The Ruling on Neglecting the Night Prayer

Question:
Yes, and on this occasion, it has become widespread that some people are negligent regarding the night prayer. Some may not pray it at all, while others may pray it for a period and then leave it off for a period. What is the ruling on this? May Allah reward you.

Answer:
There is no doubt that abandoning the night prayer is a deprivation, a great deprivation, and a loss in the Muslim’s record. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the best prayer is the night prayer. The night prayer is obligatory in its essence, and it contains great virtue. One should not be negligent in it, nor lazy about it. Because the Muslim needs it. So the Muslim should accustom himself to the night prayer so that he becomes used to it and is energetic when its time comes.
Because the soul, according to what it has become accustomed to, if it is left to fail, its lethargy increases. But if it is accustomed to standing in prayer, it becomes used to this and it becomes easy for it, with seeking help from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and sincere determination to stand in prayer in the last part of the night, and doing the things that help one to stand in the night prayer, such as instructing someone to wake him up, or setting an alarm clock that alerts him.
Likewise, it is of the first degree that he sleeps early so that he gets his share of rest and stands in prayer in the last part of the night. So the result is that the night prayer, even if it is a small amount that he persists in, contains great virtue, and the Muslim should not be negligent in it.