The one who strives to stand in night prayer but sometimes misses it; what is the ruling if he does not maintain a specific number of rak'ahs, such as four or six?

Question:
This listener asks: What is the ruling for a person who strives to stand in night prayer, but sometimes misses it, and sometimes does not miss anything? If he does not maintain a specific number of rak'ahs, such as four, six, or two, what is the ruling?

Answer:
For a person to intend to stand in night prayer is a great good, and this is a good intention. If he carries it out and stands, he receives a great reward. If he does not rise from his sleep and sleep overcomes him, while he intended to stand but sleep overcame him, he is recorded the reward of what he intended. The intention of a person is better than his deed. So if he does not stand for tahajjud, and he intended to do so, but sleep overcame him, he is recorded the reward of the one who stands, praise be to Allah. So a person should intend to stand in night prayer, resolve to do so, and strive to achieve it. But if sleep overcomes him, he has the reward, praise be to Allah, for his intention. However, if he leaves it out of desire for it or laziness, nothing is recorded for him. Standing in night prayer is not obligatory, and it has no specific limit of rak'ahs. Rather, one stands according to what is easy for him, and prays in pairs, and concludes with witr with one rak'ah, which concludes whatever he prayed. Yes.