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The night prayer is a sign of sincerity and piety, patience and devotion, a beautiful spiritual moment between the slave and His Master. So now it is time to get ready as Ramadan has knocked at our doors.
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1. A Special Seclusion at Night:
We should be encouraged by the verses in which Allah commends pious believers for their noble characteristics and good deeds, one of which is the night prayer. The night is a time of seclusion from others, where you can focus and reflect deeply without distractions. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says what means:
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“Only those believe in Our ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. Their sides forsake [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.” [32:15-17]
This teaches us that the most productive Muslim would ensure they can get up for the night prayer even if they have to sacrifice a comfortable bed because the reward is great: “Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs (in the Paradise), Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness, And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.” (51:15-19)
2. A Prophetic Practice
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged us to pray the night prayer, as he (peace be upon him) said what means: “The best prayer after the obligatory one is praying at night.” (Muslim)
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The night prayer during ramadan is an opportunity to draw closer to Allah and although sleep may call you, this blessed month offers us to sleep less and worship more which makes us closer to the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all).
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As mentioned in the hadith: “You should pray night prayer, as it is the custom (usual practice) of the righteous who came before you and it brings you closer to your Lord, and expiates sins and prevents misdeeds (committing sin).” (At-Tirmidhi)
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3. The Honour of the Believer
Another outstanding reason why the night prayer is a distinct mark of a strong believer is because of its lofty reward, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said what means: “In Paradise there are apartments the outside of which can be seen from the inside and the inside of which can be seen from the outside.” A Bedouin stood up and said: “Those apartments are for whom O Messenger of Allah?” He (peace be upon him) said: “They are for those who speak good words, feed others, fast regularly and pray to Allah at night when people are sleeping.” (At-Tirmidhi)
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said that Jibreel said: “Remember that the believer’s honour is his praying at night, and his pride is his being independent of people.” (Al-Jaami’)
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4. Night Prayer in Ramadan:
As you have read, there are so many reasons why the night prayer is such a noble action on its own, but it also has a special significance in the month of Ramadan. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to encourage us to pray at night in Ramadan, without making it obligatory. Then he (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
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1. Be Sincere
At least five times a day, we say what means “You alone do we worship, you alone do we ask for help” [1:4]. We need His Help in order to worship Him.
Remind yourself of Ibnul-Qayyim’s saying: “the goodness of a deed is related to the goodness of the heart, and the goodness of the heart is related to the goodness of the intention” and “the degree to which a person is helped and aided by Allah depends on the degree of his intention, drive, aim and hopes. Help from Allah comes to people in proportion to their drive, intention, hopes and fears, and failure comes to them in like manner.”
The salaf were very keen to mask their acts of worship such as night prayer; once a man asked Tameem ibn Aws al-Daari how he prays at night, and he replied explaining that one rak’ah prayed in secret in the small hours of the night is more beloved to thim than praying the whole night and then telling people about it.
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2. Be Keen to Stand in Prayer
Allah says what means: “O you wrapped in your garments (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little. Half of it, or a little less than that, or a little more; and recite the Qur’an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.” [73:1-4]
While the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was ordered to pray the night prayer and it is not obligatory upon us, we should make efforts to engage in this noble act of worship.
Remember that the best time for supplication lies in the depths of the night. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said what means: ”Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “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?” (Bukhari) Many of us may have heard this hadith before, but let us really ponder upon it and let it soak in.
3. Know the Virtues.
There are numerous virtues in the night prayer not only for our spiritual growth but also in helping us personally. It is recorded that: “the best of prayers after the prescribed prayers is prayer in the depths of the night, and the best of fasting after the month of Ramadan is fasting the month of Allah, Muharram.” (Muslim)
This is because ”the closest that the Lord is to His slave is in the later part of the night, so if you can be one of those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.”(At-Tirmidhi)
It is interesting to note here that Yahyaa ibn Mu’aadh (in one of the generations after companions) said what means:
“The medicine of the heart is five things:
1. Reading Qur’an and pondering the meaning 2. Having an empty stomach 3. Praying at night (qiyaam al-layl) 4. Beseeching Allah at the time of suhoor 5. And keeping company with righteous people.”
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4. Joy of the Salaf
What should also motivate us to keep to our night prayers this ramadan is that the salaf were described as those who stood in seclusion at night often because they found enjoyment and tranquility in it. ‘Abd-Allah ibn Wahb said: “Every type of pleasure is enjoyed only once, except for acts of worship, which are enjoyed three times: when you do it, when you remember it, and when you are given the reward for it.”
And Thaabit al-Banaani said: “There is nothing I enjoy more than night prayer,” whilst Yazeed al-Riqaashi said: “A lot of night prayer brings delight to the worshippers, and a lot of thirst (i.e. fasting) brings joy when they meet Allah.”
The above hopefully gives you a depper glimpse into the lives of those before us and shows us that both fasting and the night prayer are genuinely beautiful ways to be embraced this ramadan in becoming more productive.
5.Sleep On the Right Side With Wudhu
“When any one of you goes to bed, let him clear his bed by hitting it with his garment, for he does not know what may have come onto it. Then let him lie down on his right side, then let him say (the du’a, adhkar for sleeping)” (Bukhari)
As another hadith mentions, this preparation for your sleep can help you think about getting up for the night prayer. “When you want to go to bed, do ablution as for prayer, then lie down on your right side.” (Bukhari)
As another hadith mentions, this preparation for your sleep can help you think about getting up for the night prayer. “When you want to go to bed, do ablution as for prayer, then lie down on your right side.” (Bukhari)
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6. Sleep Early
Sleeping straight after Isha prayer is the advice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is also a healthy habit. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not used to like to sleep before Ishaa or talk after it. (Bukhari)
Another matter that has to do with sleep is choosing a suitable bed: not one that is excessively luxurious or soft, because that makes a person sleep too much and become negligent, and causes laziness and carelessness. ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The pillow of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on which he slept at night was made of leather stuffed with palm fibres.” (Al-Jaami’) How amazing is that!
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7. Build a Fortress
You may ask yourself how can I build a fortress for myself? Here’s how: recite the adhkar for going to sleep. It can be found online or in the ‘Fortress of a Muslim’ supplication book. It is also advised to read Surah Mulk, the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah, Ayatul Kursi, Surah al-Ikhlaas, Surah al-Falaq, Surah an-Naas to be protected throughout the night.
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8. Embrace Naps
During ramadan you may feel more exhausted if you’ve not had enough sleep and due to the warm weather, this is why it is important to embrace the power naps before of after dhuhr salah. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the practise of taking midday naps was a habit amongst them.
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9. Avoiding Excessive Eating/Drinking
It makes one feel lazy, lethargic, and can result in heavy sleep. As we know according to the hadith that “man fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to have a few mouthfuls to give him the strength he needs. If he has to fill his stomach, then let him leave one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.” (Al-Jami’)
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10. Fight to Win!
You must think you’re in a fight to win! This is one of the ways to help you pray the night prayer, because human nature is inclined towards desires, so the one who follows his own inclinations will be led to doom and destruction. We are commanded to strive against our nafs, our desires and this is part and parcel of the ramadan training program.
There are ample examples of the salaf striving against themselves to ensure they prayed the special night prayer. Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said: “I struggled against my own self for forty years until it became right.” Whilst Thaabit al-Banaani said: “I struggled for twenty years to make myself pray the night prayer, and I enjoyed it (praying at night) for twenty years.”
One of the most beautiful quotes in light of this struggle is when Al-Hasan said: “We do not know of any deed more difficult than the struggle to stay up at night or to spend money.” It was said to him, “Why do those who pray at night have the most beautiful faces?“ He said, “Because they spend time alone with the Most Merciful, so He adorns them with some of His light.” SubhanAllah.
The night prayer also cures our laziness in worship as Qutaadah said: “O son of Adam, if you do not want to do any good except when you have the energy for it, then your nature is more inclined towards boredom and laziness. The true believer is the one who pushes himself.”
The last of the advice to be offered in helping us get up and perform the night prayer is when one of the predecessors said: “Do not commit sin during the day, and Allah will help you to stand before Him at night, for your standing before Him at night is one of the greatest honours, and the sinner does not deserve that honour.”
Therefore brothers and sisters, let us strive to stay away from bad deeds and sinning this ramadan so that we can race ahead in our good deeds. I hope this article has given you a insight into how the night prayer is really a special time of solitude with your Lord – try it and enjoy!
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About the Author
Ahmad El-Shaf’ei studied Islamic Studies in English at Al-Azhar University, and has also studied at other institutions in Cairo, Egypt. He enjoys writing tips that uncover the simplicity and practicality of Islam and how it is the key to success in our modern life. He hopes this Ummah can return to being the leader it once was.
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