Introduction
Qiyam ul Layl, also known as the Night Prayer, is a special opportunity for Muslims to connect with their Lord in the last third of the night, when He descends to the lowest heaven and responds to the supplications of His servants. It is a virtuous act of worship that has many rewards and benefits in this life and the hereafter. In this blog post, we will share 10 amazing facts about Qiyam ul Layl that will motivate you to wake up and pray and perform Dhikr in the dark hours of the night.
If you want more qiyam in Ramadan, read our blog on Taraweeh Prayer in Ramadan: Your Ultimate Guide.
What is Qiyam ul Layl?
Qiyam ul Layl means “standing in the night” and refers to any acts of worship performed after Isha and before Fajr, such as praying, reading the Quran, making dhikr, or seeking forgiveness from Allah. The most common form of Qiyam ul Layl is Tahajjud Salah, which is a voluntary prayer that can be performed in any number of rak’ahs, preferably in pairs.
You can read more about the concept of Tawbah in our blog post.
Qiyam ul Layl is more meritorious than performing acts of worship during the day because it involves sacrificing our sleep and comfort for the sake of Allah. It also demonstrates our sincerity and love for Allah, as He says in the Quran:
“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, \”Are those who know equal to those who do not know?\” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.”
(Quran 39:9)
How to pray at Qiyam ul Layl?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform your night prayers during Qiyam:
- Perform Wudu as you would for any other prayer.
- Start with two Rakahs and recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah of your choice in each Rakah.
- After completing the two Rakahs, recite the Tasbih of Fatima (Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times).
- You can then perform as many Rakahs as you wish, in sets of two. After every two Rakahs, recite the Tasbih of Fatima.
- You can end the prayer with Witr Salah if you haven’t already prayed with your Isha prayer.
The best time to perform Qiyam ul Layl is during the last third of the night, which is the time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and asks if there is anyone seeking forgiveness so that He may forgive them.
We also perform Qiyam ul Layl during Itikaf, read our blog.
Qiyam ul Layl Dhikr and Prayers
Other than Tahajjud Salah, there are other ways to worship Allah during Qiyam ul Layl.
Reading Quran
One of them is to recite the Quran with reflection and understanding. Reading the Quran at night can help you increase your faith, purify your heart, and draw closer to Allah.
Read more about the amazing benefits of reading the Quran.
Engaging in Dhikr
One way to worship Allah during Qiyam ul Layl is to engage in dhikr, which involves praising Allah, seeking His forgiveness, and expressing your love and gratitude to Him. Dhikr can be done with your tongue, your heart, or both, and there are many forms of it like saying Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and many more. Doing Dhikr can help you remember Allah in every situation, protect you from evil, calm your mind, and fill your heart with peace and happiness.
Dhikr can also be done by reciting some of the names and attributes of Allah, such as Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving), Al-Wadud (The Loving), Al-Karim (The Generous), Al-Hakeem (The Wise), and so on.
Durood Shareef and Salat ul Tasbeeh
Another way to enhance your Qiyam ul Layl is to recite Durood Shareef and perform Salat ul Tasbeeh during this blessed time. Durood Shareef is the invocation of blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family. It is a great act of love and respect for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and a means of attaining his intercession on the Day of Judgment.
Salat ul Tasbeeh is a special prayer that consists of four Rakahs with 75 Tasbeehs in each Rakah. Tasbeeh means to glorify Allah by saying Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, or La ilaha illa Allah. Salat ul Tasbeeh is a highly rewarding prayer that forgives all the sins of the person who performs it sincerely.
These two acts of worship are especially recommended during Laylatul Qadr, which is the Night of Power that occurs in one of the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Read more about what makes Laylatul Qadr so special in our blog.
Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months, as Allah says in the Quran:
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”
(Quran 97:3-5)
Therefore, whoever spends this night in prayer, recitation, dhikr, Durood Shareef, Salat ul Tasbeeh, or any other good deeds, will attain immense rewards and blessings from Allah.
Duas for Qiyam ul Layl
Here are some of the most common duas that we can recite during our night prayer and performing additional dhikr:
- Allahumma lakal-hamd – O Allah, to You, belongs all praise.
- Subhanallah – Glory be to Allah.
- Alhamdulillah – All praise is due to Allah.
- Allahu Akbar – Allah is the Greatest.
- Astaghfirullah – I seek forgiveness from Allah.
10 Benefits of Qiyam ul Layl
Performing Qiyam ul Layl has numerous benefits, both spiritual and physical. Here are the ten most amazing facts/benefits of doing Qiyam at night:
1. Increased closeness to Allah (SWT) through performing a voluntary act of worship.
2. Increased sincerity and humility in one’s other prayers.
3. Increased blessings and barakah in one’s life.
4. Increased sense of inner peace and contentment.
5. Increased strength and discipline in one’s faith.
6. Opportunity to seek forgiveness and repent for sins.
7. Increased spiritual enlightenment and awareness.
8. Strengthening of one’s relationship with the Quran through recitation and reflection.
9. Protection from evil and negative influences, which ultimately help us defeat shaitan.
10. Increased physical and mental energy throughout the day.
Importance of Qiyam ul Layl
Doing Qiyam at night is a highly recommended act of worship in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to perform night prayers and dhikr regularly, and he encouraged his companions to do the same. Here are some of the rewards of performing Qiyam ul Layl:
- It is a means of attaining Allah’s pleasure and forgiveness.
- It is a way to earn extra rewards and blessings from Allah.
- It is a way to increase your rank and status in the sight of Allah.
- It is a way to purify your heart and soul, by doing Istighfar.
Hadiths on Qiyam ul Layl
Here are some of the most inspiring hadiths on Qiyam ul Layl:
- Abu Hurairah narrated it: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever prays Qiyam during Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i 1602]
- It was narrated from Abu Bishr Ja’far bin Abi Wahshiyyah: He heard Humaid bin ‘Abdur-Rahman say: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘The best prayer after the obligatory (fard) prayers is prayer at night and the best fasting after the month of Ramadan is Al-Muharram.'” [Sunan an-Nasa’i 1614]
- Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying: Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him? He continues like this till the day breaks. [Sahih Muslim 758b]
- Abdullah ibn Salam (RA) narrated: When the Prophet arrived for the first time in Madinah, I went with everyone to see him. When I saw him, I knew his face was not that of a liar. The first words he said were, “O people, spread Salam (greeting of peace), give food, maintain kin relationships, and pray at night while people are asleep. With this, you shall enter Heaven in peace.” [Ibn Majah]
- Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW) saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 2008]
For more explanation of Ramadan, read our blog What is Ramadan, and why is it Important for Muslims?
Qiyam ul Layl in Congregation
Performing Night prayer in the congregation has numerous benefits. Here are some of them:
Greater sense of community
Praying and doing dhikr at night at the masjid allows for greater communal worship, increasing the sense of brotherhood and sisterhood between you and your community.
Opportunity to learn
It provides an opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and guidance of your imam or other scholars who may lead prayers and offer lectures and other forms of worship.
Increased motivation
Praying in a congregation can increase your motivation to perform Night Prayer regularly, as you will be held accountable by your fellow worshippers.
More reward
The reward for praying in a congregation is greater than praying alone.
Ease of performing
Performing Qiyam ul Layl in the congregation can make it easier to perform, especially for those who find it difficult to wake up in the middle of the night.
FAQS
The meaning of Layl in the Quran is “the darkest of the dark”.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to pray eleven Rakahs of Qiyam al Layl.
It is a voluntary prayer, but its practice is highly recommended and carries great rewards in the Hereafter.
It is permissible to perform it at home alone or with family members.
Yes, it’s recommended to pray Qiyam ul Layl after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer, preferably later in the night.
Conclusion
Qiyam ul Layl is a powerful and rewarding act of worship that can transform your life for the better. Praying and doing Dhikr at night can bring you closer to Allah, increase your faith, and purify your soul. Which will ultimately improve your health, protect you from harm, enrich your livelihood, and elevate your status. It is a gift from Allah that we should cherish and strive to perform regularly. May Allah enable us to be among those who pray Qiyam ul Layl and grant us His mercy and forgiveness. Ameen.
