Question:
Assalammualaikum,
With summer hours fast approaching, I would like to ask at what time is the best time to wake up for tahajjud (last third of the night) when say, isyaa starts at 11 p.m. and fajr begins at 2:30 a.m.? And is it possible to pray isyaa earlier than the said time (for eg if isyaa begins at 11 p.m.)? and if so, how much earlier? Is there a specific niyah?
Thank you very much for your time!
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
The best time for tahajjud is the last part of the night before fajr. You should pray witr after tahajjud, but if you fear that you won’t be able to wake up on time then offer witr before just in case. The difference between tahajjud and qiyam al-layl is that tahajjud is when you sleep for a bit then wake up in the last part of the night to pray, whereas qiyam al-layl is after salat al-`Isha.
Imam Senad Agic, Ph.D.
Head Imam (IABNA)
The Islamic Association of Bosniaks in North America
www.mesihat.com
