The Tahajud Prayer: A Divine Obligation for Prophet Muhammad
The Tahajud prayer, a powerful form of voluntary worship that holds immense blessings and ease for a believer’s life, is a practice that resonates deeply within the heart of a devout Muslim. Scheduled for the late hours of the night, the Tahajud prayer is performed after the Isha prayer and before the break of dawn.
In the Quran, Allah SWT emphasizes the significance of the Tahajud prayer. A commandment is found in Surah al-Isra, verse 79, where Allah instructs Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Muslim community to rise in the night and engage in this act of worship. The verse reads, “And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.”
This divine decree was the first instance where Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad SAW to perform the nightly prayer as an addition to the obligatory prayers. Thus, for Prophet Muhammad SAW himself, the Tahajud prayer was obligatory, while for his followers, it stood as a recommended practice.
Various authentic Hadith, including those narrated by ‘Aisyah and Ibnu ‘Abbas, recount the Prophet’s habit of waking up after sleeping to perform the Tahajud prayer. This practice serves as the basis for understanding the timing and significance of this spiritual act. It is customary for a Muslim to sleep for a portion of the night and then awaken in the middle of the night to engage in the Tahajud prayer.
The Purpose and Permission for Intercession
The verse in Surah al-Isra, verse 79, sheds light on the objective of the Tahajud prayer for Prophet Muhammad SAW: to have Allah place him in the ‘praised station’ (maqaman mahmudan).
The ‘praised station’ also signifies a position in which Allah permits Prophet Muhammad SAW to intercede on behalf of humanity on the Day of Judgment. Through the intercession of the Prophet, with the permission of Allah, believers can be relieved of their hardships and tribulations, thus entering into His paradise.
A narration by an-Nasai, al-Hakim, and a group of Hadith scholars reveals Prophet Muhammad SAW’s words regarding the conditions on the Day of Judgment. “Allah will gather people on a vast land on the Day of Judgment. They will all stand, and no one will speak except with His permission. The first one to be called by name is Muhammad. So Muhammad will supplicate to Him.”
In a Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Whoever recites a supplication after hearing the call to prayer, ‘O my Lord, Lord of the complete call and prayer performed, grant Muhammad the means and the excellence, and elevate him to the praised station that You have promised him,’ then he will receive my intercession.”
In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad SAW stated, “I am the leader of the descendants of Adam on the Day of Judgment. I do not boast, and in my hand is the flag of praise. I do not boast. There is no prophet on that day, from Adam to the other prophets, except beneath my flag. I am the first to emerge from the earth, and I do not boast.”
The Tahajud prayer holds a profound significance in Islam, not only as a form of worship but also as a means of seeking closeness to Allah and the intercession of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Through this nightly prayer, believers can deepen their spiritual connection and strive for the ultimate reward promised in the Hereafter.
