7 Practical Tips for praying Qiyaam al-Layl

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem

7 Practical Tips for praying
Qiyaam al-Layl

References
‘The Night Prayers’ by Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albanee (rahimahullah),
answers by Shaikh Salih al-Munajjad (hafizahullah) and others

As-Sunnah Islamic Newsletter Issue 15

What is Qiyaam al-Layl?

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 Isha prayer until dawn.' Other common names for Qiyaam al-Layl are, Salaat ul-Layl (the night prayer), Tahajjud (from hajada meaning remained awake at night), Witr (odd-numbered this term is also used to refer to the last one or three Raka'ah of Qiyaam) and Taraweeh (resting).

A widespread misconception is that Tahajjud is a different night prayer than Qiyaam or Taraweeh. It is important to clarify this misunderstanding and to make clear that there is only one nafl night prayer known by different names. Even though the term Taraweeh is more commonly used to describe the night prayer in Ramadan, it is not different from Tahajjud. Thus, the practice of praying Taraweeh in the earlier part of the night and Tahajjud in the later part should be stopped.

The Excellence of Qiyaam al-Layl

Numerous Ahaadeeth and Qur'aanic verses mention the excellence of Qiyaam al-Layl and the merit of those who perform it regularly. Umm al-Mumineen, Aa'ishah (radhi allahu anha) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most constant, even if they were little.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim] and she said in another narration: “Do not ever stop praying Qiyaam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) never ceased praying it. When he was sick or weak, he prayed sitting.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslims] He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) 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-Tirmidhee and Musnad Ahmad]

Narrated Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (radhi allahu anhu): 'The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said to him: “May I show you the gates of goodness?' (they are), “(a) Fasting is screen from Hell, (b) As-Sadaqah extinguishes the sins, as water extinguishes fire, (c) Standing in Salaat (prayer) by a slave of Allah during the last third part of a night.” Then the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) recited the verse: “Their (believer's) sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope; and they spend out of what We have bestowed on them.”' [Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhee]

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The best of prayer after those prescribed (i.e. obligatory prayer) is that in the depth of night.” [Saheeh Muslims]

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to pray; and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah 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.” [(Hasan) Abu Dawood ]

Abdullah Ibn Bashr (radhi allahu anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saying: “Whoever prays Qiyaam reciting ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent. Whoever prays Qiyaam reciting one hundred verses, he will be recorded among the devout. And whoever prays Qiyaam reciting one thousand verses, he will be recorded among those with a multitude of good deeds.” [(Hasan) Abu Dawood]

7 Practical Tips for praying Qiyaam al-Layl

1: Ikhlas (Sincerity) - the key to Allah's Help and Blessings. Help of Allah is needed to accomplish and achieve success in all our affairs. And Allah only helps those who are sincere in their hearts. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “If you are truthful with Allah, then Allah will deliver to you what you wish for.” [An-Nasa'ee, al-Hakim and Saheeh al-Jamee] Therefore, one should have a sincere intention to pray Qiyaam al-Layl; seek the Pleasure of Allah Alone and avoid the desire of praise or fame. Allah says: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone…” [(98): 5]
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said: “The degree to which a person is helped and aided by Allah depends on the degree of his intention, drive, aim and hopes. Help from Allah comes to people in proportion to their drive, intention, hopes and fears, and failure comes to them in like manner.”

2: Knowing the Virtues of Qiyaam al-Layl

Knowing the virtues and rewards of performing worship produces willingness and desire to perform the worship. We have previously mentioned numerous virtues of regularly praying Qiyaam al-Layl, here we mention the excellence of praying Qiyaam al-Layl particularly in the great month of Ramadan. Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported: “Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) encouraged the people, without making it an absolute command, to perform Qiyaam during Ramadan. He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to say: “Whoever stands (in Qiyaam) in Ramadan out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Saheeh Muslim]

3: Taking a nap in the daytime

Taking a nap before or after Dhur Salaat will dismiss the stress and thus enable one to get up in the night and stand in front of his Lord. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Take a nap, for the Shayateen (pl. of Shaytan) do not take naps.” [Reported by at-Tabaranee. Al-Saheehah (2647)]

4: Sleeping according to the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger

(a) Sleep early: Sleeping early is a healthy habit and it was the practice of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) to sleep directly after performing the Isha prayer. Abu Barzah al-Aslami (radhi allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to prefer to delay Isha, and he did not like to sleep before it or talk after it.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

(b) Sleep in a state of taharah (purity): Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Purify these bodies and Allah will purify you, for there is no slave who goes to sleep in a state of purity but an Angel spends the night with him, and every time he turns over, [the Angel] says, 'O Allah! Forgive Your slave, for he went to bed in a state of purity.'” [Reported by at-Tabaranee. See Saheeh al-Jamee (3831)]

(c) Choose a suitable bed: Excessive luxurious or soft bed provokes laziness and makes one sleep more and become negligent. Aa'ishah (radhi allahu anha) narrates that the pillow of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) on which he slept at night was made of leather stuffed with palm fibers.” [Abu Dawood and Musnad Ahmad. Saheeh al-Jamee (4714)]

Once Umar Ibn al-Khattab (radhi allahu anhu) entered upon the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) when he was lying on a mat of palm fibers that had left marks on his side. Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you not get something more comfortable than this?” He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “What do I have to do with this world? My relationship with this world is like that of a traveler on a hot summer's day, who seeks shade under a tree for an hour, then moves on.” [Musnad Ahmad and al-Hakim. Saheeh al-Jamee (5545)]

(d) Cleaning the bed and lying on the right side
Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported: “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “When any one of you goes to bed, let him clear his bed by hitting it with his garment, for he does not know what may have come onto it. Then let him lie down on his right side…” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

(e) Reciting the Adhkaar (supplications) mentioned in the Sunnah before sleeping
There are a number of Adhkaar prescribed in the Sunnah before going to bed, amongst them are reciting the last verses of Soorah al-Baqarah, reciting Soorah al-Falaq and Soorah al-Nas and Soorah Ikhlas blow in the palms and wipe as much of the body possible, starting from the head, face and then the front of the body doing it three times. [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (radhi allahu anhu) reported that when the Prophet's daughter, Fatima (radhi allahu anha) came to him and asked him for a servant, he (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said to her and Ali: “Shall I not teach you something that will be better for you than a servant? When you go to bed, say 'SubhanAllah' thirty-three times, 'Al-hamdulillah' thirty-three times, and 'Allahu Akbar' thirty-four times. This is better for you than a servant.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

5: Avoid too much food and drink

Too much food or drink is one of the main obstacles that make one lazy and negligent of Qiyaam al-Layl. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Man fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to have a few mouthfuls to give him the strength he needs. If he has to fill his stomach, then let him leave one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Majah. Saheeh al-Jamee (5674)]

Abu Juhayfah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said to a man who burped in his presence: “Stop your burping, for the people who eat the most in this life will be the most hungry on the Day of Resurrection.” [Reported by al-Hakim. Saheeh al-Jamee (1190)]

6: Striving against oneself:

Striving against oneself to get up and pray and suppressing one's desires bring about Allah's help and His Pleasure for the slave. Allah says in the Qur'aan: “Strive in Allah's Cause as you ought to strive…” [Soorah al-Hajj (25): 78] “And as for those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinoon (good-doers).” [ (29): 69]

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The Mujahid (one who strives in way of Allah) is the one who strives against his own self for the sake of Allah.” [Reported by al-Tirmidhee. See al-Saheehah (549)]

He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) also said: “When a man from my Ummah gets up to pray at night, striving against his own self to get up and purify himself, there are knots on him. When he washes his hands in wudhu, one knot is undone. When he washes his face, another knot is undone. When he wipes his head another knot is undone. When he washes his feet, another knot is undone. Then Allah says to those who are veiled (in the Unseen): 'Look at this slave of Mine, he is striving against his own self and asking of Me. Whatever My slave asks of Me shall be his.” [Musnad Ahmad. See Saheeh al-Targheeb (627)]

7: Rebuking one's self for not praying Qiyaam al-Layl

Qiyaam al-Layl is a great blessing from Allah, the Exalted, and He has placed in it numerous spiritual benefits and rewards for the believer. Therefore, one should rebuke one's self, if he misses this great opportunity of achieving rewards and Pleasure of Allah. Allah says in the Qur'aan: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [(59): 18]
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: “If the slave is responsible and accountable for everything, even his hearing, sight and innermost thoughts, as Allah says, “…Verily, hearing, sight, and the heart of each of you will be questioned by Allah.” [Soorah al-Isra (17): 36], then he should check on himself before he is brought to account.”

How to Perform The Witr Prayer?

All praises be to Allah (swt), Lord and Sustainer of the worlds, and may the peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and upon his family and companions.

It is important for every Muslim to understand that no act of worship can be performed except on a method proven from the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him). This is because the basic principle in acts of worship is that everything is unlawful except what is approved by Allah (swt) and his Messenger.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said; “pray as you see me praying”.

As there are differences of opinion as to how the Witr prayer is performed, it becomes important for us to know with evidences the method that is attributed most closely to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him). However the purpose of this article is to provide a practical guidance to people for how to pray Witr rather then detailing all the differences, therefore we shall keep it as brief as possible.

Definition of Witr: Witr means unpaired such as ‘one’, ‘three’, ‘five’, ‘seven’ etc. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said’ “Indeed Allah (swt) is unpaired and He loves the unpaired (number).” The Witr prayer is the non-obligatory prayer that is performed in odd number in the night after I’shaa prayer.

Status of Witr Prayer: The correct view is that Witr is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu’akkadah) which should not be neglected as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would never miss it, not even during his journeys for the battles.

Time of Witr Prayer: The time of Witr prayer starts immediately after Isha prayer and lasts until dawn begins. This is based on many narrations including the one in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) said: “Allah (swt) has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is Witr; Allah (swt) has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Isha’ prayer until dawn begins.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425; Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

Once dawn begins, the time for Witr is over, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) said: “Pray Witr before morning comes.” Narrated by Muslim, 754.

He (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) also said: “Hasten to pray Witr before dawn.” Narrated Muslim.

Muslim also narrated from Abu Nadrah al-‘Awfi, that Abu Sa’eed told them that they asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about Witr and he said: “Witr comes before dawn.”

And the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) said: “Witr is one rak’ah at the end of the night.” narrated Muslim (752)

In Al-Tirmidhi report from Ibn ‘Umar (ra) the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When dawn comes, all the night prayers and Witr are over, so pray Witr before dawn comes.” Al-Tirmidhi (469) Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

It is preferred that Witr is prayed in the last part of night just before dawn begins but if one fears that he would not be able to get up in the last part of night then he should pray it before going to sleep, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) said, “Whoever fears that he will not get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks that he will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.” Narrated by Muslim, 755.

Number of raka’at: It is essential to differentiate between Witr prayer and the Night prayer (or Tahajjud).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) said: “Witr is one rak’ah at the end of the night.” Narrated by Muslim, 752.
And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The night prayers are two (rak’ahs) by two, but if one of you fears that dawn is about to break, let him pray one rak’ah to make what he has prayed Witr (odd-numbered).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 911; Muslim, 749

This means that the minimum number of raka’at one can pray in Witr is one rak’ah, but it can be more as it is proven from authentic narrations that the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) prayed Witr in three, five, seven and nine.

Method of praying the Witr

So if we have to reconcile all the above statements and a number of other narrations as we shall insha-Allah mention below, the Witr can be prayed in a number of ways;

1. To pray one raka’h on its own.

2. To pray three raka’at. This can be done in three ways;
a) To pray two raka’at finishing them with a tasleem and then doing a single raka’h. This is the best way because it reconciles the two narrations regarding Witr and the Night prayer quoted above.

b) To pray three raka’at one after the other without any sitting except at the end of third raka’h because of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah (swt) be pleased with her) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) used not to say the tasleem in the (first) two rakahs of Witr. According to another version: “He used to pray Witr with three rak’ahs and he did not sit except in the last of them.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 3/234; al-Bayhaqi, 3/31. al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (4/7): it was narrated by al-Nasaa’i with a hasan isnaad, and by al-Bayhaqi with a saheeh isnaad.

c) To pray like Maghrib prayer with two tashahhuds and one salaam at the end. This is prohibited because the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) forbade doing that, and said: “Do not pray Witr with three rak’ahs like Maghrib.” Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/403; al-Bayhaqi, 3/31; al-Daaraqutni, p. 172. Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (4/301): Its isnaad fulfils the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

3. To pray five or seven raka’at continuously with one tashahhud at the end, as narrated by Umm Salamah (may Allah (swt) be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) used to pray Witr with five or seven (rak’ahs) and he did not separate between them with any salaam or words. Narrated by Ahmad, 6/290; al-Nasaa’i, 1714. al-Nawawi said: Its isnaad is jayyid. Al-Fath al-Rabbaani, 2/297. and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

4. To pray nine raka’at with no tashahhud except in the eighth rak’ah, then stand up without doing the tasleem, then doing the ninth rak’ah finishing with a tashahhud and tasleem. This was narrated in Muslim (746) from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah (swt) be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) used to pray nine rak’ahs in which he did not sit except in the eighth, when he would remember Allah (swt), praise Him and call upon Him, then he would get up and not say the tasleem, and he would stand up and pray the ninth (rak’ah), then he would sit and remember Allah (swt) and praise Him and call upon Him, then he would say a tasleem that we could hear.

5. To pray eleven raka’at, with a tasleem after each two rak’ahs and then pray one rak’ah at the end.

6. To pray thirteen raka’at as reported by ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah (swt) be pleased with her) who said: The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) used to pray thirteen rak’ahs at night, praying five rak’ahs of Witr, in which he would not sit except in the last rak’ah. Narrated by Muslim, 737.

If one prays Witr praying three continuous raka’at then it is a sunnah to recite in the first rak’ah Soorat al-A’la 87), in the second Soorat al-Kaafiroon (109), and in the third Soorat al-Ikhlaas (112), because Al-Nasaa’i (1729) narrated that Ubayy ibn Ka’b said: The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) used to recite in Witr Sabbih isma rabbika al-‘a’la (“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” – Soorat al-A’la 87), Qulhe yaa ayyuha’l-kaafiroon (“Say: O disbeliever…” – Soorat al-Kaafiroon 109) and Qul Huwa Allah (swt)u ahad (“Say: He is Allah (swt), the One” – Soorat al-Ikhlaas 112). Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

Qunoot in Witr Prayer: Du’a’ al-Qunoot is recited in the last rak’ah of Witr prayer, Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah (swt) have His mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (23/100): ‘With regard to qunoot: there are two extreme views and one middle (or moderate) view. Some say that qunoot should only be recited before bowing and some say that it should only be recited after bowing. The fuqaha’ among the scholars of hadeeth, such as Ahmad and others, say that both are allowed, because both are mentioned in the saheeh Sunnah, but they preferred reciting qunoot after bowing because this is mentioned more often. ‘

Raising the hands for Du’a’ al-Qunoot is mentioned in a saheeh report from ‘Umar (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him), as was narrated by al-Bayhaqi in a report which he classed as saheeh (2/210).

There is no extra takbeer before the Du’a’ al-Qunoot. And as there is no evidence for this, it should not be done.

The du’aa’ of qunoot, al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him) taught me some words to say in qunoot al-witr:

“Allah (swt)umma ihdini feeman hadayta wa ‘aafini feeman ‘aafayta wa tawallani feeman tawallayta wa baarik li feema a’tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta , fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu laa yadhillu man waalayta wa laa ya’izzu man ‘aadayta, tabaarakta Rabbana wa ta’aalayta la manja minka illa ilayk

(O Allah (swt), guide me among those whom You have guided, pardon me among those whom You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship, and bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can influence You; and he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, nor is he honoured who is Your enemy. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted. There is no place of safety from You except with You).” narrated by Abu Dawood (1425), al-Tirmidhi (464), and al-Nasaa’i (1746)

Then one should send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him)

It is recommended one says after finishing the Witr: Subhaan al-Malik al-Quddoos three times, saying loud the third time, as narrated by al-Nasaa’i (1699).

Al-Daaraqutni added the word: Rabb al-Malaa’ikah wa’l-Rooh (Lord of the angels and the Spirit), with a saheeh isnaad.

May Allah (swt) help and guide us to do all that He is pleased with and his Peace and blessings be upon His last Prophet Muhammad.

source: http://www.islamicnetwork.com/index.php/weblog/comments/how_to_perform_the_witr_prayer/

How to perform the Witr Prayer?