Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Tahujjad should be read in discreet. is it true 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Tahajud should be read alone

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Other than the obligatory prayers which a believing male has been commanded to offer them in congregation in the masaajids, all the other Nafl or Sunnah prayers one offers are best prayed at home.

The ‘tahajjud’ or ‘qiyam-ul-layl’ or the night prayers one offers are from amongst the ‘nafl’ or voluntary prayers, and in light of the clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), the reward of offering all such ‘nafl’ and ‘sunnah’ prayers at home alone are more than if offered in the masjid.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.2

Topic: Offering Supererogatory Prayers in One's House

Hadrat Jabir (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If one of you offers his prayers in the Mosque then he should make a portion of his (voluntary Sunnah or Nafl) prayers in his house, as Allah has made his (voluntary) prayers in his house a means of betterment (for him)." Related by Ahmad and Muslim.

Hadrat Umar ibn Al-Khattab (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "The nawafil salah of a man in his house are a light; whoever wishes should lighten up his house."

Related by Ahmad.

Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar (r.a.) reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Make some of your (voluntary) prayers in your houses and do not turn your houses into graveyards."

Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.

Hadrat Zaid ibn Thabit (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "A person's salah in his house is better than his salah in my mosque, except for the fard salah."

Related by Abu Dawud

These hadith prove that it is preferred to say one's voluntary (Nafl and/or Sunnah) prayers in one's house since prayers in one's house are better than those that he performs in the masjids. Imam An-Nawawi says: "The Prophet (saws) encouraged the believers to offer their voluntary prayers in their homes because then the prayers are more private and will have less of a chance of being done for show, and will be free from defects that vitiate good deeds. Furthermore, this will be a blessing for the house as mercy and angels will descend on it, while the Shaytaan flees from it."

Thus in conclusion brother, although it is permissible in Islam for one to perform their voluntary (Nafl or Sunnah) prayers in the masjids, the offering of the voluntary prayers which one offers in private in one’s homes earn a bigger reward than if offered in the masjid.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan