Skip to content
Explained ḥadīths

Voluntary Night Prayer (Qiyaam)

29 ḥadīths

I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymūnah. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood to perform Prayer at night, I joined him and stood on his left. He, then, took me by the head and made me stand on his right

عن عَبدُ اللَّهِ بنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما قال: «بِتُّ عِندَ خَالَتِي مَيمُونَة، فَقَام النَبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِن اللَّيل، فَقُمتُ عَن يَسَارِه، فَأَخَذ بِرَأسِي فَأَقَامَنِي عن يَمِينِه».
Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymūnah. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood to perform Prayer at night, I joined him and stood on his left. He then took me by the head and made me stand on his right.
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The great Companion Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that he slept one night in the house of his maternal aunt, who is the Prophet's wife to learn about the Prophet's late-night prayer. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up and stood to pray at night, Ibn ‘Abbās joined him in prayer and stood on the Prophet's left side to follow him in prayer. Since the right side is the most honorable of the two sides and the proper position where the one who prays behind an Imām should stand, in case he is one person, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took him by the head, turned him from his behind and made him stand on his right.

Reference

الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، إسماعيل بن محمد الأنصاري، دار الفكر، دمشق، الطبعة: الأولى 1381هـ. تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، تحقيق: محمد صبحي حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة: العاشرة 1426هـ، 2006م. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، الطبعة: الأولى 1426هـ، 2005م. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، دار الثقافة العربية، دمشق، بيروت، مؤسسة قرطبة، الطبعة: الثانية 1408هـ، 1988م. صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423هـ.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

Wake up ‘Āʾishah and pray Witr

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها : أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي صلاته بالليل، وهي مُعْتَرِضَةٌ بين يديه، فإذا بقي الوتر، أيقظها فأوترت. وفي رواية له: فإذا بقي الوتر، قال: «قومي فأوْتِري يا عائشة».
‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray at night while she would be asleep in front of him. When only the Witr was left, he would wake her and she would perform it. According to another narration, he would say: "Wake up ‘Ā'ishah and pray Witr."
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the night prayer, while ‘A'ishah would be asleep in front of him. According to another narration by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim, she said: “The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the night prayer while I would be lying between him and the Qiblah, just as a coffin would be placed.” When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) finished his night prayer, and just before starting the Witr prayer, he would wake her up to pray Witr. A narration by Muslim reads: “When it was time for the Witr prayer, he would say: ‘Wake up, ‘A'ishah and pray Witr.'" A narration of Abu Dawūd reads: “When he wanted to perform the Witr prayer, he would wake her up, and she would perform it." So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would let ‘A'ishah asleep at the beginning of the night. He would not wake her until he was done with his night prayer and only had the Witr to pray. He would wake her so that she would pray immediately and not oversleep and miss the Witr.

Reference

كنوز رياض الصالحين، تأليف: حمد بن ناصر بن العمار، الناشر: دار كنوز أشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى: 1430 هـ بهجة الناظرين، تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي ، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997م المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم، تأليف: محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي، الطبعة: الثانية 1392 هـ صحيح مسلم، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت رياض الصالحين، تأليف : محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي ، تحقيق: د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل ، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ دليل الفالحين، تأليف: محمد بن علان، الناشر: دار الكتاب العربي، نسخة الكترونية ، لا يوجد بها بيانات نشر شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، الناشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الطبعة: 1426 هـ المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم، تأليف: محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي، الطبعة: الثانية 1392 هـ صحيح البخاري-المحقق : محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر-الناشر : دار طوق النجاة-الطبعة : الأولى 1422هـ الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية-صادر عن: وزارة الأوقاف والشئون الإسلامية - الكويت-عدد الأجزاء: 45 جزءا-الطبعة: من 1404 - 1427 هـ.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

Make haste to perform the Witr prayer before the morning

عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «بادروا الصبح بالوتر».
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Make haste to perform the Witr prayer before the morning."
Narrated by MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Hadīth indicates the recommendation to delay the Witr prayer until the last part of the night. However, the one who delays his Witr prayer to the last part of the night should be cautious to perform it before dawn. The time for voluntary night prayer ends with the break of dawn, so, if dawn broke before he prays Witr, then he misses the virtue of this prayer.

Reference

رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة - بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. صحيح مسلم -المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

When one of you stands up for offering voluntary prayer at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur'an accurately, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إذا قَام أحَدُكُم من الليل، فَاسْتَعْجَمَ القرآن على لِسَانه، فلم يَدْرِ ما يقول، فَلْيَضْطَجِع».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you stands up for offering voluntary prayer at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur'an accurately, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down."
Narrated by MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

If someone is offering voluntary night prayer, and it becomes hard for him to recite the Qur'an because of drowsiness, until he does not understand what he is saying: then let him lie down until his drowsiness goes away, so that he would not alter or change the words of Allah, for perhaps he might fall into prohibition by reversing its meanings or altering its words, or he might make supplications against himself. In Al-Bukhāri, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you becomes drowsy during prayer, then let him sleep until he knows what he is reading."

Reference

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير - دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين، لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى 1430ه. - إِكمَالُ المُعْلِمِ بفَوَائِدِ مُسْلِم، لعياض بن موسى اليحصبي السبتي أبو الفضل - المحقق: الدكتور يحْيَى إِسْمَاعِيل - دار الوفاء للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، مصر- الطبعة: الأولى، 1419 هـ - 1998 م.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

We used to prepare for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth-stick and the water he used for making ablution. Then, Allah would awaken him whenever He willed during the night, and he would brush his teeth with the tooth-stick, make ablution, and perform prayer

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها ، قالت: كُنَّا نُعِدُّ لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سِوَاكَهُ وَطَهُورَهُ، فَيَبْعَثُهُ الله ما شاء أن يَبْعَثَهُ من الليل، فَيَتَسَوَّكُ، ويتوضَّأ ويُصلي.
‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: We used to prepare for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth-stick and the water he used for making ablution. Then, Allah would awaken him whenever He willed during the night, and he would brush his teeth with the tooth-stick, make ablution, and perform prayer.
Narrated by MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) tells that she used to prepare for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth-stick and the water with which he would make ablution at night. Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted, would wake him from his sleep at any time of the night. When he woke up, he would begin with cleaning his teeth with the tooth-stick in order to remove the odor that affects the mouth because of sleep. Then he would make ablution for prayer, then offer voluntary night prayer.

Reference

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، الطبعة: الأولى 1415هـ. رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى 1428هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423 هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر 1407هـ.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

Whoever performs Qiyām (night prayer) in the Night of Decree, out of faith and in pursuit of reward, his past sins will be forgiven

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَنْ يَقُمْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever performs Qiyām (night prayer) in the Night of Decree, out of faith and in pursuit of reward, his past sins will be forgiven."
Agreed uponGradeAuthentic
Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tells about the merit of Qiyām al-Layl in the Night of Decree, which lies in the last ten days of Ramadan; that whoever engages in a lot of prayer, supplication, Qur'an recitation, and dhikr in this night, believing in it and its reported merit, seeking Allah's reward by his deed, without show-off or pursuit of reputation among people, his previous sins will be forgiven.

Benefits
  1. The Hadīth points out the merit of the Night of Decree and urges us to perform Qiyām al-Layl therein.
  2. Righteous deeds are not accepted without sincere intentions.
  3. It shows Allah's grace and mercy, for whoever performs Qiyām on the Night of Decree out of faith and in pursuit of reward, his past sins will be forgiven.
Reference

صحيح البخاري (1/ 16) (35). صحيح مسلم (1/ 523) (760). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (14/ 435). بهجة الناظرين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 337). نزهة المتقين، (2/ 846). شرح النووي على مسلم (6/ 40). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 220). شرح صحيح البخاري، لابن بطال (4/ 21).

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night until the skin of his feet would crack

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها والمغيرة بن شعبة رضي الله عنه : أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقوم من الليل حتى تَتَفَطَّرَ قَدَمَاهُ فقلت له: لم تَصْنَعُ هذا يا رسول الله، وقد غفر اللهُ لك ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر؟ قال: «أَفَلَا أحب أن أكونَ عبدا شَكُورًا».
‘Ā'ishah and Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night until the skin of his feet would crack. I (‘Ā'ishah) asked him: "O Messenger of Allah, why are you doing this while your past and future sins have been forgiven for you?" He said: "Should I not like to be a grateful slave (of Allah)?"
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand and pray at night until the skin on his feet would crack. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him - thinking that he was worshiping Allah out of fear of sins and seeking forgiveness and mercy from Allah, while Allah has already forgiven his sins and he is in no need of that - "Why are you doing this, O Messenger of Allah, while Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?" He replied: "Should I not be a thankful slave." So this worship was an expression of his gratitude towards Allah for His forgiveness.

Reference

- دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ - 1987م. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. - صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

At every part of the night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Witr: at its beginning, middle, and end. Finally he settled on performing Witr just before dawn

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: «من كلِّ الليل أَوْتَرَ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من أول الليل، وأوسطه، وآخره، وانتهى وِتْرُهُ إلى السَّحَرِ».
‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: 'At every part of the night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Witr: at its beginning, middle, and end. Finally he settled on performing Witr just before dawn.
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) mentions the time when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray Witr at night. He used to pray it at any time at night, without restricting himself to a certain time. Sometimes he would pray it at the beginning of the night after praying ‘Ishā'. Sometimes he would pray in the middle of the night after the first third of the night had passed. Sometimes he would pray in the last part of the night after two thirds had passed, even in the last hour of the night.

Reference

تيسير العلام، للبسام، الناشر: مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426 هـ - 2006 م. تنبيه الأفهام، للعثيمين، طبعة مكتبة الصحابة، الامارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة الأولى 1426هـ. الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري، طبعة دار الفكر، دمشق، الطبعة الأولى 1381هـ. صحيح البخاري، لأبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، لأبي الحسين مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com
8 of 29
29 ḥadīths
  1. I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maymūnah. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood to perform Prayer at night, I joined him and stood on his left. He, then, took me by the head and made me stand on his right
  2. Wake up ‘Āʾishah and pray Witr
  3. Make haste to perform the Witr prayer before the morning
  4. When one of you stands up for offering voluntary prayer at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur'an accurately, and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should lie down
  5. We used to prepare for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth-stick and the water he used for making ablution. Then, Allah would awaken him whenever He willed during the night, and he would brush his teeth with the tooth-stick, make ablution, and perform prayer
  6. Whoever performs Qiyām (night prayer) in the Night of Decree, out of faith and in pursuit of reward, his past sins will be forgiven
  7. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night until the skin of his feet would crack
  8. At every part of the night, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prayed Witr: at its beginning, middle, and end. Finally he settled on performing Witr just before dawn
  9. Whoever sleeps and fails to recite his nightly portion, or part of it, and then recites it between the Fajr prayer and the Zhuhr prayer, it will be recorded for him as if he recited it during the night
  10. O people, spread the greeting of peace, feed others, maintain kinship ties, and pray at night when people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace
  11. When one of you feels drowsy during prayer, let him lie down till drowsiness goes away from him
  12. You should pray as long as you have the energy to do so. If you feel tired, then lie down
  13. Do (good) deeds according to your capacity, for by Allah, Allah never grows weary (of giving rewards) unless you grow weary (of doing good deeds), and the best deed in His sight is that which is done regularly
  14. O Allah, to You I submit, in You I believe, upon You I rely, by Your help I contend with my foes, and to You I refer for judgment. So, forgive me the sins I committed in the past and those I may commit in the future, those I did secretly and those I did openly, and all that which You know of better than I do. There is no god but You
  15. One night, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed Qiyām while reciting a single verse from the Qur'an
  16. A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was on the pulpit: What do you say about the night prayer? He (ﷺ) said: "Two by two
  17. The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah's month, Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night
  18. The Witr is due, so whoever wants to pray the Witr as seven (units of prayer), let him do so; whoever wants to pray the Witr as five, let him do so; whoever wants to pray the Witr as three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray the Witr as one, let him do so
  19. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) led us in prayer during the month of Ramadan, offering eight Rak‘ahs as well as the Witr. The next night, we gathered in the mosque and hoped that he would come out to us. However, we remained in the mosque until the morning
  20. Indeed, Allah, the Almighty,, has added a prayer for you, so offer it in the period between ‘Ishā' prayer and Fajr prayer; (it is) the Witr, (it is) the Witr
  21. O ‘Ā'ishah, indeed, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep
  22. O ‘Abdullāh, do not be like so-and-so. He used to offer Qiyām al-Layl and then abandoned it
  23. O people of the Qur'an, perform the Witr Prayer for, verily, Allah is Witr (single) and loves what is Witr (single, odd)
  24. There should not be two Witr prayers during one night
  25. Perform Witr prayer before the morning
  26. The one who has not prayed the Witr prayer before dawn, then there is no Witr for him
  27. If anyone sleeps before praying Witr or forgets it, let him pray it once he remembers it
  28. If anyone fears that he will not wake up at the end of the night, let him offer Witr prayer at the beginning of the night; and anyone expects to wake up at the end of the night, let him offer Witr prayer at the end of the night. Indeed, prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better
  29. O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, make light for me

Every ḥadīth, grade, explanation and benefit here is shown exactly as HadeethEnc.com publishes it, under its terms for republication. The grade names no grader. The translations and explanations are its authors’ own, and some state rulings; Sabīl’s reviewers have not examined them. The Arabic ḥadīth is the text. Source: HadeethEnc.com