Is it necessary to maintain the night prayer just like the five daily prayers?
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The questioner:
Regarding the night prayer, is it necessary to maintain it, for example, like the five daily prayers? For instance, I sometimes wake up early and sometimes I wake up at the time of the adhan. Is there a sin on me for leaving the prayer on the days when I wake up late and do not pray it? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
The night prayer is recommended, not obligatory, and if one leaves it, there is no blame on him. However, it has great virtue, and it is an opportunity to receive Allah's mercy and the inspirations of Allah in the last part of the night. The night prayer is among the best voluntary prayers. A Muslim should strive to maintain it and be consistent with it, even if it is a small amount. If he prays more at night, that is better, but he should not leave the night prayer, even if it is a small amount; he should be consistent with it along with the witr to participate in this great act of worship and to be present for this great season, the last third of the night, the time of the Divine Descent, the time of the inspirations, and to join the righteous ones about whom Allah the Exalted said:[Adh-Dhariyat 51:17-18]. He should make a share for himself in the night prayer, even if it is little, and conclude it with the witr. The later it is in the last part of the night, the better it is. Even if it is in the middle of the night, it has great virtue. But if the dawn breaks upon him and he does not wake up, there is no blame on him. And if he intended to stand in prayer but sleep overtook him, the reward of the one who prayed is written for him, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, gives for a good intention and a noble purpose what He gives for the deed. If a person leaves it having intended it, due to an excuse that occurred to him from the excuses, such as sleep that overtook him, then it is an excuse.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah reward you.
The questioner:
Shaykh Salih, people have been asking a lot about the night prayer. Perhaps you have an explanation for this. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
This indicates goodness. The frequent asking about the night prayer is a glad tidings that indicates goodness and a desire from people, a desire for righteous deeds, reviving the sunnah, and seizing the good seasons. So this indicates goodness and brings glad tidings of goodness. And because the one who strives for the night prayer will strive for the obligatory prayers a fortiori. In any case, this is a sign of goodness. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Regarding the night prayer, is it necessary to maintain it, for example, like the five daily prayers? For instance, I sometimes wake up early and sometimes I wake up at the time of the adhan. Is there a sin on me for leaving the prayer on the days when I wake up late and do not pray it? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
The night prayer is recommended, not obligatory, and if one leaves it, there is no blame on him. However, it has great virtue, and it is an opportunity to receive Allah's mercy and the inspirations of Allah in the last part of the night. The night prayer is among the best voluntary prayers. A Muslim should strive to maintain it and be consistent with it, even if it is a small amount. If he prays more at night, that is better, but he should not leave the night prayer, even if it is a small amount; he should be consistent with it along with the witr to participate in this great act of worship and to be present for this great season, the last third of the night, the time of the Divine Descent, the time of the inspirations, and to join the righteous ones about whom Allah the Exalted said:
(17) They used to sleep but little of the night, (18) And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,
كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah reward you.
The questioner:
Shaykh Salih, people have been asking a lot about the night prayer. Perhaps you have an explanation for this. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
This indicates goodness. The frequent asking about the night prayer is a glad tidings that indicates goodness and a desire from people, a desire for righteous deeds, reviving the sunnah, and seizing the good seasons. So this indicates goodness and brings glad tidings of goodness. And because the one who strives for the night prayer will strive for the obligatory prayers a fortiori. In any case, this is a sign of goodness. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل لابد من المحافظة على صلاة الليل مثل الصلوات الخمس؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.