Sukoon Al Layl

There has not been a Prophet or Messenger except that they spent their nights in the worship of the One Who had sent them, and the night prayer has always been a sign of a believer. An Ummah precedes us who would revive their nights with prayer and supplication, who would beseech their Lord at a time when He is closest to them. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radhiallahu `anhu) once said to ‘Umar, ‘O Umar! Verily, Allah has rights by night which He does not accept during the day, and verily Allah has rights by day which He does not accept during the night…’

Truly, the Paradise of the believer in this world lies in his place of prayer…

The night prayer of the Prophets

Fudhayl ibn al-’Iyadh: ‘It used to be said that the characteristics of the Prophets and the righteous, the chosen ones from Mankind whose hearts are pure, are three characteristics: They were forbearing, oft-returning (to Allah), and they all had a portion of Qiyam al-Layl (the night prayer).’

Musa `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘I passed by Musa – `alayhisalam – on the night of my Ascension while he was in his grave praying.’ 1

‘Isa `alayhisalam: ‘Verily the night and the day are two stores so look to what you do in them.’ Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiallahu `anhu) said regarding Prophet ‘Isa, ‘Wherever the night caught up with him, he would straighten his feet and stand in prayer until the morning.’ 2

Dawud `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Dawud was the most devout worshipper from Mankind.’ 3

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The most beloved of prayers to Allah is the prayer of Dawud and the most beloved of fasts to Allah is the fast of Dawud. He used to sleep half of the night, stand up in prayer for a third of it and sleep a sixth of it, and he used to fast on alternate days.’ 4

Sulayman `alayhisalam: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The mother of Sulayman ibn Dawud said to Sulayman ‘O my son, do not sleep a lot at night because indeed, sleeping too much at night will leave a man in poverty on the Day of Judgment.’ 5

The night prayer of the righteous

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam): ‘Upon you is to observe the night prayer for it is the way of the righteous that came before you…’

Whenever Mu’adh ibn al-Jabal rose to pray at night, he would call out, ‘O Allah, indeed the eyes of people are asleep and the stars have receded but You are the Ever Living and Eternal. O Allah, my way to Paradise is slow and my fleeing from Hellfire is weak. O Allah, grant me Guidance from You which you return to me on the Day of Judgment, truly You do not fail in Your Promise.’ 6

Abul-’Aliyah: ‘We used to consider it a big sin that a man learns Qur’an then he sleeps without reciting some of it (in prayer).’ 7

Al-Hasan al-Basri: ‘If a slave falls asleep in prostration (out of tiredness), Allah boasts about him to the Angels saying, ‘Look at My slave, he worships Me whilst his soul is with Me and he is in prostration.’ 8

He (rahimahullah) also said: ‘By Allah, I have accompanied a people who spent these dark nights prostrating and standing up in prayer to their Lord. Their tears would flow down their cheeks, one time they’d be bowing and another time they are in prostration. They beseech and implore their Lord to free their necks (from the Hellfire) and the long night did not bore them because of the hope in their hearts for the Day of Return. May Allah have mercy upon a person who competes with them in these deeds and who is not content with falling short… truly the world has cut off its inhabitants and the deeds of a people are only returned to them.’ 9

It was once said to Yunus ibn ‘Ubayd, ‘Have you ever seen anyone perform like the deeds of Al-Hasan al-Basri?’ He said, ‘By Allah, I have not seen anyone who even speaks like him so how can I see anyone do like his deeds?! His words of admonition used to make the hearts weep while the admonition of other people doesn’t even make the eyes weep.’ 10

Al-Rabi’ ibn Khuthaym: He bought a horse for thirty thousand and used it to partake in battles. One day he sent his servant Yasar (on an errand) and tied his horse. When the servant returned he said, ‘O Rabi! Where is your horse?’ He said, ‘It has been stolen, O Yasar.’ He said, ‘While you were looking?!’ He said, ‘Yes, O Yasar. But I was beseeching my Lord `azza wa jall and there is nothing to busy me from beseeching my Lord.’ Then he made du’a for the thief saying, ‘O Allah, he stole from me and it was not I who stole from him. O Allah, if he is wealthy, then guide him and if he is poor then give him wealth.’ 11

Al-Hasan al-Banna: ‘The minutes of the night are expensive so do not render them cheap by heedlessness.’

One of the Salaf used to say: ‘For 40 years, nothing has upset me as much as the rise of dawn.’ (i.e. marking the end of tahajjud)

‘Amr ibn al-Aswad used to have an expensive garment of 200 dirhams which he wore exclusively for the night prayer. 12

Imam Hamza ibn Habib (one the 7 Qurraa): Muhammad ibn al-Fudhayl said about him, ‘I don’t consider that Allah keeps punishment away from the people of Kufa except by (the virtues of) Hamza. He used to read the Qur’an until the people departed, then he would pray four units, then he would pray between al-Dhuhr and al-’Asr, and between al-Maghrib and al-’Isha. One of his neighbours said that he never used to sleep at night and that they would often hear him recite the Qur’an melodiously.’ Hamza himself used to say, ‘I would look into the mushaf (copy of Qur’an) until I feared losing my sight!’ 13

Abu Ja’far (also one of the Qurra): Nafi’ (rahimahullah) said. ‘When Abu Ja’far was being washed (for his funeral), they saw that between his neck and heart was a script like that of the mushaf. No one from among those present doubted that this was the light of the Qur’an.’ 14

‘Abdullah ibn Ghalib al-Hadani: ‘When the enemy approached (in battle), he said ‘What can sadden me in this world? By Allah, there is no happiness in it for the wise one and by Allah, were it not for my love of meeting the night in prostration and lying my forehead down for You O’ Master, in-between movement of limbs and joints (i.e. praying), in the depth of the nights all in hope of Your reward and Pleasure, were it not for this, I would have hoped to leave this world and its people.’ Then he broke the scabbard of his sword and went forth to fight until he was killed. When he was buried, they found the fragrance of musk at his grave and the people began to take the dust of his grave as if it were musk.

A man once saw him in a dream and said, ‘O Abu Faras, what have you done?’ He said, ‘The best of deeds.’ He asked, ‘Where have you gone?’ He said, ‘To Paradise,’ He said, ‘With what?’ He said, ‘By having conviction (yaqin) and standing for long periods in Tahajjud (night prayer) and bearing thirst in the midday heat (i.e. fasting).’ He said, ‘And what is this sweet fragrance at your grave?’ He said, ‘That is the fragrance of recitation and thirst.’ He said, ‘Advise me.’ He said, ‘Seize goodness for yourself; do not allow the nights and days to pass you by empty, for indeed I have seen that the righteous ones attain piety with piety.’ 15

Qatadah: ‘A hypocrite does not remain vigil at night (in prayer).’ 16

Abu Salman al-Darani: ‘If it wasn’t for the Night prayer, I wouldn’t have liked to remain in this world.’

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Our Lord descends during the last third of each night to the lower heaven, and says: ‘Is there anyone who calls on Me that I may respond to him? Is there anyone who asks Me that I may give unto him? Is there anyone who requests My Forgiveness that I may forgive him?” 17

Rabi’a al-’Abidah: When questioned by her husband as to why she gets up to pray at night, she simply said, ‘I only rise up when I am called.’ 18

And ‘Utbah would be found walking along the seashore at night saying, ‘O Allah, if You punish me, then I do love You and if You have mercy upon me, then still I love You.’ 19

Hadith Qudsi: ‘O My Slaves, it is only your deeds which I record for you, then I shall reward you for them…’ 20

References

1] Sahih Muslim, Ahmad and al-Nasa’i
2] Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah (2/16)
3] Sahih Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim
4] Sahih al-Bukhari
5] Reported by Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi (chain contains al-Fadhl ibn ‘Isa who is weak)
6] Hilyat al-Awliya, by Abu Nu’aym
7] Al-Zuhd, by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
8] Al-Zuhd
9] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Al-Marwazi
10] Tanbih al-Mughtarin, by Al-Sha’rani
11] Al-Zuhd
12] Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, by Ibn Kathir (8/26)
13] Ma’rifat al-Qurraa al-Kibar
14] Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, by Imam al-Dhahabi
15] Mukhtasar Qiyam al-Layl, by Imam al-Samarqandi
[16] Hilyat al-Awliya’, by Abu Nu’aym
[17] Sifat al-Safwah, by Ibn al-Qayyim
[18] Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim
[19] Sifat al-Safwah
[20] Sahih Muslim

Source

Whispers of the night

By Sheikh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq

I pounded on the door of mecy as the world slept
and humbling myself before my Creator I wept

Hands raised high and head bowed I knelt
and dejectedly began to lament what I felt

With a torn heart I gave a tongue to my woes and fears
and in great anguish and sorrow I let flow my tears

with a poignant emotions raging in me so fierce
I hoped that my prayers would the heavens pierce

Oh Maker of my destiny, Master of my fate I cried
Thou art the only refuge and succor for one so tried

'Tis before Thee alone that I bemoan
Sufferings of mine only to thee known

Pains and torments that I can no longer bear
Hopes and wishes I can entrust only to Thy care

For 'Tis only the ocean of Thine infinite bounty that sustains all
and only Thy Forgiveness that restores those who fall

'Tis to thee alone Oh benevolent that I extend my hands in plea
To whom besides Thee can this wretched soul flee

Forgive my sins and grant me my desires Oh Almighty
Reject me not, for nothing can redeem me save me Thy Mercy

The Night: Sufyan Ath-Thawri's favourite time

During the day, Imam Sufyan was preoccupied in a myriad of ways. He sought out knowledge, he imparted knowledge to others, he worked in order to earn a living, and so on. Most of his day time activities had one thing in common: he was around other people. In this regard , night time was different: no human eye could see him, and he could therefore concentrate with all his mind and heart on worship.

Imam Sufyan longed for and loved the solitude of the night, and he especially loved to wait for that part of the night when Allah Subu'haanahu wat'ala desends to the lowest heaven and asks, " Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness? Is there anyone who is repenting? Is there anyone who is asking (Me for something)? Is there anyone who is supplicating (to Me)?"

Abu Yazeed Al-Ma'na said," In the morning, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would extend his legs to the wall and place his head on the ground, so that he could regain blood circulation after having spent the night standing and praying. " Yazeed ibn Thubah related that sufyan once said to him, "Iam overjoyed with coming of the night only because I can relax and know that no human eye is watching me (and I can therefore be at peace while I worship Allah.)

While a group of people were gathered together, Fudail came, stood over Sufyan's head and recited this Verse

" Say: In the bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e.,Islam and the Qur'an); -That is better than what (the wealth) they amass.(Qur'an 10:58)

"Say (O Muhammad) : He is Allah, (the) One." ( Qur'an 112:1)

Sufyaan said, "O Abu 'Alee (i.e Fudail), by Allah, we will never be able to rejoice until we take the cure of the Qur'an and place it over the disease of our hearts."

Sufyaan advised young people not to waste the time of their youth, but to spend it usefully by worshiping Allah. Muhammad ibn Yousuf said, "Sufyaan Ath-Thawri would make us stand up (to pray at night , and he would say, 'Stand up, O young people, and continue to pray throughout the years of your youth (so that you will have become accustomed to worship in your old age)."

Furthemore, sufyaan advised others on how to gain the physical strength they needed to sleep less so that they could work during the day and pray during the night. 'Uthmaan ibn Zaaidah reported that Sufyaan Ath-thawri wrote him a letter that continued this message: "If you want to maintain a healthy body, and if you want to sleep only a little, then eat only a little." Imam Sufyan followed his own advice, eating only enough to help him keep his strength, no more and no less. If someone came and asked sufyan for food, he would give him a share of his own food and keep just enough to keep his body strong enough to worship.

Source: The biography of Sufyan Ath-Thawri compiled by Salaahud-Deen ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abdul-Maujood/Translated by Faisal ibn Muhammad shafeeq.

Beautiful quotes regarding night prayer (Tahajjud)

Al-Tirmidhi (1984) narrated that ‘Ali said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there are apartments the outside of which can be seen from the inside and the inside of which can be seen from the outside.” A Bedouin stood up and said: “Who are they for, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “They are for those who speak good words, feed others, fast regularly and pray to Allaah at night when people are sleeping.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

Al-Haakim narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad, live as long as you want, for you will die. Love whomever you want, for you will leave him. Do whatever you want for you will be requited for it. Remember that the believer’s honour is his praying at night, and his pride is his being independent of people.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 73.

A man asked Tameem ibn Aws al-Daari (may Allaah be pleased with him), ‘How do you pray at night?’ He got very angry and said, ‘By Allaah, one rak’ah that I pray in secret in the small hours of the night is more beloved to me than praying the whole night long and then telling people about it.

Ayyoob al-Sakhtiyaani used to spend the entire night in prayer, then when dawn approached, he would go back to bed and lie down, and when dawn came, he would raise his voice as if he had just woken up.

Yahyaa ibn Mu’aadh said: “The medicine of the heart is five things: reading Qur’aan and pondering the meaning, having an empty stomach, praying at night (qiyaam al-layl), beseeching Allaah at the time of suhoor, and keeping company with righteous people.”

Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said: “There is nothing left of the joys of this life except three: qiyaam al-layl, meeting one’s brothers in faith, and praying in congregation.”

Thaabit al-Banaani said: “There is nothing I enjoy more than qiyaam al-layl.”

Yazeed al-Riqaashi said: “A lot of tahajjud brings delight to the worshippers, and a lot of thirst (i.e., fasting), brings joy when they meet Allaah.”

Mukhallad ibn Husayn said: “I never woke up at night except I saw Ibraaheem ibn Adham remembering Allaah and praying, and this made me depressed, so I consoled myself with this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘…That is the Grace of Allaahm which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty’ [al-Hadeed 54:21].”

Abu ‘Aasim al-Nabeel said: “Abu Haneefah used to be called al-Watad (pole or pillar) because he prayed so much.”

Al-Qaasim ibn Ma’een said: “Abu Haneefah spent an entire night in qiyaam reciting this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter’ [al-Qamar 54:46], repeating it and weeping, beseeching Allaah until morning came.”

Ibraaheem ibn Shammaas said: “I used to see Ahmad ibn Hanbal staying up at night to pray when he was a young man.”

Abu Bakr al-Marwadhi said: “I was with Imaam Ahmad for nearly four months in the army, and he never stopped praying qiyaam at night or reading Qur’aan during the day, and I never knew when he completed the Qur’aan, because he kept that secret.”

Imaam al-Bukhaari used to pray qiyaam and tahajjud at night until the time of suhoor, and he would read between a half and a third of the Qur’aan, and complete it at suhoor every third night.

Al-‘Allaamah Ibn ‘Abd al-Haadi said, describing the qiyaam of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah: “At night he would keep away from people, and spend that time only with his Lord, beseeching Him continually and reciting Qur’aan, repeating different kinds of acts of worship by night and by day. When he began to pray, his body would start to tremble, leaning to the left and right.”

Ibn Rajab said concerning his shaykh Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim: “He was a man of worship, tahajjud and lengthy prayers. I have never seen his equal in worship and knowledge of the Qur’aan, hadeeth and principles of faith.”

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said, describing his shaykh al-Haafiz al-‘Iraaqi: “I stayed with him, and I never saw him forsake qiyaam al-layl: it was like a habit for him.”