Qiyam Al Layl: Your Guide to Pray The Night Prayer

Islam teaches its adherents that nighttime is a wonderful time to get closer to their Creator, so the night prayers are particularly significant. It is a worship type stated in the Quran and is very honorable to Muslims. There are several sunnah night prayers, including the terms Tahajjud, Witr, Taraweeh, and Qiyam al Layl.

In this article, we will cover every aspect of the qiyam al layl prayer, including its definition, best time, rakats, and benefits, In addition to the difference between qiyam prayer and tahajjud.

What is qiyam al layl prayer?

The qiyam al layl (or qiyam ul layl) Prayer is one of the most popular voluntary (or Nafl) prayers and one that many Muslims are familiar with. It is impossible to adequately describe the reward that Muslims who pray at night receive for getting closer to Allah. 

The term “qiyam” means “standing” and the word “al layl” means “the night” in Arabic. Thus, the full term “Qiyam Al-Layl” means standing overnight. These two terms are used to describe voluntary nighttime prayer “qiyam al layl prayer” in Islamic vocabulary and demonstrate supplication and dhikr.

Without forgetting the significance that Allah has assigned to Qiyamullail, Allah addressed those who pray at night in the Quranic verses, saying:

“O you who wrap yourself in clothing, arise during the night to pray; for only half of it, or add a little to it, or subtract from it, and read the Quran in measure.”

(Surah Muzammil: 1-4)

What time is the Qiyam Al Layl prayer?

All of us have bad periods of intense suffering. The Qiyam prayer will guide you through life, especially during these times.

The time for qiyam ul layl is from the time of the nightly prayer (Ishaa) until the break of daybreak. Even one rakat of witr after the required night prayer would suffice to fulfill it.

Although the best time for qiyam to be done is in the final third of the night, Just delay it and get the reward.

How many rakats in qiyam al layl?

Qiyam rakats start with two rakats as a minimum. It means that you can increase according to your intention. You can perform this prayer at home or in a masjid (mosque), whichever you prefer. 

In other words, the nafl prayers that follow the Ishaa prayer, including taraweeh and tahajjud prayers, are involved in qiyam al layl (look below for the difference between the qiyam prayer and tahajjud).

How to pray qiyam al layl prayer?

Muslims should be aware of the various types of night prayers. All-night prayer is referred to as qiyam al-layl. You can pray qiyam al layl, following Ishaa (evening) prayer.

• When preparing to pray, make the intention to perform two rakats (at the very least for the night prayer).
• After that, you must make your wudhu.
• The rakats can be repeated as often as you like (there is no limit).
• Finish your prayer with the witr prayer, which is composed of two salams and three rakats.

Any form of night prayer that you perform is regarded as qiyam al layl. According to the following hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) performed no more than 11 rakats of prayer each night.

Narrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman: That he asked `Aisha “How was the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in the month of Ramadan?” She replied, “He used not to pray more than eleven rak`at whether in Ramadan or in any other month. He used to offer four rak`at, let alone their beauty and length, and then four rak`at, let alone their beauty and length. Afterwards he would offer three rak`at. I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Do you go to bed before offering the witr prayer?’ He said, ‘My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep.”‘

(Sahih al-Bukhari 3569 and Muslim 738)

Difference between qiyam al layl and tahajjud

Prayer, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah (dhikr), dua, and other forms of worship, as much as you like, are all included in qiyam al layl. That is the difference between the qiyam al layl and tahajjud prayers because tahajjud means only praying at night and often done after our sleep (According to some scholars).

Additionally, Allah mentions the tahajjud prayer in the Quran explaining its great reward:

“And from (part of) the night, pray with it as additional (worship) for you, it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.”

(Surah Al-Isra: 79)

• The tahajjud is a prayer that may be prayed at any time of the night, this is the view of the majority of fuqaha (scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence).
• The tahajjud is a prayer that is prayed at night after sleeping and then waking. (al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 2/232).

Thus, compared to tahajjud, qiyam al-layl is more general due to prayer both before and after going to bed. To summarize, tahajjud prayer is a component of qiyam al layl, but not all qiyam al layl is tahajjud prayer.

The short qiyam al-layl known as taraweeh is performed after Ishaa at the start of the night during Ramadan. Tahajjud and qiyam al-layl prayers are other names for it.

Hadith on Qiyam Ul Layl

In addition to the previous hadiths, you should read the following hadiths, which emphasize the significance of qiyam al layl prayer. 

1. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer prayer at night (for such a long time) that his feet used to crack. I said: “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Why do you do it since Allah has forgiven you your faults of the past and those to follow?” He said, ‘Shouldn’t I love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?’ When he became old, he prayed while sitting, but if he wanted to perform a bowing, he would get up, recite (some other verses) and then perform the bowing. (Sahih al-Bukhari 4837)
2. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, “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?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145)
3. Abdullah bin Salam (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O people, extend greetings (saying Salam to each other), keep relations with your kin, provide food (to people) and pray at night when people are asleep and you will enter Paradise in peace.” Related by At-Tirmidhi who graded it as Sahih (Sunan At-Tirmizi: Book 16, Hadith 95)
4. Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) used to offer thirteen rak`at of the night prayer and that included the witr and two rak`at (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1140)

Benefits of Qiyam Ql Layl Prayer

The Qiyam Al Layl Prayer provides courage in times of adversity. Thus, The benefits of Qiyam prayer can be obtained as follows:

• It contributes to one’s success in this life and the next. In the dead of night, the more you stand voluntarily for Allah, the more certain you can be of his provision.
• Qiyam al layl is the best prayer after the five obligatory prayers.
• Allah responds to our duas, rewards sawab, and makes our obstacles simple for us.
• Qiyam al layl prayer not only promotes peace but also maintains humility.
• We also gain from having our sins forgiven.

Finally, the best motivation for praying Qiyam is to be close to the Almighty. There is therefore no better justification to begin praying qiyam al layl.

Start now and tonight. Allah is waiting to get closer!

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Written By Heba Ali.