The Tahajjud Prayer- Salatul Layl - Night prayer- (Namaz-e-Shab)

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"Our Lord, blessed and exalted is He, descends every night to the nearest heaven when the latter one-third of the night remains, (and) says, Is there any one who calls upon Me so that I may accept of him, who asks of Me so that I may grant him, who seeks forgiveness of Me so that I may forgive him?"

This is the time Almighty Allah asks the angels to witnesses our dua's

Importance


The Tahajjud Prayer (Namaz-e-Shab) ranks first and foremost in importance among all other optional (Sunnat) prayers.

Tahajjud means to abandon sleep so as to pray Salat.

The Qur’an refers to it in Surah 17:79 and says, “And (during part) of the night, abandon sleep
and keep vigil to pray Salat, in addition to the regular obligatory prayer. Your Rabb (the Sustainer)
may (as a reward) elevate you to the position of High Distinction, Glory and Praise.”

The verse quoted above which prescribes Salatul-Layl has been placed immediately
next to the verse (17:78) which prescribes the regular daily obligatory Salat.
Therefore, it underscores the great importance of Salatul-Layl.
Although optional, Tahajjud is considered “nearest to obligatory (Wajib) prayer.”

Merits

--By praying Salatul-Layl one’s livelihood is increased, one passes easily

through “Sakaraat” (great and grueling pain a dying person suffers at the time of death)

and finds happiness in “Barzakh” (the Spiritual world where the departed souls

stay either in happiness or misery, until the Day of Resurrection).

Imam Jaffar Sadiq (a.s.) quotes Imam Ali (as) as saying that the Prophet (saww)

said that a person who prays Salatul-Layl gets the following twenty four kinds of benefits:

1. Secures Allah’s pleasure.
2. Makes friendship with Angels.
3. Is the Sunnat of the Prophets (a.s.)
4. Provides the means to pursue knowledge.
5. Constitutes the root of our faith.
6. Keeps one physically fit.
7. Drives Shaytan away.
8. Protects one from enemies.
9. Serves as a means of acceptance of one’s Duas and good deeds.
10. Increases one’s livelihood.
11. Intercedes with the Angel of Death.
12. Lights up the grave.
13. Provides comfortable bedding in the grave.
14. Helps answering with ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave.
15. Gives companionship in the grave.
16. Provides shelter on the Day of Judgment.
17. Crowns one on the Day of Reckoning.
18. Clothes one on the Day of Resurrection.
19. Provides one with light on the Day of Judgment.
20. Forms a barrier against the fire of Hell.
21. Gets Allah’s pardon on the Day of Judgment.
22. Increases the weight of good deeds on the scale.
23. Helps one crossing the Bridge of “Siraat” without any difficulty.
24. Forms the key to the Paradise.

Time


The time for praying Salatul-Layl is from midnight (midnight is reckoned as the time which is exactly half the time between sunset and the actual dawn) to the time of Adhan for Fajr prayers. However, it can be prayed at anytime after Isha prayers but it is better to pray during the last part of the night near to the time of Fajr prayers. If it is not possible to pray after midnight or before Fajr, then it can be prayed in the morning or any part of the day with the niyyah (intention) of Qadha. It is better to pray with the niyyah of Qadha during the day time than to pray in the early part of the night.
Note: According to Ayatullah Seestani, the time for Salatul-Layl is from midnight to the Adhan time for Fajr prayers. However, it is better to pray near the time of Fajr prayers. Anyone who finds it difficult to pray Salatul-Layl after midnight can pray before midnight.

METHOD


---Salatul-Layl is of eleven Rak’ats.

----The first eight Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.

----The next two Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of Salatul Shaf’a.

----The remaining one Rak’at is prayed with the Niyyah of Salatul Witr.

In the last one Rak’at, Qunoot is recited before Rukuu and the Salat is

completed as usual with Tashahud and Salaam. The last one Rak’at is prayed as follows:

--Hold Tasbih in the right hand for keeping count of the dhikr mentioned below to be recited.

--Make Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram.

--Recite: Surah Al-Hamd;

--Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad - three times;

--Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq - once;

--Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas - once.


--Say Takbir and raise both hands for Qunoot.

1. You may recite any Dua. However, it is recommended to recite the following Dua.

Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab' سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab' وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ
wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous

There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great

Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth

And Who is the Sustainer of all the things in them, and between them,

And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)

And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.

2. Then, while holding the Tasbih in the right hand, raise the left hand and
pray for forgiveness of forty [40] or more Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat who are
either dead or living in the following manner.
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name) اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل...
O Allah, forgive … giving the names of Mu’mineen/Mu’minaat. (In each case saying, Allahummagh Firli …….)

If unable to remember 40 or more names, can say, Allahummagh firlil mu`umineena wal muslimeena
meaning, Oh Allah forgive all the believers and muslims

3.Continuing with the Qunoot, while still raising the left hand, recite the following Istighfar seventy [70] times:

Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ

I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him

4. Still continuing further while raising the left hand,
recite the following Dua seven [7] times:

Haadhaa Maqaamul 'Aaidhi Bika Minannaar هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ

This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]

5. Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, recite three hundred [300] times:

اَلْعَفْوَ Al-'Afwa

(I ask for) forgiveness

Finally, complete the Salat in the normal way by going to Rukuu’ followed by Sajdah,

Tashahud and Salaam, ending Salatul-Layl.

As a Ta’kibaat after the Salat, recite Tasbih

of Janabe Fatemah Zahra (a.s.),

34 times Allahu Akbar;
33 times Al-Hamdu Lillah:
33 times Subhanallah,

followed by Sajdah of Shukr.

Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.

Finally, for the second time,

perform Sajdah of Shukr, completing the Salat.