One of the most common reasons people hesitate to pray Tahajjud is a quiet fear: I don’t know enough Arabic. I won’t do it right.
This hesitation is understandable. But it’s also based on a misunderstanding of what Tahajjud is.
Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer; it is not Fard, which means its performance is not bound to the same strict requirements as obligatory salah. More importantly, the dua portion, the part where you speak to Allah, can be in any language. Your language. The one you think in, dream in, cry in.
This article will walk you through both what to recite in Arabic and how to make meaningful dua in English (or whatever language is yours).
The Structure of Tahajjud
Tahajjud consists of voluntary rakats, typically 2 to 8, though even 2 is sufficient. Each pair is prayed with a closing salam, and after you’ve completed your rakats, you sit and make dua.
Step 1: Make the intention (niyyah) silently in your heart.
Step 2: Pray 2 rakats as you would any voluntary prayer. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha, followed by any surah you know.
Step 3: After your final tashahhud and salam, sit and make dua. This is the heart of Tahajjud.
What to Recite If Your Arabic Is Limited
You do not need to have memorized many surahs. Here is what works:
In Each Rakat:
- Surah Al-Fatiha (obligatory in every rakat; if you pray any salah, you already know this)
- Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad), just three verses, and it is equivalent to reciting one-third of the Quran in terms of reward
If you know more surahs, use them. If you know only Al-Fatiha and Al-Ikhlas, that is enough.
The Dua the Prophet ﷺ Made
When the Prophet ﷺ got up for Tahajjud, he would say: (Bukhari 1120)
“Allahumma lakal-hamd. Anta qaiyyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, Laka mulkus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard. Wa lakal-hamd, anta-l-haq wa wa’duka-lhaq, wa liqa’uka Haq, wa qauluka Haq, wal-jannatu Haq wan-naru Haq wannabiyuna Haq. Wa Muhammadun, sallal-lahu’alaihi wasallam, Haq, was-sa’atu Haq. Allahumma aslamtu Laka wabika amantu, wa ‘Alaika tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika hakamtu faghfir li ma qaddamtu wama akh-khartu wama as-rartu wama’a lantu, anta-l-muqaddim wa anta-l-mu’akh-khir, la ilaha illa anta.”
Translation: “O Allah! All the praises are for You. You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. All the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, and to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth, and Paradise is true, and Hell is true, and all the Prophets are true, and Muhammad ﷺ is true, and the Day of Resurrection is true. O Allah! I surrender to You, I believe in You and depend on You, and repent to You, and with Your help I argue, and I take You as a judge. Please forgive me my previous and future sins, and whatever I concealed or revealed. You are the One who makes some people forward and some backward. There is none to be worshipped but You.”
Making Dua in English (or Your Own Language)
This is where Tahajjud becomes something deeply personal.
After your prayer, sit facing the qiblah, raise your hands, and speak. Not in formal, rehearsed phrases. Speak honestly. In your own words. In your own language.
The scholars are in agreement: dua can be made in any language. Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and the majority of scholars have affirmed this. Allah understands every tongue. He knows what is in your heart before you even speak it.
Dua for marriage or a spouse:
“O Allah, You wrote my provision and my spouse before I was created. I ask You, by Your knowledge of what is best for me, to bring that person into my life in the right time. Grant me a companion who will help me draw closer to You.”
Dua for financial relief:
“O Allah, You are Al-Razzaq, the Provider. I am struggling and I cannot find a way out on my own. Open doors I cannot see. Provide for me from where I cannot imagine. Make me not dependent on anyone except You.”
Dua for healing:
“O Allah, You are Ash-Shafi, the Healer. No illness is beyond Your cure. I ask You to heal me, or to give me the strength and patience to carry what You have written for me with dignity.”
Dua for guidance:
“O Allah, I am confused. I don’t know which path is right. You know what I don’t know. Guide me to what is best, not what I want, but what is truly good for me.”
When you don’t know what to say:
Sometimes you sit on the prayer mat and nothing comes out. That silence is also a form of prayer. Sit with it.
Being present is enough.
The Dua That Covers Everything
If you’re unsure what to ask for, here is a supplication that encompasses everything:
“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.”
Translation: “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” (Quran 2:201, Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran)
The companions used to say this dua frequently, and it is comprehensive. It asks for what is good in every dimension of life, without limiting Allah’s generosity to what you can specifically articulate.
To read the complete stories of people whose dua was answered through Tahajjud, pick up a copy of The Power of Tahajjud.