What will you pray tonight?

Acts of the night, with their sources

• Dua on waking

  Alhamdulillahi alladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 6312

• Last ten ayat of Al 'Imran

  The Prophet ﷺ recited them when he rose for the night prayer.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 4569

• Wudu, unhurried

  Water on the face is often what finally wakes the heart.

• Siwak

  He ﷺ would clean his mouth with the siwak on rising at night.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 245

• Two short opening rak'ahs

  Begin the night prayer with two light rak'ahs.

  Sahih Muslim 768

• Tahajjud rak'ahs

  Prayed two by two, as long or as short as you are able.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 990

• Witr

  Make the last of your night prayer witr — an odd number.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 998

• Dua al-Qunut in witr

  Allahumma-hdini fiman hadayt…

  Sunan Abi Dawud 1425

• Two rak'ahs of repentance

  Salat at-Tawbah, prayed with the intention of turning back.

  Sunan Abi Dawud 1521

• Two rak'ahs for a need

  Salat al-Hajah — pray, then ask for the thing weighing on you.

  Jami' at-Tirmidhi 479 / Sunan Ibn Majah 1384 — scholars differ on its grading; two voluntary rak'ahs followed by dua are valid regardless

• Istikhara

  When a decision is in front of you, hand it back to Allah.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 1166

• Recitation with meaning

  Read slowly and read the translation of what you recited.

• Revise memorisation

  The night is the steadiest hour for hifdh.

• Surah al-Mulk

  He ﷺ would not sleep until he had recited it.

  Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2892

• Istighfar

  The people of the last third seek forgiveness before dawn.

  Qur'an 51:18

• Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ

  Send peace upon him and your worries are taken care of.

  Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2457

• Tasbih

  SubhanAllah, alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar.

• Sit in silence

  No screen, no words. Let the heart catch up.

• Dua for yourself

  In your own language. Ask for the specific thing.

• Dua for your parents

  Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.

  Qur'an 17:24

• Dua for the ummah

  Name the places and people carrying hardship tonight.

• Dua for your people list

  Take three names from your connections and ask for them.

• Write one line in your journal

  What did you ask for, and what did you feel?

• Give something quietly

  Even a small amount, given before dawn.

• Hold on until Fajr

  Do not let the night prayer cost you the obligatory one.