The Number of Rak'ahs in the Night Prayer
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The questioner asks: What is the number of rak'ahs in the sunnah of qiyam al-layl (standing in night prayer) and the sunnah of tahajjud (the late-night voluntary prayer)? And at what time are they prayed? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In any case: this depends on one's ability. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs, concluding the prayer every two, lengthening his recitation, bowing, and prostration, peace and blessings be upon him. He would begin with two light rak'ahs. This is the best way to do it. If one prays three, five, or more, there is no blame on him. Everyone prays according to their ability, and praise be to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani) And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) praised His believing servants, saying: [Al-Furqan: 64] And He, the Exalted, said: [Adh-Dhariyat 51:17] and in the early hours of the morning, they seek forgiveness [Adh-Dhariyat: 17-18]. So there is no fixed limit. If one prays two and concludes with one, or prays two salamats and concludes with the fifth, or prays three salamats and concludes with the seventh, or prays four salamats and concludes with the ninth, there is no blame in any of this, and praise be to Allah.
The best of this is to pray eleven, concluding every two with tranquility, measured recitation, and reflection, and being still in all of his prostration and bowing, then concluding with one. This is the best. If one increases or decreases, there is no blame.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: In any case: this depends on one's ability. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs, concluding the prayer every two, lengthening his recitation, bowing, and prostration, peace and blessings be upon him. He would begin with two light rak'ahs. This is the best way to do it. If one prays three, five, or more, there is no blame on him. Everyone prays according to their ability, and praise be to Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Prayer during the night should consist of pairs of rak'ahs, but if one of you fears the morning is near he should pray one rak'ah which will make his prayer an odd number for him.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنى، فإذا خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلىAnd those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]
وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًاThey used to sleep but little of the night,
كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِنََ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ The best of this is to pray eleven, concluding every two with tranquility, measured recitation, and reflection, and being still in all of his prostration and bowing, then concluding with one. This is the best. If one increases or decreases, there is no blame.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.