What is the virtue of the late-night voluntary prayer (tahajjud)?
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The questioner : I am asking about the virtue of the late-night voluntary prayer (tahajjud), and may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Tahajjud at night is among the best acts of worship, and it is the best of prayers after the obligatory ones. The night prayer is better than the daytime prayer, especially in the last third of the night. Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) descends to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains, and He says:Sahih al-Bukhari 1145 The best division of the night for prayer is the prayer of Dawud (peace be upon him); he would sleep half the night, pray one-third of it, and sleep one-sixth of it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also did this sometimes, and in fact, it was mostly his practice. Based on this, we say: The best time for the night prayer is from after the middle of the night until one-sixth of the night remains. A person should strive, while performing tahajjud, to recite in a measured manner, keeping in mind what he is saying. If he passes a verse of warning, he should seek refuge; if he passes a verse of reward, he should ask for it; and if he passes a verse of glorification, he should glorify Allah, as is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
He should increase in the glorification of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) during the bowing, such as saying "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent), "Subhan Dhi al-Jabrut wa al-Mulk" (Glory be to the Owner of Majesty and Dominion), and similar phrases of glorification, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Sahih Muslim 479a He should increase in praise and glorification when he rises from the bowing, remaining standing for a duration equal to his bowing. When he prostrates, he should increase in supplication, asking for whatever he wishes from the matters of this world and the Hereafter, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): meaning, it is most likely that you will be answered. Prostration is more likely to be answered because it is the moment when the servant is closest to his Lord, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 875Sahih (Al-Albani) So a person should strive in supplication during prostration and persist with determination to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic), for Allah the Exalted loves those who persist in supplication. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 3854Sahih (Darussalam) This is regarding supplication in general: that a person should be determined in his request, trust in Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and favor the side of being answered, especially when he is prostrating. He should conclude his tahajjud with the witr prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sahih Muslim 751b Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener is from Hail, H B H.
The Shaykh : Tahajjud at night is among the best acts of worship, and it is the best of prayers after the obligatory ones. The night prayer is better than the daytime prayer, especially in the last third of the night. Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) descends to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains, and He says:
Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?
من يدعوني فأستجيب له؟ من يسألني فأعطيه؟ من يستغفرني فأغفر له؟He should increase in the glorification of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) during the bowing, such as saying "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent), "Subhan Dhi al-Jabrut wa al-Mulk" (Glory be to the Owner of Majesty and Dominion), and similar phrases of glorification, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
So far as Ruk'u is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord
أما الركوع فعظّموا فيه الربAs for prostration, increase in it your supplication, for it is likely that it will be answered for you.
أما السجود فأكثروا فيه من الدعاء فقمِن أن يُستجاب لكمThe nearest a servant come to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself
أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجدLet him be definite in his asking, and no one can compel Allah.
وليعزم المسألة فإن الله لا مُكره لهMake Witr the end of your night prayer.
اجعلوا ءاخر صلاتكم بالليل وتراًThe questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener is from Hail, H B H.