What do I recite in Tahajjud if I do not know much Qur'an?
Answer
Whatever you know is enough to begin. Al-Fatihah is required in every rak'ah; after it, any amount you have memorised is valid — even the short surahs from Juz Amma, and even repeating the same surah in both rak'ahs.
The Prophet ﷺ taught a man who could not memorise Qur'an to say: "SubhanAllah, alhamdulillah, la ilaha illallah, Allahu akbar, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (Abu Dawud 832), which shows the door is not closed on anyone.
Three practical ways to grow it: - Lengthen with what you know. Reciting al-Ikhlas slowly, with meaning in mind, is closer to the point than rushing a long surah. - Learn one new short surah a month using the night prayer itself as the revision slot. - Use the standing time after recitation for dua in your own language.
Aim for presence, not performance. Nobody is listening but the One who already knows what you cannot yet say.
References
- Sunan Abi Dawud 832
Answered by Tahajjud editorial team
This answer is educational and referenced — it is not a fatwa, and no ruling here is AI-generated. For a ruling on your personal situation, ask a qualified scholar you can speak to directly. Sources & accuracy policy
Ask your own question
Create a free account and ask anonymously — plus a private night plan, prayer times for your city, and a community that prays before dawn.