The Reward of the Night Prayer

Bahr al-Saqqa' reported from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام Ali who said: "Indeed, among the blessings and comfort from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, are three things: praying in the late hours of the night (Tahajjud), breaking the fast (iftar) of a fasting person, and meeting with one's brothers (fellow believers)."

Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal عليه السلام said regarding the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "But as for monasticism, they innovated it; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى" (Surah Al-Hadid 57:27). Imam عليه السلام said: "It refers to the night prayer (salat al-layl)."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "You must engage in the night prayer (salat al-layl), for it is the tradition (sunnah) of your Prophet and the practice of the righteous before you, and it drives away illness from your bodies."

Hisham ibn Salim reported that Imam عليه السلام said regarding the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, the rising by night is [more effective] for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words" (Surah Al-Qiyamah 73:6). Imam عليه السلام said: "It refers to a person rising from their bed for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, seeking nothing but His pleasure.

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "People rise from their beds in three categories: one for whom it is in their favour and not against them, one for whom it is against them and not in their favour, and one for whom it is neither in their favour nor against them. As for the one who is in their favour and not against them, they rise from their sleep, perform wudu (ablution), pray, and remember Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. This is the one for whom it is in their favour and not against them. As for the second category, they remain engaged in disobedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic; this is the one for whom it is against them and not in their favour. As for the third category, they continue sleeping until morning; this is the one for whom it is neither in their favour nor against them."

Abdullah ibn Sinan asked him (Abu Abdullah عليه السلام) about the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration" (Surah Al-Fath 48:29). Imam عليه السلام said: "It refers to staying awake for prayer."

Al-Fudayl ibn Yasar reported from him (Abu Abdullah عليه السلام) who said: "Indeed, the houses in which the Qur'an is recited during the night and where prayer is performed shine for the inhabitants of the heavens just as the stars of the sky shine for the inhabitants of the earth."

Imam عليه السلام said regarding the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds" (Surah Hud 11:114). He عليه السلام explained, "The night prayer of a believer erases the sins committed during the day."

The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Indeed, when Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, intends to afflict the people of the earth with punishment, He says, 'Were it not for those who love one another for My Majesty, who populate My mosques, and who seek forgiveness during the pre-dawn hours, I would surely send down My punishment.'" '"

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Whoever increases their prayers during the night will have a radiant face during the day."

A man came to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام and complained to him about his dire need, exaggerating his complaint until it seemed as though he was on the brink of starvation. Abu Abdullah عليه السلام asked him, "Do you pray at night?" The man replied: "Yes." Abu Abdullah عليه السلام turned to his companions and said: "The one who claims to pray at night but goes hungry during the day is lying. Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, has guaranteed the sustenance of the day for those who perform the night prayer."

Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام said: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, loves one who engages in light-heartedness in a gathering without indecency, one who reflects deeply while alone, one who contemplates lessons from life in solitude, and one who stays awake for prayer."

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, at the time of his death, said to Abu Dharr (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him): "O’ Abu Dharr, uphold the advice of your Prophet, and it will benefit you: Whoever's life concludes with performing the night prayer and then dies will have Paradise."

Jabir ibn Isma'il narrated from Ja'far ibn Muhammad, from his father عليه السلام, that a man asked Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام about praying during the night with recitation. Ali عليه السلام said to him, "Rejoice! Whoever prays a tenth of the night for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى with sincerity, seeking His reward, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, will say to His angels: 'Write for My servant the good deeds equal to every seed, leaf, and tree that grows in the night, and the number of every stalk, frond, and pasture.' Whoever prays a ninth of the night, Allah سبحانه وتعالى grants him ten answered supplications and gives him his book (record) in his right hand. Whoever prays an eighth of the night, Allah سبحانه وتعالى grants him the reward of a patient martyr with sincere intention, and he will intercede for his family. Whoever prays a seventh of the night will rise from his grave on the Day of Resurrection with a face as bright as the full moon and cross the Sirat (bridge) with the secure ones. Whoever prays a sixth of the night is counted among the Awabin (those who frequently turn to Allah سبحانه وتعالى in repentance), and their past sins are forgiven. Whoever prays a fifth of the night will be beside Ibrahim عليه السلام, the Friend of the Merciful, in his dome. Whoever prays a fourth of the night will be among the first to succeed and cross the Sirat like a fierce wind, entering Paradise without reckoning. Whoever prays a third of the night will have all the angels envy his rank with Allah سبحانه وتعالى and be told, 'Enter any of the eight gates of Paradise you wish.' Whoever prays half the night would not find the equivalent of his reward even if given the earth's fill in gold seventy thousand times, and it would be better than freeing seventy slaves from the descendants of Isma'il (Ishmael). Whoever prays two-thirds of the night will have good deeds equivalent to the grains of sand in Alij [a desert area that has a lot of sand], and even the least of them is heavier than Mount Uhud ten times. Whoever prays an entire night reciting the Book of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, bowing, prostrating, and remembering Him will be given such a reward that he emerges from his sins like the day he was born, with good deeds equal to all that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has created and the same in degrees. Light will be established in his grave, envy and sin will be removed from his heart, he will be protected from the punishment of the grave, and he will be granted freedom from the Fire. He will be resurrected among the secure, and Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, will say to His angels: 'Look at My servant who spent his night seeking My pleasure. Make him dwell in Firdaws (the highest part of Paradise), where he will have one hundred thousand cities, each containing all that souls desire and eyes delight in and more, beyond what has ever crossed the heart of anyone, prepared for him as an honor and increase and closeness to Me.'"