Qiyaam' means 'standing' and 'Qiyaam al-Layl' means 'standing in
night.' In the Islamic terminology, both terms refer to 'the voluntary
night prayer, whose time extends from after 'Ishaa' )evening( prayer
until dawn.' Qiyaam al-Layl is also known as Tahajjud.
A widespread misconception is that Tahajjud is a different night
prayer than Qiyaam. The true is that there is only one voluntary night
prayer known by different names.
The excellence of night prayer:
Numerous Prophetic narrations and Quranic verses mention the
excellence of night prayer and the merit of those who perform it
regularly. Allaah The Almighty, Says )what means(:"O you who wraps
himself ]in clothing[, arise]to pray[ the night, except for a
little–half of it – or subtract from it a littleor add to it, and
recite the Quran with measured recitation."]Quran 73: 1-4[
It is reported that the Messenger of Allaahsaid:"Allaah, Our Lord,
descends )in a manner befitting His Majesty( to the nearest heaven to
us of this universe during the last third of the night and says: 'Is
there anyone to call upon Me so that I shall respond to him )fulfill
his prayer(. Is there anyone to ask of Me that I may grant his
request. Is there anyone to seek My forgiveness so that I shall
pardonhim )and forgive his sins('."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Aa'ishahreported that the Prophetsaid:"The most beloved deeds to
Allaah are the most constant, even if they were little"]Al-Bukhaari
and Muslim[, and shesaid in another narration:"Do not ever stop
praying Qiyaam. The Prophetnever ceased praying it. When hewas sick or
weak, he prayed sitting."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
The Messenger of Allaahin another Hadeeth, said:"Theclosest onecan
beto Allaah The Almighty, is during the last third ofthenight. If one
can remember Allaah TheAlmighty, at this time let him do
so."]At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa'i and Al-Haaqim[
The Prophetalso said:"You should pray Qiyaam al-Layl, for it is the
habit of the righteous people who came before you, and it will bring
you closer to your Lord, expiate for bad deeds, prevent sin, and expel
disease from the body."]At-Tirmithi and Ahmad[
Mu'ath Ibn Jabalnarrated that the Prophetsaid to him:"May I show you
the gates of goodness?' )They are( "Fasting is screen from Hell,
charity extinguishes the sins as water extinguishes fire, standing in
prayer by a slave of Allaah during the last third part of a
night."Then the Prophetrecited this verse )what means(:"They arise
from ]their[ beds; they supplicatetheir Lord in fear and
aspiration…")Quran 32: 16( ]Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi[
Abu Hurayrahreported that the Messenger of Allaahsaid:"The best of
prayer after those prescribed )i.e. obligatory prayer( is that in the
depth of night."]Muslim[
Abu Hurayrahalso reported that the Messenger of Allaahsaid:"May Allaah
have mercy on aman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to
pray;and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may
Allaah have mercy on a woman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes
her husband to pray; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his
face."]Abu Daawood[
Abdullaah Ibn BashrreportedAllaah's Messengersaying:"Whoever prays
night prayer reciting ten verses, he will not be recorded among the
negligent. Whoever prays night prayer reciting one hundred verses, he
will be recorded among the devout. And whoever prays night prayer
reciting one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those with a
multitude ofgood deeds."]Abu Daawood[
Again, the Prophetsaid:"Verily,there is onehour during the )entire(
night when any Muslim )submittingto theWill of Allaahthe Almighty( may
call upon Allaah and request anything of Him, regardless ofwhetherthe
matter be worldly or of the hereafter. Allaah, theAlmightywill grant
and fulfill the request. This isthecase every night."]Muslim[
Those who regularly perform the night prayers are the righteous and
are more deserving of Allaah's bounty and mercy. AllaahSays )what
means(:"Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and
springs,accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were
before that doers of good.They used to sleep but littleof the
night,and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness."]Quran
51: 15-18[
Allaah Says that those who do not possess these qualities cannot be
treated as equal to those who possess them. He The Almighty Says )what
means(:"Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night,
prostrating and standing ]in prayer[, fearing the Hereafter andhoping
for the mercy of his Lord,]like one who does not[? Say, "Arethose who
know equal to those who do not know?" Only they willremember ]who are[
people of understanding.'']Quran 39: 9[
Etiquettes of night prayer:
The following acts are Sunnah)recommended( for the one who wishes to
perform the night prayers. Upon going to sleep, oneshould make the
intention to perform the prayers. Abu Ad-Dardaa'related that the
Prophetsaid:"Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of getting up
and praying during the night, and sleep overcomes him until the
morning comes, he will have recorded for him what he had intended, and
his sleep will be a charity for him from his Lord."]An-Nasaa'i and Ibn
Maajah[
Upon waking, one should wipe one's face, use a Miswaak)toothstick(,
and make this supplication:"There is no god butYou, Glory be to You, I
seek forgiveness from You for my sins,and I ask for Your mercy. O
Allaah, increase my knowledge and let my heart not swerve afterYou
have guided me, and bestow mercy upon me from Yourself. Allpraise be
to Allaah who has givenus back life after our death and unto Him is
the resurrection."
Then, one should recite the last ten verses of chapter
'Al-'Imraan',then one should say,"O Allaah, toYou belongs the praise.
You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and what is therein.
And to You belongs the praise. You are the truth and Your promise is
true. And the meeting with You istrue. And the paradise is true. And
the Fire is true. And the prophets are true. And Muhammad is true. And
the Hour is true. O Allaah, to You have I submitted. And in You have I
believed. And in You have I put my trust. And to You have I turned.
And by You I argue. And to You do I turn for my decisions.Forgive me
of my former and latter sins, and those done in private and those done
in public. You are Allaah, there is no god besides You."
One should begin the night prayer with two quick Rak'ahs and then may
pray whatever he wishes after that. 'Aa'ishahsaid: "When the
Prophetprayed during the late-night, he would begin his prayers with
twoquick Rak'ahs." ]Muslim[
The recommended time for nightprayer:
The night prayer may be performed in the early part of thenight, the
middle part of the night, or the latter part of the night, but after
the obligatory 'Ishaa' )evening( prayer.
Anasdescribed the prayer of the Prophetas:"If we wantedto see him
praying during the night, we could see him praying. If we wanted to
see him sleepingduring the night, we could see him sleeping. And
sometimes hewould fast for so many days that we thought hewould not
leave fasting throughout thatmonth. And sometimes hewould not fast
)for so many days( that we thought hewould not fast during that
month."]Al-Bukhaari, Ahmad andAn-Nasaa' i[
Commenting on this subject, Ibn Hajarsaid:"There was no specific time
in which the Prophetwould perform his night prayer, but hewould
dowhatever was easiest for him."
Best time for night prayer:
It is best to delay this prayer to the last third portion of the
night. Abu Hurayrahreportedthat the Prophetsaid:"Our Lord descends to
the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring:'Who
will callon Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something
ofMe so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I
may forgive him?"'
'Amr Ibn Abasahreported that he heard the Prophetsay:"The closest that
a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion
of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allaah, the
Exalted One, at that time then do so."]Al-Haakim, At-Tirmithi and
An-Nasaa'i[
The number of Rak'ahs )units of prayer( to be performed during night prayer:
The night prayer does not entail aspecific number of Rak'ahs whichmust
be performed nor is there any maximum limit which has to be performed.
It would be fulfilled even if one just prayed one Rak'ah of Witr after
the obligatory night prayer.
Samurah Ibn Jundubsaid:"The Messenger of Allaah ordered us to pray
during the night, a little or a lot, and to make the last of the
prayer the Witr prayer." ]At-Tabaraani and Al-Bazzaar[
It is preferable to pray eleven or thirteen Rak'ahs for night prayer:
One may choose between prayingthem all together or to separate them.
'Aa'ishahsaid: "The Messenger of Allaahnever prayed more than eleven
Rak'ahs,during Ramadan or otherwise. Hewould pray four Rak'ahs, and
don't ask about how excellent they were or how lengthy they were.
Then, hewould pray four Rak'ahs, and don't ask abouthow excellent they
were or how lengthy they were. Then, hewould pray three Rak'ahs. I
asked: 'O Messenger of Allaah, do you sleep before praying Witr?'
Hereplied: 'O 'Aa'ishah, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep."'
]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
'Aa'ishahsaid: "The prayer of the Messenger of Allaah during the night
would be ten Rak'ahs and then hewould make Witrwith one Rak'ah."
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