What is the time for standing in night prayer, and what is the best time for it?
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Question:
The listener himself asks and says: Shaykh Abdulaziz, how do I stand in night prayer? And at what specific hour? Knowing that I finish my work at ten thirty at night. Then, how many rak'ahs do I pray for standing in night prayer, in detail? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
You stand in night prayer according to what is easy for you; whatever Allah makes easy for you, you stand. The best time is the last third of the night. If you pray in the middle of the night, or in the first part of the night, it is all good. You pray two by two, then you conclude with one, in which you recite and [Al-Ikhlas 112:1]. There is no fixed limit in this; pray whatever is easy for you, whether three, five, seven, nine, eleven, or thirteen. The most the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did was thirteen. If you pray more than that, twenty or more, and conclude with one, it is all good.
So the point is: just as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1368Sahih (Al-Albani) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5861 even if it is little. After the 'Isha' prayer, you pray one, a single rak'ah as witr after the rawatib, or you pray three, you conclude from two, then you pray one as witr, or you pray five, you conclude from every two, or you recite them all in a row, it is all permissible, according to what is easy for you. Do not burden yourself. Fear Allah as much as you are able. It is a nafilah, it is not obligatory.
It is better, if it is possible for you, to pray in the last part of the night, in the final third; this is better; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): So if it is possible for you to pray in the last part of the night, this is better. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: .
And in this way he advised Abu al-Darda'. The reason—Allah knows best—is that they were studying hadith in the first part of the night, and they feared they would not be able to get up in the last part of the night, so he advised them to stand in prayer and perform witr in the first part of the night. As for the one who hopes to get up in the last part of the night, and is able to; it is better, as mentioned earlier. May Allah guide them all.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
The listener himself asks and says: Shaykh Abdulaziz, how do I stand in night prayer? And at what specific hour? Knowing that I finish my work at ten thirty at night. Then, how many rak'ahs do I pray for standing in night prayer, in detail? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
You stand in night prayer according to what is easy for you; whatever Allah makes easy for you, you stand. The best time is the last third of the night. If you pray in the middle of the night, or in the first part of the night, it is all good. You pray two by two, then you conclude with one, in which you recite
The praise
الْحَمْدُSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌSo the point is: just as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Choose such actions as you are capable of performing, for Allah does not grow weary till you do.
اكلفوا من العمل ما تطيقون، فإن الله لا يمل حتى تملواand the best deeds to Allah are the incessant ones though they were few.
أحب الأعمال إلى الله ما دام عليه صاحبه، وإن قلIt is better, if it is possible for you, to pray in the last part of the night, in the final third; this is better; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, and He says, Exalted is He: Who is calling upon Me, that I may respond to him? Who is asking Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Until the dawn breaks
ينزل ربنا إلى سماء الدنيا كل ليلة حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر، فيقول سبحانه: من يدعوني؛ فأستجيب له؟ من يسألني؛ فأعطيه؟ من يستغفرني؛ فأغفر له؟ حتى ينفجر الفجرWhoever fears that he will not be able to get up in the last part of the night, let him perform witr in the first part of it. And whoever hopes to get up in the last part of the night, let him perform witr in the last part of it, for the prayer of the last part of the night is witnessed, and that is better
من خاف ألا يقوم في آخر الليل؛ فليوتر أوله، ومن طمع أن يقوم آخر الليل؛ فليوتر آخر الليل، فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة، وذلك أفضلThe Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: to pray the two rak'ahs of the Duha prayer, to fast three days of every month, and to perform witr before sleeping
أوصاني رسول الله ﷺ بثلاث: بصلاة ركعتي الضحى، وصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر، وأن أوتر قبل النومAnd in this way he advised Abu al-Darda'. The reason—Allah knows best—is that they were studying hadith in the first part of the night, and they feared they would not be able to get up in the last part of the night, so he advised them to stand in prayer and perform witr in the first part of the night. As for the one who hopes to get up in the last part of the night, and is able to; it is better, as mentioned earlier. May Allah guide them all.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.