Tahajjud Prayer - Salatul layl -Night Prayer

 “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 HOLY QUR’AN: 17:79] 

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 any time 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 recited in the morning or any part of the day with the niyyah (intention) of Qadha. It is better to recite with the niyyah of Qadha(faradh) during the day time than to pray in the early part of the night.  More on Qadha of Tahajjud 

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.

Salatul-Layl is made up of Eleven Rak’ats.

 Ø      The first 8(eight) Rak’ats are prayed as normal in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.

 Ø      The next 2 (two) Rak’ats are prayed with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Shaf’a'.

Ø      The remaining 1(one) Rak’at is prayed (as below)with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Witr.'

 In the last one Rak’at, Qunoot(dua’) is recited before Rukuu and the Salat is completed as usual with Tashahud and Salaam.

 The last one Rak’at of Witr is prayed as follows:

i)Make Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram.

ii)Recite  surahs:- Surah Al-Hamd;   Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad - three times;  Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq - once; Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas - once.

 Note:  If one does not know the last two Surahs mentioned above, then it is sufficient to recite Surah Qul Huwallahu Ahad, three times.

iii)Say Takbir and raise hands for Qunoot.:-

 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.

iv) You may hold Tasbih in the right hand if required ,for keeping count of the dhikr mentioned below to be recited. & raise your left hand in qunoot.

Then, 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 …….) U may include Ulamaa names

 v) 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

vi) 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]

vii) Continuing yet further while still raising the left hand, recite three hundred [300] times:  -

Al-'Afwa (I ask for) forgiveness اَلْعَفْوَ

 vii) Following this, the following should be said once:  " Rabbigfirli warhamni wa tubalaiyyi,Innaka tawwaburrahim"

“Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-Turning back, Most Merciful”

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 Syeda Fatemah Zahra (a.s.),   34 times -Allahu Akbar; 33 times -Al-Hamdu Lillah , 33- times Subhanallah,

  -followed by Sajdah of Shukr. (reciting 5 times 'Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi' Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits)

-Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.

-Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr  (reciting 5 times 'Subbuhun quddusun Rabil Malaekatil wa ruhi' Holy and most Holy is the Lord of the Angels and spirits),

 completing the Salat.

-Recite Dua Hazeen /Grief

The blessed month of Ramadhan offers a good opportunity and convenient time to pray Salatul Layl, especially when the time of commencing the fast is favorable.

Allah [swt] gives abundant reward for all our acts of worship during this blessed month, therefore, we need to make special efforts to pray the Salaat and keep it up for the rest of the year to raise our level of spirituality.

Please do not forget all of the believers throughout the world in your Salat al-Layl especially those downtrodden and oppressed Muslims all over the globe.