Prioritize tahajjud in the last third of the night, especially before Arafat and during Tashreeq nights — balance worship with adequate rest to maintain spiritual focus throughout Hac.
The nights of Hac present extraordinary opportunities for worship, as they fall within the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — the most sacred days of the Islamic calendar. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) said Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, asking: 'Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer? Who is asking of Me so that I may give?' (Bukhari and Muslim). This promise is amplified during these blessed nights.
Key nights to prioritize: the night in Mina before Arafat (8th Dhul Hijjah) is a calm, reflective night ideal for tahajjud and preparing your heart for the Day of Arafat. The night at Muzdelife is spent under the open sky after the emotionally intense day at Arafat — pray Maghrib and Isha (combined and shortened), then rest as needed while waking for Fajr. The nights of Tashreeq in Mina (11th-13th) are excellent for tahajjud and Kur'an recitation. However, balance worship with adequate rest — Hz. Peygamber himself rested during Hac and warned against excessive worship that leads to burnout. A short, focused tahajjud with sincere dua is better than a long, exhausted night with a wandering mind.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim; Ibn al-Qayyim, Zad al-Ma'ad