Worship at night [25:64]

Continuing with our series of drawing a portrait of the Ibad ur Rahman [the Servants of the All Compassionate], verse 64 of Chapter 25, Sura Furqan says: 

 

And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing. [25:64]

So the third quality mentioned of the Ibad ur Rahman is that In the pursuit of spiritual elevation and perfection of servitude to the All Compassionate they are drawn to the tranquility of the night, seeking solace in the worship of their Creator. 

The act of waking in the depths of the night, when the world is cloaked in darkness and asleep, while worldly distractions fade away, is a testament to their sincerity. It's a time devoid of pretense, where believers immerse themselves in heartfelt supplication and connection with the Divine. The Ibad ur Rahman deprive themselves of pleasant sleep at this time and turn to what is of greater value. They understand the significance of these moments, drawing energy and peace from their intimate communion with Allah.

The significance of the late-night prayer, or Salat al-Layl, resonates throughout the Quran and Prophetic narrations [hadith]. It is described as a means of acquiring inner strength and of seeking forgiveness. The Holy Prophet Muhammad [saw] made it a regular part of his nightly rituals.

Scholars explain that the Late-Night Prayer, or the Salāt al-Layl/Namāz-i Shab/Tahajjud prayer, has a tremendous influence on the spirit. 

 

As we may have experienced, taking time out for prayers in the middle of the day is challenging as so many thoughts and affairs occupy our mind. The world is still spinning and many things vie for our attention. While we continue to pray of course, we may find it challenging to have that peace of heart and stillness so necessary for strong connection during salaat. But at night the demands of the material world are quiet for a while and we can focus on attuning ourselves with the Creator.

 

This is why those who are serious about spirituality make the most of the last part of the night. They turn to God while the world sleeps, thereby enlivening their hearts, strengthening their will, and perfecting their sincerity through worship at this special time.

Of course, this effort is richly rewarded by the All Generous. 

In one narration, the Holy Prophet [saw] explains: 

Verily when a servant withdraws to be alone with his Master in the middle of the dark night and intimately converses with Him, Allah places divine light into his heart…then He, Exalted be His Splendor, says to His angels, ‘O My angels, look at My servant how he seeks solitude to be with Me in the middle of the dark night while the worthless ones remain heedless and the negligent ones sleep. Witness that verily I have forgiven him (Āmālī of al-Sadūq, p. 230, h.9). 

 

In another narration, Imam Jaffar Sadiq [as] suggests that the impact of the night prayer spreads across our homes and surroundings as well:

“Verily the homes in which night prayer is performed its light illuminates before the inhabitants of the heaven as stars glow for the people of the earth.” (Bihār ul-‘Anwār, Vol. 87, P. 161)

 

In another narration, the Holy Prophet [saw] said: Three things bring happiness to the heart of a believer: a) Meeting brethren in faith  b) Breaking the fast  c) Waking up in the later part of the night [for Salatul Layl]. 

 

We are blessed that in the month of Ramadan, we have the opportunity to taste all these joys. If we are struggling to make Salaatul Layl into a regular habit, this month is the perfect opportunity to build this habit. Scholars explain that if we are not able or ready to make the entire 11 units of prayer into a habit, we can wake up just a little bit earlier for fajr and pray the last three units on a regular basis. 

 

Let us close by reminding ourselves of another promise of God reserved for those who are regular in their Tahajjud prayers: 

And during a part of the night, say the night prayer beyond what is incumbent on you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy position.
[Sura al-Israa, 17:79]

 

And also remind ourselves of that the doors of His Mercy and blessings are specially open for us at this time. In a beautiful Du‘ā recommended by Imam al-Sajjād (a) for recitation before beginning Salātul Layl, we say: 

My God, the stars of Your sky have descended and the eyes of Your people are sleeping and the voices of Your servants and Your animals have become silent, and the kings have locked their doors and its guards are moving around it, and they are guarded from he who wishes to ask them for a need or to get a benefit from them. But You my God, are Ever Living, Subsistent, slumber or sleep does not overtake you