Du'a for Tahajjud
When the Prophet ﷺ stood for the night prayer, he opened with praise rather than a request: Allah named as the light of the heavens and the earth, the sustainer of everything in them, the truth — His promise, His word, the meeting with Him, all true. Only after that came the asking.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Bukhari 1120
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ
Allahumma lakal-hamdu anta nurus-samawati wal-ardi wa man fihinn, wa lakal-hamdu anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ardi wa man fihinn, wa lakal-hamdu antal-haqq, wa wa'dukal-haqq, wa liqa'uka haqq, wa qawluka haqq, wal-jannatu haqq, wan-naru haqq.
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise — You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. To You belongs all praise — You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them. To You belongs all praise — You are the Truth, Your promise is true, the meeting with You is true, Your word is true, Paradise is true, and the Fire is true.”
The Prophet's ﷺ opening words when he stood for the night prayer.
Source: Bukhari 1120
- Bukhari 1120
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ
Allahumma laka aslamt, wa bika amant, wa 'alayka tawakkalt, wa ilayka anabt, wa bika khasamt, wa ilayka hakamt, faghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhart, wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lant.
“O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I have relied, to You I have turned, by You I have contended, and to You I have referred judgement. So forgive me what I have sent ahead and what I have left behind, what I have concealed and what I have declared.”
The continuation of the same du'a — the asking that follows the praise.
Source: Bukhari 1120
Frequently asked questions
What du'a is said in tahajjud?
Bukhari 1120 records the Prophet's ﷺ opening in the night prayer: 'Allahumma lakal-hamdu anta nurus-samawati wal-ard...' — praise naming Allah as the Light and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth, and as the Truth, before any request is made.
What is tahajjud?
Tahajjud is voluntary prayer offered at night. The Quran addresses it directly in 17:79, and the Prophet ﷺ kept it as a settled practice. Questions about its exact timing, number of rak'ahs, or ruling are for a qualified scholar in your own school.
Why does the tahajjud du'a begin with praise?
It follows the pattern the Sunnah generally uses for supplication — Allah is praised and His attributes named before anything is asked. In this du'a the asking for forgiveness comes only after a long affirmation that His promise, word, and meeting are true.
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