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Night Prayer and Its Importance
Its importance in the Holy Quran
And as for the night, keep! vigil a part of it, as a work of supererogation for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you up to a laudable station - The Night Journey #79
And men who are imploring God’s pardon before the daybreak - The House of Imran #17
Little of the night would they slumber, and in the times before daybreak they would ask for forgiveness - The Scatterer #18
Their sides shun their couches as they call on their Lord and hope, and they expend of what we have provided them. No soul knows what comfort is laid up for them secretly, as a recompense for that they were doing - Prostration #16,17
Or is he who is obedient in the watches of the night, bowing himself and standing, he being afraid of the world to come and hoping for the mercy of his Lord - The Companies #9
And proclaim the praise of your Lord in the night, and at the declining of the stars - The Mount #49
And proclaim the praise of your Lord in the night, and at the ends of the prostration - Qaf #40
And part of the night, bow down before Him and magnify Him through the long night. - Time (Man) #26
Surely the first part of the night is heavier in the tread, the more upright in speech - Enwrapped #6
And monasticism they invented-We did not prescribe it for them-only seeking the good pleasure of God - Iron #27
Some of the People of the Book are a nation upstanding, that recite God’s signs in the watches of the night, bowing themselves - The House of Imran #113
(A! nd those) who pass the night prostrate to their Lord and standing - Salvation #64
Its importance in the Sunna
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “Among the commandments of the Prophet (s.a.w) to Ali (a.s) his saying, “O Ali! Remember to retain these qualities.” He then said: “O Allah! Help him.” He concluded by saying (three times): “You must perform the Night Prayer. - Reference: Al-Wasa’il vol.5, Hadith #1, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ Three things give pride to the believer and they are also an ornament in this world and the hereafter: Meditating before daybreak! , giving up hope in other people’s wealth and following the Imam, who is a descendant of the Prophet (s.a.w).” - Reference: Rawdhat al-Kafi, Hadith #311
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ Performing the Night’s Prayer is the believer’s honor. Refraining from harming others is his glory.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #2, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked to explain the verse: “Their mark is on their faces, the trace of prostration.” He (a.s) said: “It is the effect of staying up late meditating.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #2, Ch.39
Imam Ali (a.s) said: “Performing the Night’s Prayer keeps the body healthy and the Lord pleased. It devotes man to the nature of the Prophet and exposes him to God’s mercy.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #14, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “He has told a lie he who claims that he performs the Night’s Prayer and he is not having enough to eat; the Night’s Prayer guarantees the day’s nourishment.” Also: The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Performing the Night’s Prayer beautifies the face in daytime.” - Reference: Mahasin al-Barqy, ch.61
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ Archangel Gabriel came down to the Prophet-s.a.w- and said: “ O Mohammad! However long you live, you will eventually die, however strong you love something you will eventually leave it behind and however hard you work, you will be rewarded for it. And let it be known to you that performing the Night’s Prayed is the man’s honor and having no need for others’ possessions is his glory.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #25, Ch.37
Imam ar-Ridha (a.s) related the following through his father and grandfather (a.s): “Imam as-Sajjad (a.s) was asked about the reason why the performers of the Night’s Prayer looked so pretty! He (a.s) said: Because they meditated in private therefore Allah covered them with His Light.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #33, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ He who says, ‘I ask God’s forgiveness and repent to him’ Seventy times at the conclusion of each witr (last three units of Night! ’s Prayer) for a year, will be regarded as one of ‘those who are imploring God’s Pardon before daybreak’. - Reference: Mahasin al-Barqy, ch.62
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “The houses in which the Quran is recited during Night’s Prayer shine to the inhabitants of heavens as the stars to the inhabitants of earth do.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #38, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ Three things are regarded as part of God’s Mercy: The Night’s Prayer, offering to break a man’s fast and meeting with fellow Moslems.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #21, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ Performing the Night’s Prayer beautifies the face, improves the manners, makes the smell pleasant, increases the income, pays the debt, takes away the worries and clears the vision.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #17, Ch.39
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "Perform the night prayer, for its fact being the sunna of your Prophet (Peace Be upon Him and His Family), the habit of the previous good believers before you, and a protection for your bodies from sickness/illness." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #10, Ch.39
Either Imam Al-Baqir or Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “Every man is wakened up once, twice or more during the night. If he does not get up, the Satan would come and urinate in his ears; don’t you see that when one gets up in the morning and he hasn’t done that (getting up during the night to pray) he would feel stiff, heavy and lazy. - Reference: Men-la Yahdorohu al-Faqeeh
Imam Al-Baqir (a! .s) said: "Whomever believes in Allah and the Judgment Day should perform witr prayer before going to sleep." - Reference: Attahtheeb, vol.2, P.341
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “The Prophet -s.a.w- said: A man must never pass a night without performing the witr” - Reference: Ilul al-Sharayi’ ch.26, H.3, vol.2
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "Don't leave the performing of the Night Prayer, and that's because who leaves it looses a lot." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #2, Ch.40
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “Telling a lie could deny man (the privilege of performing) the Night’s Prayer and thus he will be denied his income”. - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #3, Ch.40
A man came to Imam Ali (a.s) and asked him: "I have been discouraged to perform the Night Prayer", so Imam Ali (a.s) replied to him: "You are a man whom his sins have tied him down." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #5, Ch.40
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ He does not belong to us he who does not perform the Night’s Prayer.- Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #8, Ch.40
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "Committing a sin could deny man (the privilege of performing) the Night’s Prayer, and the bad deed (sin) is faster in harming its own owner (the person who committed it) than how fast a knife could harm a piece of meet when it cuts it.- Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.11, Hadith #12, Ch.40
About the meaning of the Quranic verse: [Surely the good deeds will drive away the bad deeds, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “A believer’s Night Prayer drives away whatever evil deeds he committed during the day.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.5, Hadith #4, Ch.39
The Timing of The Night's Prayer For Those Who Have A Choice
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: “ When it is midnight, you should get up and perform the thirteen units of the Night’s Prayer all at once. Afterwards, you have the choice of saying an invocation, sleeping or going wherever you want. - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.4, Hadith #2, Ch.35
According to Imam al-Baqir (a.s): “ Neither in Ramadan nor in any other month, after performing isha (the second evening prayer), the Prophet -s.a.w- would go to bed and not perform any supererogatory prayer until midnight.- Reference: Al-Istibsar, vol.1, p.279 Hadith #1013
According to Imam al-Baqir (a.s): “ The prophet -s.a.w- would not meditate until it is midnight when he would perform a thirteen-unit prayer among which is the witr (units: 11. 12 &13) and al-Fajr (a two unit supererogatory) before the Morning Prayer which he would perform after the day breaks.” - Reference: Al-Tahtheeb, vol.2, p.262
Its Best Timing
According to Abu-Baseer: I asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) about the day’s and the night’s supererogatory prayers. He said: (among other things): “And in the time before daybreak an eight-unit prayer is performed. Thereafter, a three-unit prayer is done (the third one individually). After that – and before the Morning Prayer, a two-unit prayer is performed. The most favorable time of the Night’s Prayer is at the end of nighttime. - Reference: Al-Tahtheeb, vol.2, p.262
The Timing For Those Who Have Excuses
From Layth’s Collection, this Hadith: “I asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s): Could I perform the Night’s Prayer at the beginning of nighttime in Summer time when the nights are short? He said: yes.” - Reference: Al-Tahtheeb, vol.2, p.168
From Layth’s other collection, this Hadith: “ I asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) about performing the Night’s Prayer (including the witr) at the beginning of the night in my travel which was in Summer time when the nights were short. He said: Yes, well done! I also asked him if the same applies to someone who fears going into junaba (a state of major ritual impurity) during travel or for fear of cold. He said: Yes.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.3, Ch.44
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: “ If you fear not being able to get up at the end of the night, you have an illness or you fear cold, then perform the Night’s Prayer (including the witr) at the begging of the night.” - Ref: Al-Tahtheeb, vol.2, p.168
Compensating For The Missed Night’s Prayer During Daytime
I asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s): “ When do I perform the Night’s Prayer? He said: At the end of the night. I said: I do not wake up! He said: Having to compensate for it the day after will motivate you to wake up and perform it on time.] - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.3, Ch.45
From Mohammed’s Collection this Hadith by either Imam al-Sadiq or Imam al-Baqir (a.s): “ For someone who is used to performing the Night’s Prayer- and stopped performing it for one, two or three nights- which do you prefer, that he compensates for it later on or that he performs it at the beginning of every night? He (a.s) said: It is certainly better to perform it later on - even if it was thirty nights.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia, vol.3, Ch.45
The best time to compensate for the Night's Prayer is night time
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about the meaning of Allah's saying: {And it is He who made the night and the day a succession for him who desires to remember or desires thankfulness} and ! he said: "It regards compensating the night prayer at daylight and the daylight prayer at night." - Reference: Attahtheeb Vol.2, P.275
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said: " Do not compensate for the missed Witr in a Bairam's (Eid's) day until you have performed that day's Midday Prayer." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia vol5, ch.7
According to Ismael al-Jo'fee, Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: "The best way to compensate for a missed supererogatory prayer is to perform the night prayers at night time and day prayers at daytime. I said: Why then are you asking me to do it? He said: "One of the two is compensatory." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia voj.12 p.163
Reciting Loudly
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about raising one's voice while reciting Quran in the Night's Prayer late in the night. He said: " A man should make his family hear him perform the Night' Prayer to stimulate them to get up (and do the same).] - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shia vol.4 ch.22
Compensating for Witr as witr always
According to Ali bin Yaqteen: I asked Imam abu-Alhasan (a.s) about compensating for the Witr when one misses it. He said: He should perform it the same way as it is normally performed (as a single-unit prayer) whenever he remembers, even in the afternoon.] - Reference: Wasail al-Shi’a vol.5 ch.10
According to Imam al-Sadiq (a.s): "The Witr is compensated for as the Witr is normally performed." - Reference: Wasa’il al-Sh’ia vol.5 ch.10
Not abandoning the Night Prayer even during travel
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: The most favorable of man's work to Almighty Allah is what he does persistently, even if it was little." - Reference: Wasa?l al-Shi’a vol.1 ch.21
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: “ In his travel and his stay, the Prophet (s.a.w) used to per! form all the thirteen units of the Night’s Prayer including the Witr and the two-unit supererogatory Morning Prayer.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shi’a vol.3 ch.25
According to Safwan al-Jammal, Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s) used to perform the Night’s Prayer in daytime while he was riding his camel.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shi’a vol.3 ch.26
Starting with the Witr for fears of being very close to daybreak
Mohammad bin Muslim said: I asked Imam al-Baqir [s]: Someone who wakes up at he end of the night thinking he is too close to daybreak; should he perform the whole thing? He said: He should start with the Witr; I would do that. - Reference: Al-Tahdheeb, vol.2, p.125
Abdullah bin Sinan said: I asked Imam al-Baqir [s] saying: I woke up at the end of the night fearing being too close to daybreak (what should I have done?) He said: Start reciting Sura al-Hamd and hurry up, hurry up! - Reference: Al-Tahdheeb, vol.2, 124
Ali bin Abdul Aziz said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq [s]: (What do I do if) I wake up fearing (being too close to) daybreak? He said: Then perform the Witr. I said: What if I look back and see that it is still night? He said: Then perform the whole Night's Prayer. - Reference: Al-Tahdheeb, vol.2, 340
How many units is the Night's Prayer
Imam al-Baqir (s) said: And when it is after midnight, is the time of the Night’s Prayer Which is thirteen units including the witr and the two-unit supererogatory Morning Prayer. - Reference: Al-Tahthib vol.2 p.7
Abu Baseer asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) about the Night's Prayer. He (a.s) told him: Eight units followed by the three-unit witr and the two-unit supererogatory Morning Prayer. - Reference: Al-Tahthib vol.2 p.4
Zorara asked Imam al-Baqir (a.s): Should the two-unit supererogatory Morning Prayer be performed before or after daybreak? He answered: Before it. It is a part of the Night's Prayer, which is thirteen units. - Reference: Al-Tahtheeb vol.2 p.133!
Ways to wake you up for the Night's Prayer
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: Reciting the last part of sura al-Kahf (The Cave) at bedtime guarantees waking up at the desired time Say: [I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your god is one Allah, therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join any one in the service of his.Reference: Usool al-Kafi vol. 2, p 540
The Prophet [s] said: “ Whoever intends to get up for the Night's Prayer can say this when he is in bed: In the name of Allah. O Allah! Do not make me feel secure of your devise, and do not let me forget you, and do not make me one of the heedless. I intend to get up at so and so hour. This way Allah will commission an angel just to wake him up at that time.” - Reference: Usool al-Kafi vol. 2, p 40
Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: “Anyone who sincerely intends to get up at a certain time, Allah will commission two angels just to shake him up at that time.” - Reference: Wasa’il al-Shi’a vol.5 ch.40
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