The excellence of night prayer (II)

Some practical tips for praying Qiyaam al-Layl 1: Ikhlas (sincerity) – the key to Allaah’s help and blessings Help of Allaah is needed to accomplish and achieve success in all our affairs. And Allaah only helps those who are sincere in their hearts. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “If you are truthful […]

Some practical tips for praying Qiyaam al-Layl
1: Ikhlas (sincerity) – the key to Allaah’s help and blessings
Help of Allaah is needed to accomplish and achieve success in all our affairs. And Allaah only helps those who are sincere in their hearts. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “If you are truthful with Allaah, then Allaah will deliver to you what you wish for.” [An-Nasa’ee, al-Hakim and Saheeh al-Jamee] Therefore, one should have a sincere intention to pray Qiyaam al-Layl; seek the pleasure of Allaah alone and avoid the desire of praise or fame.
Allaah says: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone…” [(98): 5]
2: Taking a nap in the daytime
Taking a nap before or after Dhur Salaat will dismiss the stress and thus enable one to get up in the night and stand in front of his Lord. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Take a nap, for the Shayateen (plural of Shaytan) do not take naps.” [Reported by at-Tabaranee. Al-Saheehah (2647)]
3: Sleeping according to the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger
(a) Sleep early: Sleeping early is a healthy habit and it was the practice of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) to sleep directly after performing the Isha prayer. Abu Barzah al-Aslami (radhi allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to prefer to delay Isha, and he did not like to sleep before it or talk after it.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee]
(b) Sleep in a state of ablution: Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allaah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Purify these bodies and Allaah will purify you, for there is no slave who goes to sleep in a state of purity but an Angel spends the night with him, and every time he turns over, [the Angel] says, ‘O Allaah! Forgive Your slave, for he went to bed in a state of purity.’” [Reported by at-Tabaranee. See Saheeh al-Jamee (3831)]
 (c) Cleaning the bed and lying on the right side. Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported: “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “When any one of you goes to bed, let him clear his bed by hitting it with his garment, for he does not know what may have come onto it. Then let him lie down on his right side…” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]
(d) Reciting the Adhkaar (supplications) mentioned in the Sunnah before sleeping. There are a number of Adhkaar prescribed in the Sunnah before going to bed, amongst them are reciting the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah, reciting Surah al-Falaq and Surah al-Nas and Surah Ikhlas blow in the palms and wipe as much of the body possible, starting from the head, face and then the front of the body doing it three times. [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]
4: Avoid too much food and drink. Too much food or drink is one of the main obstacles that make one lazy and negligent of Qiyaam al-Layl. The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Man fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Aadam to have a few mouthfuls to give him the strength he needs. If he has to fill his stomach, then let him leave one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Majah. Saheeh al-Jamee (5674)]