What is the advice for overcoming negligence in the night prayer?
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There are many distractions from the night prayer, O Shaykh. Is there any guidance if you would be so kind?
Answer: Yes, it is the Sunnah for the believer not to stay up late and to sleep early. This is the Sunnah for the believer, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sleep early (peace and blessings be upon him), and he prohibited staying up late at night. Abu Burzah al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 701Sahih (Darussalam) meaning: the Isha prayer. And Ibn Mas'ud said: . So staying up late at night leads to sleeping through the prayer of the last part of the night. If a person is among those who have a need to stay up, such as the Imam, the Imam of the Muslims, the ruler, the governor of the country, or the committees who stay up for the interests of the Muslims, then it is better for them to perform the Witr prayer at the beginning of the night so that they do not miss the prayer. As for staying up for idle talk, chit-chat that has no benefit, or for what Allah has forbidden, such as songs and musical instruments, or for backbiting and talebearing, all of this is not permissible. In fact, it is not permissible regarding songs, entertainment, and the like. And greater than this is staying up for intoxicants, gambling, and the like.
So the conclusion is that it is obligatory for the believer to be wary of what distracts him from the obligatory prayer. It is recommended for him to make it a habit to sleep early so that he can get up at night, and so that it is easy for him to get up at night to perform the voluntary prayer of Tahajjud. He should not stay up late at all, except for the interests of the Muslims, or for necessary matters with a guest or the like, or with his family. Any staying up that may lead him to neglect the obligatory prayer, or to waste the Fajr prayer, is prohibited staying up that is not permissible. This applies even if it is for reading the Qur'an or for the Tahajjud prayer. He should not stay up in a way that causes him to lose the Fajr prayer. Rather, he should sleep early and pray what is easy for him at the beginning of the night or at the end of it, until he prays the Fajr prayer. He should seek help in this by having his best family member wake him up, or by using an alarm clock. He should set it for an appropriate time shortly before the Fajr adhan so that he gets up, or at the time of his Tahajjud, an hour or more before the adhan, according to his situation, so that he gets up at night for his Tahajjud. If he performs the Witr prayer at the beginning of the night and does not get up until Fajr, there is no harm in that. There is no blame on him for that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. I was about to ask you about reading, and then you said: even staying up for reading the Qur'an, if that leads to affecting the obligatory prayer or the night prayer, then a person is called to leave it.
The Shaykh: We seek help from Allah! May Allah guide them all.
The presenter: O Allah, amen.
Answer: Yes, it is the Sunnah for the believer not to stay up late and to sleep early. This is the Sunnah for the believer, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sleep early (peace and blessings be upon him), and he prohibited staying up late at night. Abu Burzah al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
he disliked sleeping before it, and engaging in conversation after it
كان النبي ﷺ يكره النوم قبلها والحديث بعدهاThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited staying up late at night
إن النبي ﷺ نهى عن السمر بالليلSo the conclusion is that it is obligatory for the believer to be wary of what distracts him from the obligatory prayer. It is recommended for him to make it a habit to sleep early so that he can get up at night, and so that it is easy for him to get up at night to perform the voluntary prayer of Tahajjud. He should not stay up late at all, except for the interests of the Muslims, or for necessary matters with a guest or the like, or with his family. Any staying up that may lead him to neglect the obligatory prayer, or to waste the Fajr prayer, is prohibited staying up that is not permissible. This applies even if it is for reading the Qur'an or for the Tahajjud prayer. He should not stay up in a way that causes him to lose the Fajr prayer. Rather, he should sleep early and pray what is easy for him at the beginning of the night or at the end of it, until he prays the Fajr prayer. He should seek help in this by having his best family member wake him up, or by using an alarm clock. He should set it for an appropriate time shortly before the Fajr adhan so that he gets up, or at the time of his Tahajjud, an hour or more before the adhan, according to his situation, so that he gets up at night for his Tahajjud. If he performs the Witr prayer at the beginning of the night and does not get up until Fajr, there is no harm in that. There is no blame on him for that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. I was about to ask you about reading, and then you said: even staying up for reading the Qur'an, if that leads to affecting the obligatory prayer or the night prayer, then a person is called to leave it.
The Shaykh: We seek help from Allah! May Allah guide them all.
The presenter: O Allah, amen.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
