My house (i.e. the mothers of the believers) that this is no time to sleep.  Up!  Awaken!  Supplicate humbly and offer Tahajjud (so that Almighty Allah may save us from the trial of wealth and bloodshed through the blessings of Tahajjud)…..

 

This has been related by Bukhari.

 

Exhortation to the Ummah to be regular in offering Tahajjud

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ’Amr bin A’as (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to me:  O ‘Abdullah!  Don’t be like that person who used to get up at night for Tahajjud, but stopped doing so (because Allah Most High likes regularity in worship, even though the worship might be less).

 

We learn from this Hadith that the person who worships in the night, it is Undesirable (Makruh) for him/her to abandon the worship altogether.

 

This has been related by both Bukhari and Muslim.

 

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 3]