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wa-mina l-layli fa-tahajjad bihī nāfilatan laka ʿasā ʾan yabʿathaka rabbuka maqāman maḥmūdan
And keep vigil for a part of the night, as a supererogatory [devotion] for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Isra’ – Verse 79
79. “And some part of the night keep vigil for it as an additional prayer for you; maybe that your Lord will raise you up to a praised position.”
Pursuing the aforegoing theme of the five-time compulsory daily prayers, the Qur’an adds as follows:
“And some part of the night keep vigil for it…”
The well-known Islamic commentators regard these holy words as allusions made to ‘the supererogation of the night’ when quotations are innumerable as to their virtues, though the holy verse does not explicitly refer to it as such. Nevertheless, considering all the circumstantial evidences which are usually available, this interpretation seems transparent. Then the Qur’an implies that this is an additional program. In addition to the compulsory daily prayers this schedule has also been designated for you.
The verse says:
“…as an additional prayer for you…”
There are many who believe that this sentence provides evidence as to the fact that ‘night prayers’ were required for the Prophet (S) for the Arabic term /Nafilah/ meaning, ‘intensive’, alludes to the fact that this additional obligation is required of the Prophet (S). Others claim that ‘night prayers’ were required to be performed by the Prophet (S) long before this occasion, in reference to the verses of Surah Al-Muzzamil. Later on, the above verse has discarded that obligation, thus making it into a ‘recommended’ act instead of an ‘obligatory’ one.
At any rate, the Qur’an concludes this spiritual and heart-transforming Divine program as: Maybe in the light of this act, the Lord elevates you in rank to the position of the ‘eligible’ and ‘well-praised’ one. The verse continues saying:
“…maybe that your Lord will raise you up to a praised position.”
There is no doubt that such a position is an outstanding one which is praiseworthy, because this Qur’anic term is expressed in absolute case. Probably, this is a reference made to the fact that you are being praised universally from the time immemorial to the end. Islamic quotations, whether those of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (as) as well as those quoted by the Sunni scholars have regarded the ‘eligible’ or ‘praiseworthy’ rank as a position for ‘the Great Intercession’, since the Prophet (S) is the greatest of the intercessors in the Hereafter. Those who merit this intercession will be covered by such an act of the Great Intercession.