Excellence of Prayer at Night - Qiyam al-layl
Qiyam al-layl
or night vigil is a source of great spiritual energy.
The Quran
also commends the one who utilizes the early hours of each day to
engage in remembrance of Allah: "Is one who worships devoutly
during the hours of night prostrating himself or standing [in
adoration] and who places his hope in the mercy of His Lord -
[like one who does not]? Say: 'Are those equal - those who know
and those who do not know?' It is those who are endowed with
understanding that receive admonition." [Az-Zumar 39:9]
"And in
some parts of the night (also) perform the Salat (prayer) with it
(i.e., recite the Qur'an in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud
optional prayer - Nawafil) for you (O Muhammad (PBUH)). It may be
that your Rubb will raise you to Maqam Mahmud (a station of
praise and glory, i.e., the honour of intercession on the Day of
Resurrection).'' (17:79)
"Their
sides forsake their beds...'' (32:16)
"They used
to sleep but little by night [invoking their Rubb (Allah) and
praying, with fear and hope].'' (51:17)
The
Prophet has said: "Keep up qiyam al-layl. It was the way of the
virtuous who came before you, it draws you nearer to your Lord,
atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and protects the body
from sickness." (Tirmidhi.)
"Aishah
(May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) kept
standing (in prayer) so long that the skin of his feet would
crack. I asked him: "Why do you do this, while you have been
forgiven of your former and latter sins?" He said, "Should I not
be a grateful slave of Allah?" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
COMMENTARY: This Hadith has already been mentioned. It is
reproduced here to illustrate the practice of the Prophet (PBUH)
in respect of Qiyam-ul-Lail. It tells us that:
- The
Nafl Salat should be performed with full concentration and
peace of mind.
- The
more one is endowed with gifts from Allah, the greater
gratitude and worship one should express for them to Allah.
- The
best time for showing one's humility before Allah and for
worship is the later period of night.
"Ali (May
Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) visited
me and Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) one night and
said, "Do you not observe prayer (at night)?"[Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
COMMENTARY: This Hadith tells us that one should also awaken
others at night for prayer so that they also avail the benefits
of performing prayer at this particular time.
"Salim bin
`Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with
them) reported, on the authority of his father, that the
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "What an excellent man `Abdullah
is! If only he could perform optional prayers at night.'' Salim
said that after this, (his father) `Abdullah slept very little at
night." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
COMMENTARY: This Hadith points out the excellence of `Abdullah
bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) as well as the merits
of Qiyam-ul-Lail.
"Abdullah
bin Salam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH)
said, "O people, promote the greetings, feed (the poor and needy)
and perform Salat when others are asleep so that you will enter
Jannah safely." [At-Tirmidhi].
Sources: