Question Summary:
What is the correct time for Tahajjud Salāh?

Question Detail:

I offer my Tahajjud Salāh just 10 min. before the Fajr Salāh. Is this permissible and accepted?
Is it necessary for a person to sleep and wake up to offer Tahajjud Salāh or even if he is awake till 1 or 2 at night he can offer Tahajjud and sleep?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The time for Tahajjud remains until al-Subh al-Sādiq (break of dawn).  This is when the time for Fajr sets in and not necessarily the time when Fajr Salāh is performed in the Masjid.
The actual time for Tahajjud Salāh is after one wakes up from his/her sleep and the most virtuous time is towards the latter portion of the night.  However if one is not able to awaken for the performance of Tahajjud Salāh, then he/she may perform Nafl Salāh before sleeping.
The method of performing Tahajjud Salāh is the same as performing any other Salāh.  One may perform only two Raka’āt and may increase as time permits.  One should keep in mind that the Du’ās are accepted at Tahajjud time.  Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said:
إِذَا مَضَى شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ، أَوْ ثُلُثَاهُ، يَنْزِلُ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَيَقُولُ: هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ يُعْطَى؟ هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ؟ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ؟ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الصُّبْحُ (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 522،  دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)
When half the night or one third of the night passes, Allāh Ta’ālā proclaims: “Is there anyone who begs from me so I may grant him? Is there anybody who makes Du’ā to me so that his Du’ā will be accepted?  Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that he may be pardoned?”  This proclamation continues till the dawn of Fajr.
(Sahīh Muslim)
 
On another occasion, Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said:
 
إِذَا مَضَى شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ، أَوْ ثُلُثَاهُ، يَنْزِلُ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَيَقُولُ: هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ يُعْطَى؟ هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ؟ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ؟ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الصُّبْحُ (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 522،  دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت
Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam was asked: “Which Du’ā is most accepted?”  He replied: “The Du’ā made in the last part of the night and the Du’ā made after the obligatory prayers.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,

US
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

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