Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi says in his well-known book, Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin: “Merits of Qiyam Al-Layl (night vigil):
Praising the characters of the devout believers, Allah, Most High, says, “Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope.” (As-Sajdah: 16)
Likewise, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said: “It is highly recommended for you to observe Qiyam Al-Layl, for it was the practice of your righteous predecessors. Qiyam Al-Layl brings us close to your Lord, atones for our sins, drives disease from the body, and puts a stop to transgression.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying, “There is an hour in the night, in which no Muslim servant will impore Allah for good in this world and the next without giving it to him, and that applies to every night.” (Reported by Muslim)
Al-Hasan Al-Bisri (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “We know of no harder act of worship than holding a night vigil prayer and giving to charity.” He was asked, “How is it that those who observe Qiyam Al-Layl are among the people with the most beautiful faces?” To this he replied, “Because they commune with the Most Merciful and He clothes them in light with His light.”
Measures that Help in Observing Qiyam Al-Layl:
Dear reader, the following measures will help you observe Qiyam Al-Layl:
– Good intention and devotion to Allah,
– Determination,
– Continual repentance,
– Keeping away from sins,
– Going to bed early,
– Taking a nap if possible,
– Avoiding overeating,
– Depending on Allah, and
– Realizing the merits of observing Qiyam Al-Layl.
Degrees of Qiyam Al-Layl:
Observing Qiyam Al-Layl is of various degrees as follows:
First, praying the whole night as some of our early righteous Muslims were accustomed to.
Second, praying for half of the night. Here, one is recommended to sleep the first third and the last sixth of the night.
Third, praying for one-third of the night. Here, one is recommended to sleep the first half and the last sixth of the night. Prophet Dawud, peace and blessings be upon him, used to observe Qiyam Al-Layl in this way. `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`As (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, told me, “The most beloved Prayer to Allah is that of Dawud and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of Dawud. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one-third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Fourth, praying for one-sixth or one-fifth of the night. It is better to pray in the second half or the last sixth of the night.
Fifth, praying with no estimation of time. This involves the following two ways of observing Qiyam Al-Layl:
1. Praying from the beginning of the night until sleep overcomes one; then one gets up to pray until sleep overcomes one, and so on. A group of the early righteous Muslims used to observe Qiyam Al-Layl in this way. According to Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that sometimes Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, would not fast (for so many days) that we thought that he would not fast that month and he sometimes used to fast (for so many days) that we thought he would not leave fasting throughout that month, and (as regards his Prayer and sleep at night) if you wanted to see him praying at night, you could see him praying and if you wanted to see him sleeping, you could see him sleeping.”
2. Sleeping at the beginning of the night, and then getting up to pray for the remaining part of the night. In this context, Sufyan Ath-Thawri said, “I sleep at the beginning of the night, and then get up to observe Qiyam Al-Layl in the remaining time of the night.”
Sixth, praying four or two Rak`as in the night. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, “Pray in the night: pray four Rak`as; pray two Rak`as.”
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as having said: “Whoever wakes up at night and lets his wife do so in order to offer two Rak`as, will be recorded amongst those who make much Dhikr of Allah in that night.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)
Seventh, offering Prayer in the time between the Maghrib and `Isha’ Prayers.
When It Is Difficult to Perform Purification at Night:
Whoever finds it difficult to perform purification at night and to offer Prayer, should sit facing the Qiblah and engaging himself in making Dhikr and Du`a’. If he, however, is not able to sit, he is recommended to make Dhikr while lying on his bed.
Whoever gets himself accustomed to offering Qiyam Al-Layl, should beware of leaving it, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to `Abdullah ibn `Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, “O `Abdullah! Do not be like so and so who used to pray at night and then stopped doing it.”