A glossary of the night

Short definitions of the terms used across this site.

Tahajjud

Voluntary prayer performed after sleeping, in the later part of the night. From *hajada*, to stay awake at night. Commanded to the Prophet ﷺ: "And in part of the night, pray Tahajjud as additional worship for you." (Surah al-Isra 17:79)

Qiyam al-Layl

"Standing the night" — the broader term for any night worship: prayer, recitation, dua, dhikr. All Tahajjud is Qiyam; not all Qiyam is Tahajjud.

Witr

The odd-numbered prayer that closes the night. "Make the last of your prayer at night Witr." (Sahih al-Bukhari 998)

Sahar

The last portion of the night before dawn. "And in the hours before dawn (*al-ashar*) they would seek forgiveness." (Surah adh-Dhariyat 51:18)

The last third

The final third of the span from sunset to dawn — the hour described in the hadith of descent. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145)

Laylat al-Qadr

The Night of Decree, sought in the odd nights of the last ten of Ramadan. "Better than a thousand months." (Surah al-Qadr 97:3)

Tarawih

The congregational night prayer of Ramadan. In substance it is Qiyam al-Layl prayed early in the night.

Rak'ah

One unit of prayer: standing and recitation, bowing, and two prostrations.

Wudu

The ritual washing performed before prayer.

Dhikr

Remembrance of Allah in set words or in general.

Dua

Supplication — asking. It may be in any language.

I'tikaf

Seclusion in the mosque for worship, especially in the last ten nights of Ramadan.