The Dhikr of Sleep and the Number of Rak'ahs in Night Prayer
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The first message received by the program is from a brother listener of Sudanese nationality. He says in his message: I extend to you the kindest greetings and the most beautiful wishes, and I hope for answers to my questions in this message. The question: What are the supplications that a person makes at night? And what is the number of rak'ahs that a person prays in the middle of the night, such as the Tahajjud prayer? I ask for your information on this, may Allah reward you?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: It is prescribed for the believer at night when going to sleep to recite Ayat al-Kursi, and to recite the two verses from the end of Surat al-Baqarah, [al-Baqarah:285] to the end, and to recite: [al-Ikhlas:1] and the two Mu'awwidhat. It is also prescribed for him to say what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say when going to sleep: Sahih al-Bukhari 7394 .. Sunan Abi Dawud 5050Sahih (Al-Albani), Sunan Abi Dawud 5045 three times. This is prescribed when going to sleep. Likewise, one says: Sunan Abi Dawud 3898Sahih (Al-Albani) three times.. Sunan Ibn Majah 3869 three times. All of this is prescribed, and the believer should use it. Likewise, one says: Sunan ad-Darimi 19:59, Mishkat al-Masabih 2335 and says as the last thing before sleeping, as the last thing he says: Sahih al-Bukhari 6313 This is from what was reported regarding sleep. It is sufficient for a person to do whatever of this is easy for him.
Likewise, one prays whatever of the night is easy for him, one rak'ah or three rak'ahs, or five rak'ahs, or more than that, after the 'Isha' prayer and its Sunnah. It is recommended for him to pray some of the night before sleeping if he fears he will not get up in the last part of the night. He makes Witr with one rak'ah, or with three rak'ahs, or more than that. He says the Taslim from every two rak'ahs, then makes Witr with one. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded and prescribed for the Ummah, peace and blessings be upon him. And if he makes Witr with eleven rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) usually did, peace and blessings be upon him, then that is better. And if he makes Witr with more than this, there is no harm. The matter is broad in the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the night prayer, and he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1326Sahih (Al-Albani).
So this hadith indicates to us that the Sunnah in the night is to pray two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, meaning: he says the Taslim from every two rak'ahs, then makes Witr with one. Whether it is in the beginning of the night, or in the middle, or in the end. And the best is in the end. This is the best if it is easy for the believer to get up in the last part of the night. And so is the believing woman.
As for if he fears he will not get up in the last part of the night, then he makes Witr in the beginning of the night after the 'Isha' prayer. But the last part of the night is better; because it coincides with the Divine Descent. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4733Sahih (Al-Albani) It is agreed upon its authenticity. So this great hadith indicates that the last part of the night is the time of the Divine Descent, the time in which supplications are answered. And in another hadith he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So the best is the last part of the night. And his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: This is a Descent befitting Allah that does not resemble the creation . This Descent is befitting Allah and does not resemble the creation in any of His attributes. And so is His saying, Exalted is He: [Ta-Ha:5] It is an Istiwa' befitting Allah, and it is the rising and the elevation, and it is befitting Allah, Exalted is He, and does not resemble the creation in their Istiwa', nor in their Descent, nor in their speech, nor in anything else. As He said, Exalted is He: [Ash-Shura:11] . So He has the most beautiful names and the highest attributes, and He has perfection in everything, Exalted and Majestic is He, and does not resemble the creation in any of His attributes, Exalted is He. This is the saying of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and it is what the messengers brought, peace and blessings be upon them, and it is what the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed them with excellence and were pleased with them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: It is prescribed for the believer at night when going to sleep to recite Ayat al-Kursi, and to recite the two verses from the end of Surat al-Baqarah,
The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌAllahumma bismika ahya wa amut
اللهم باسمك أحيا وأموتIn Thy name, my mercy on it, but if Thou lettest it go, guard it with that which Thou guardest Thy upright servants.
اللهم باسمك ربي وضعت جنبي وبك أرفعه، إن أمسكت نفسي فارحمها، وإن أرسلتها فاحفظها بما تحفظ به عبادك الصالحينO Allah, guard me from Thy punishment on the day when Thou raisest up Thy servants.
اللهم قني عذابك يوم تبعث عبادكI take refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created
أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلقBismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma'a ismihi shay'un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'i wa Huwas-Sami'ul-'Alim
باسم الله الذي لا يضر مع اسمه شيء في الأرض ولا في السماء وهو السميع العليمO Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, Lord of everything and its Sovereign. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my self, and from the evil of Shaytan and his associates. And I seek refuge in You that I commit evil to my self or that I inflict it upon a Muslim.
اللهم فاطر السموات والأرض عالم الغيب والشهادة، رب كل شيء ومليكه، أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت، أعوذ بك من شر نفسي، ومن شر الشيطان وشركه، وأعوذ بك أن أقترف على نفسي سوءاً أو أجره إلى مسلمO God, Thou art my Lord. There is no god but Thee. Thou hast created me, and I am Thy servant and hold to Thy covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Thy favour to me, and I acknowledge my sin. Pardon me, for none but Thee pardons sins.
اللهم أنت ربي لا إله إلا أنت خلقتني وأنا عبدك، وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ما استطعت، أعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت، أبوء لك بنعمتك علي، وأبوء بذنبي فاغفر لي، فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنتAllahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika wa fauwadtu `Amri ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika wa alja'tu zahri ilaika, reghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika. La malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabikal-ladhi anzalta; wa nabiyyikalladhi arsalta.
اللهم أسلمت نفسي إليك، وفوضت أمري إليك، ووجهت وجهي إليك، وألجأت ظهري إليك، رغبةً ورهبةً إليك، لا ملجأ ولا منجأ منك إلا إليك، آمنت بكتابك الذي أنزلت، ونبيك الذي أرسلتLikewise, one prays whatever of the night is easy for him, one rak'ah or three rak'ahs, or five rak'ahs, or more than that, after the 'Isha' prayer and its Sunnah. It is recommended for him to pray some of the night before sleeping if he fears he will not get up in the last part of the night. He makes Witr with one rak'ah, or with three rak'ahs, or more than that. He says the Taslim from every two rak'ahs, then makes Witr with one. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded and prescribed for the Ummah, peace and blessings be upon him. And if he makes Witr with eleven rak'ahs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) usually did, peace and blessings be upon him, then that is better. And if he makes Witr with more than this, there is no harm. The matter is broad in the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the night prayer, and he 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، فإن خشي أحدكم الصبح صلى ركعة واحدة توتر له ما قد صلىSo this hadith indicates to us that the Sunnah in the night is to pray two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, meaning: he says the Taslim from every two rak'ahs, then makes Witr with one. Whether it is in the beginning of the night, or in the middle, or in the end. And the best is in the end. This is the best if it is easy for the believer to get up in the last part of the night. And so is the believing woman.
As for if he fears he will not get up in the last part of the night, then he makes Witr in the beginning of the night after the 'Isha' prayer. But the last part of the night is better; because it coincides with the Divine Descent. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Our lord gets down every night to the heaven of this world when a third night remains and says: (Is there anyone) who prays to Me so that I may accept his prayer? (Is there anyone) who asks of Me so that I may give him? (Is there anyone) who asks for my forgiveness so that I may forgive him?
ينزل ربنا إلى سماء الدنيا كل ليلة، حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر، فيقول: من يدعوني فأستجيب له، من يسألني فأعطيه، من يستغفرني فأغفر لهWhoever fears he will not get up in the last part of the night, let him make Witr in the beginning of the night. And whoever hopes to get up in the last part of the night, let him make Witr in the last part of the night. For the prayer of the last part of the night is witnessed, and that is better.
من خاف ألا يقوم من آخر الليل فليوتر أول الليل، ومن طمع أن يقوم آخر الليل فليوتر آخر الليل، فإن صلاة آخر الليل مشهودة وذلك أفضلOur Lord descends
ينزل ربناThe Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُThe presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.