I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW TAHAJUD TIMINGS .CAN IT BE OFFERED JUST 5 MINS BEFORE FAJIR?
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ASSALAMUALAIKUM
BROTHER .
I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW TAHAJUD TIMINGS .CAN IT BE OFFERED JUST 5 MINS BEFORE FAJIR?
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Answer:
Times for tahajjud
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.
Your Question: I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW TAHAJUD TIMINGS
It is best to delay the ‘tahajjud’ or late
night prayer to the last third portion of the night. Abu Hurairah reports that
the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Our Lord Descends to the lowest
heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so
that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to
him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?"'
Related by Bukhari and Muslim.
Amr ibn Abasah reports that he heard the
Prophet (saws) say: "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during
the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who
remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time, then do so."
Related by al-Hakim, at-Tirmidhi,Nasa'i and
Ibn Khuzaimah.
Abu Muslim asked Hadrat Abu Dharr Ghaffari
(r.a.): "Which late-night prayer is the best?" He said: "I asked
the Messenger of Allah (saws) the same that you asked me and he (saws) said,
'The (one done during) middle of the latter half of the night, and very few do
it.'"
Related by Ahmad.
Abdullah ibn 'Amr reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of (Prophet) Dawood
(a.s.). And the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of (Prophet) Dawood
(a.s.). He (Prophet Dawood (a.s.)) would sleep half of the night and then pray
during the next third of the night and then sleep during the last sixth of the
night. And he would fast one day and not fast the next."
Related by Bukhari and Muslim.
If one could divide one’s night hours into six equal
parts, then the absolute best time to offer one’s voluntary ‘tahajjud’ prayer
would be the time of the fifth of the six portions. If one is unable to offer
their ‘tahajjud’ prayers at this ‘best’ and most opportune time for any reason,
the absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion
that if one strives to offer their ‘tahajjud’ prayers at any time between the
end of the ‘isha’ prayers and before the call of the ‘fajr’ prayers, they would
receive their appropriate and due reward from their Lord for their striving.
Your Question: CAN
IT BE OFFERED JUST 5 MINS BEFORE FAJIR?
Although it would be best and closest to the Sunnah to
leave a reasonable gap between the end of one’s ‘tahajjud’ prayers and the
‘adhaan’ of the ‘fajr’ prayer, if perchance one has been able to get up only
five minutes before the ‘adhaan’ of ‘fajr’ and wishes to offer a couple of
rakahs of the voluntary ‘tahajjud’ prayers, there is absolutely no harm.
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