What is qiyām al-layl? How did the Prophet ﷺ pray at night?
The night prayer is the defining mark of the righteous in the Qur'an. The scholars described it with loving detail — its rakʿahs, its duʿāʾ, its place in the spiritual life of the believer.
10 passages from 4 books in the library
Qiyām al-layl, the night prayer, is described by the scholars as the defining mark of the righteous, prayed with loving attention to its rakʿahs and supplication. ʿĀʾisha related that when the Prophet ﷺ missed his night prayer through sleep or illness, he would make it up by praying twelve rakʿahs during the day. The scholars commend a midday rest (qaylūlah) as a sunnah that aids the night vigil, just as the pre-dawn meal aids fasting, and they record that reciting aloud in night prayer is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs, since the angels and others present are stirred by it.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 4 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The hadith of Witr with five from the hadith of Aisha mentions performing Witr with five,"
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"peace be upon him, such as post-prayer sunnahs, duha, witr, night prayer, and others."
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, shared that if the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was unable to perform his night prayer due to sleep or illness, he would make up for it by praying 12 units at the start of the day."
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"Aisha's Hadith, narrated by Muslim, states that if the Prophet, peace be upon him, was overcome by sleep or illness and missed his night prayer, he would make it up during the day."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The second matter is the siesta, a sunnah that helps with night prayer, just as suhoor aids in fasting by day."
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"Regarding the witr prayer, it is advised to perform it before sleep if one does not habitually"
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"When asked why those who stand in night prayer have some of the best countenances, he replied,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"reciting aloud during night prayer and approving it, is found in the two Sahihs. In one narration"
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"one of you stands for night prayer, he should recite aloud, for the angels and the inhabitants"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Similarly, a man might raise his voice during night prayer to awaken his neighbors and family,"
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