Salat al-Layl (Tahajjud Prayer)

Step 1 · Dua

On Waking, Recite the Duas Before the Night Prayer

On rising for the night prayer, the Holy Prophet (s) and the Imams (a) recited these supplications. Recite any of them before you begin.

Duas Before Salat al-Layl

Step 2 · Salat

Pray Eight Rak'at of Nafilat al-Layl

Pray eight rak'at in pairs of two, each pair like the morning (Fajr) prayer, with the niyyah of Nafilat al-Layl.

Salat al-Layl is eleven rak'at in all: these eight, then the two of Salat al-Shaf', then the one of Salat al-Witr.

Step 3 · Dua

After Every Two Rak'at, Pray for the Reappearance of the Imam (a)

After the salam of each pair of rak'at, recite this supplication for the reappearance of the Imam of our time (a).

Dua After Every Two Rak'at of Salat al-Layl

Step 4 · Dua

After the Fourth Rak'at, the Prostration of Thanks

The book Adab Salat al-Layl says: after the fourth rak'at, in the prostration of thanks, say "Ma sha' Allah" one hundred times, then recite:

فَ صَلّ عَل یٰ مُحَمّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمّدٍ،

Transliteration: Fa salli ala Muhammadin wa ali Muhammad
English: So bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

وَ اجْعَلْ لِىْ فِيْ مَا تَشَاءُ اَنْ تُعَجّلَ فَرَجَ آلِ مُحَمّدٍ صَلّی الُ عَلَيْْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلّمَ،

Transliteration: Waj'al lee fee ma tasha'u an tu'ajjila faraja ali Muhammadin sallallahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam
English: and grant me, in what You will, that You hasten the relief of the family of Muhammad, Allah's blessings and peace be upon him and his family,

وَ عَجّلْ فَرَجِىْ وَ فَرَجَ اِخْوَ انِىْ مَقْرُوْناً بِفَرَجِهِمْ،

Transliteration: Wa 'ajjil farajee wa faraja ikhwanee maqroonan bi-farajihim
English: and hasten my relief and the relief of my brothers, joined with their relief,

وَ تَفْعَلَ بِىْ مَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ.

Transliteration: Wa taf'ala bee ma anta ahluh
English: and do with me what befits You.

Step 5 · Dua

After the Eighth Rak'at, Recite Its Dua

With the eight rak'at complete, say "Ya Allah" ten times, then recite this supplication.

Dua After the Eighth Rak'at of Salat al-Layl

Step 6 · Salat

Pray Two Rak'at of Salat al-Shaf'

Pray two rak'at, like the morning (Fajr) prayer, with the niyyah of Salat al-Shaf'.

Step 7 · Dua

After Salat al-Shaf', Recite Its Dua

After the salam of Salat al-Shaf', recite this supplication before you stand for Witr.

Dua After Salat al-Shaf'

Step 8 · Salat

Pray the One Rak'at of Salat al-Witr

Make the niyyah of Salat al-Witr and say Takbirat al-Ihram, then recite:

- Surah al-Hamd, once
- Surah al-Ikhlas, three times
- Surah al-Falaq, once
- Surah al-Nas, once

Then say takbir and raise your hands for the qunoot. You may recite any dua in the qunoot, or the qunoot given in the steps below.

Step 9 · Dua

Begin the Qunoot with the Praise of Allah

لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ

Transliteration: Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim
English: There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous

لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ

Transliteration: Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim
English: There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ

Transliteration: Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab'
English: Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth

وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ

Transliteration: wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab'
English: And Who is the Sustainer of all the things

وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ

Transliteration: wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna
English: in them, and between them,

رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ

Transliteration: wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim
English: And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)

وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

Transliteration: Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin
English: And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.

Step 10 · Dua

Ask Forgiveness for Forty Believers

Pray for the forgiveness of forty believers, living or dead, naming each one:

..اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل

Transliteration: Allaahummagh Firli… (Name 40 people)
English: O Allah, forgive (Name 40 people)…

Step 11 · Dhikr · Repeat 70 times

Seek Forgiveness Seventy Times

اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ

Transliteration: Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh
English: I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him

Step 12 · Dhikr · Repeat 7 times

Seek Refuge from the Fire Seven Times

هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ

Transliteration: Haadhaa Maqaamul 'Aaidhi Bika Minannaar
English: This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]

Step 13 · Dhikr · Repeat 300 times

Ask for Pardon Three Hundred Times

اَلْعَفْوَ

Transliteration: Al-'Afwa
English: (I ask for) forgiveness

Step 14 · Dua

Further Duas for the Qunoot

You may add these supplications to the qunoot of Witr.

Duas for the Qunoot of Witr

Step 15 · Dua

Close the Qunoot and Complete the Prayer

Say once:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ تُبْ عَلَيَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ

Transliteration: rabbighfirli warhamni wa tub alayya ,innaka antat-tawwabur-rahim
English: Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me, and turn to me, Surely You are the Oft-returning, the Merciful

Then complete the ruku' and sujud, and end the prayer with the salam.

Step 16 · Dhikr

After the Salam, the Tasbih of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a) and the Prostration of Thanks

Recite the Tasbih of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (a):

- Allahu Akbar, 34 times
- Al-hamdu li-Llah, 33 times
- Subhana-Llah, 33 times

Then go into the prostration of thanks and say five times:

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ

Transliteration: Subbohon, Qoddoson, Rabbul Mala’ekati Wal-Rooh
English: All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

Step 17 · Quran

Recite Ayat al-Kursi, Then Prostrate in Thanks Again

Recite Ayat al-Kursi. Then, for the second time, go into the prostration of thanks and say five times:

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ

Transliteration: Subbohon, Qoddoson, Rabbul Mala’ekati Wal-Rooh
English: All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

Step 18 · Dua

Recite Dua Hazeen

The supplication of the grieving, recited after the night prayer.

Dua Hazeen

Step 19 · Dua

To Remove Worries, the Dua of Imam al-Kazim (a)

According to Imam Musa al-Kazim (a), recite this after the night prayer to remove worries:

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيْمِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَاَسْألَهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ

Transliteration: Subhana-Llahi al-'azimi wa bi-hamdihi, astaghfiru-Llaha wa as'aluhu min fadlih
English: Glory be to Allah, the Mighty, and praise be to Him. I seek the forgiveness of Allah and ask Him of His bounty.