There are moments in life when our hearts carry quiet wishes. We do not announce them to the world, nor even to those closest to us. We carry them gently, like a fragile vessel, lifting them only in the stillness of prayer and placing them before Allah Most High.

A woman discovered she was pregnant.

There was the flutter of joy, the rush of gratitude, and alongside it a secret longing. Having already raised her younger sister as though she were her own child, she yearned for something different this time. She hoped for a son. A little boy whose hair she could ruffle, whose hands would one day grow strong, whose voice would deepen with time.

She did not speak this wish aloud. She shared it only with Allah, in whispered supplications, trusting that He alone truly understands the language of the heart.

Her mother in law, however, sensed it.

“I know what you have been praying for,” she said one evening, her eyes bright with mischief.

A boy, the woman thought, startled at how exposed she suddenly felt.

But the mother in law smiled and replied, “I have always dreamed of a granddaughter. Allah never blessed me with a daughter of my own.”

Then came the challenge, spoken lightly but rooted in sincere faith.

“Let us have a Tahajjud competition. You pray for your boy, I will pray for my girl. Let us see who Allah listens to more.”

And so the spiritual contest began.

Night after night, both women rose in the depths of the night, when the world slept and hearts softened. The woman would hear a door close softly at three in the morning and hurry to make wudu, smiling to herself that her mother in law had started early.

In the stillness, she whispered, “Ya Allah, bless us with a healthy baby boy.”

Across the hall, her mother in law was surely asking for her granddaughter with equal sincerity.

Some nights, the woman even found herself negotiating in duʿāʾ, promising gratitude no matter what Allah decreed. Her heart, though hopeful, was slowly being trained in surrender.

Allah Most High praises those who rise at night to call upon Him:

Tahajjud is not merely a prayer. It is an act of intimate trust. A declaration that Allah is closer to us in the unseen hours than any certainty we think we possess.

The day of the ultrasound arrived.

The husband, unaware of the nightly competition, held his wife’s hand as the technician examined the screen. After a moment, the technician smiled.

“Everything looks healthy. Would you like to know the gender?”

“Yes,” the woman and her mother in law said together, a little too eagerly.

The technician paused, studied the screen again, then smiled wider.

“There is something else. You are having twins.”

Silence filled the room.

Twins.

“And,” the technician added gently, “one boy and one girl.”

The woman and her mother in law looked at one another and laughed through tears. In that moment, it felt as though Allah had answered not just their words, but their hearts.

As if He had said, Why compete, when I can bless you both?

This story reflects a profound spiritual truth. Allah always answers duʿāʾ, but not always in the form we imagine.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us:

Sometimes Allah gives us exactly what we ask for. Sometimes He withholds because He knows what we do not. And sometimes, He gives us more than we could have dared to imagine.

From a psychological perspective, surrendering outcomes while maintaining effort is known to reduce anxiety and increase emotional resilience. In Islamic spirituality, this is tawakkul, tying the heart to Allah while still acting with intention. Modern research on stress and cognition supports what revelation taught long ago. Letting go of rigid expectations calms the nervous system and opens us to gratitude and meaning beyond control.

Tahajjud teaches us that Allah listens most attentively when the world is quiet. But more than that, it teaches us humility. We ask, He answers. We hope, He chooses. And His choices are always wiser than our wishes.

Sometimes, the greatest mercy is not that Allah gives us what we want, but that He gives us what we truly need, and often, far more.

May we learn to rise in the night with hopeful hearts, to ask with trust, and to receive His decree with contentment and awe.

What is Tahajjud in Islam?
Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer performed after sleeping, known for its deep spiritual intimacy and sincerity.

Does Allah always answer duʿāʾ?
Yes. Allah answers every sincere duʿāʾ, either by granting it, delaying it for the Hereafter, or protecting us from harm.

Is it wrong to want specific outcomes in duʿāʾ?
No. Islam encourages asking Allah for our needs, while maintaining trust in His wisdom.

Why is night prayer so special?
The quiet of night reduces distractions, increasing focus, sincerity, and emotional openness before Allah.

How can I build consistency in Tahajjud?
Start with small steps, even two rakʿahs once a week, and focus on intention rather than quantity.