AHADEETH ON SALATUL LAYL
Hadith 1
Salatul Layl In the Words of Allah (swt)
Imam as-Sadiq (AS) has said:
"The reward of every good action that a person with true faith performs has been mentioned in the Quran, except for Salatul Layl, since due to the importance (and high status) of it, Allah (SWT) has not explicitly mentioned it and has only said the following (in regards to it):
((Those who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend out of that which We have bestowed upon them.))
Surah as-Sajdah (32:16)
Hadith 2
Purification of the Soul by Salatul Layl
Allah (SWT) in explaining Salatul Layl and those who stay up during the night (doing Ibadaat) has said:
((Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech. Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.)) Surah Muzzammil (73:6-7)
Hadith 3
Salatul Layl and the Nafilah-e-Subh
Allah (SWT) says:
((And in the night, give Him glory too, and at the setting of the stars.)) Surah Tur (52:49)
Hadith 4
The Worship of the Sincere Ones
Allah (SWT) says:
((And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing.))
Surah Furqaan (25:64)
Hadith 5
Explaining the Pious Ones (Muttaqeen)
Allah (SWT) says:
((They used to sleep but little in the night. And in the morning they asked for forgiveness.))
Surah Zariyat (51:17-18)
Hadith 6
Seeking Forgiveness at the Time of Sahr
Allah (SWT) says:
((The patient, and the truthful, and the obedient, and those who spend (benevolently) and those who ask forgiveness in the morning times.))
Surah Ale Imran (3:17)
Hadith 7
Salatul Layl Having Been Waajib (Obligatory) for the Prophet of Allah (SWT)
Allah (SWT) says:
((And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.))
Surah Bani Israeel (17:79)
Hadith 8
Wake up for Salatul Layl
Allah (SWT) says:
(O you who have wrapped up in your garments! Rise to pray in the night except a little.)
Surah Muzzammil (73:1-2)
Hadith 9
Wake up for Salatul Layl
((Rise to pray in the night except a little, Half of it, or lessen it a little, Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.))
Surah Muzzammil (73:2-4)
Hadith 10
Those Who Prostrate
Allah (SWT) says:
((And rely on the Mighty, the Merciful. Who sees you when you stand up. And your turning over and over among those who prostrate themselves before Allah.)) Surah Shuara (26:217-219)
Hadith 11
Describing Those Who Stay Up in the Night
Allah (SWT) says:
"(Can he who passes his night in sajdah (adoration), standing up or on his knees, who dreads the terrors of the life to come and hopes to earn the mercy of his Lord, (be compared to the unbeliever?"
Surah Zumar (39:9)
Hadith 12 Pleasure of Allah (SWT) Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (AS) has said:"The pleasure of Allah (SWT) lies in Salatul-Layl."
Hadith 13
Sign of True Faith in Allah (SWT) and Belief in the Day of Judgement
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir(AS) has said:
"One who has true faith in Allah (SWT) and the last day, will not allow the night to pass into the day without performing Salatul-Witr."
Hadith 14
The Greatness of a Believer
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (AS) has said:
"The greatness of a believer is his Salat in the night and his dignity lies in not asking others for his needs."
Hadith 15
Beauty of the Next Life
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (AS) has said:
"Allah (SWT) - the Noble and the Great has said that the wealth and children are a beautification of this world and surely the 8 Rakat (of Salatul Layl) that a servant performs at the end of the night is a beautification for the next life."
MERITS
By praying Salatul-Layl one’s livelihood is increased, one passes easily through “Sakaraat” (great and grueling pain a dying person suffers at the time of death) and finds happiness in “Barzakh” (the Spiritual world where the departed souls stay either in happiness or misery, until the Day of Resurrection).
Imam Jaffar Sadiq (a.s.) quotes Imam Ali (as) as saying that the Prophet (saww) said that a person who prays Salatul-Layl gets the following twenty four kinds of benefits:
Secures Allah’s pleasure.
Makes friendship with Angels.
Is the Sunnat of the Prophets (a.s.)
Provides the means to pursue knowledge.
Constitutes the root of our faith.
Keeps one physically fit.
Drives Shaytan away.
Protects one from enemies.
Serves as a means of acceptance of one’s Duas and good deeds.
Increases one’s livelihood.
Intercedes with the Angel of Death.
Lights up the grave.
Provides comfortable bedding in the grave.
Helps answering with ease the questioning of Munkar and Nakir in the grave.
Gives companionship in the grave.
Provides shelter on the Day of Judgment.
Crowns one on the Day of Reckoning.
Clothes one on the Day of Resurrection.
Provides one with light on the Day of Judgment.
Forms a barrier against the fire of Hell.
Gets Allah’s pardon on the Day of Judgment.
Increases the weight of good deeds on the scale.
Helps one crossing the Bridge of “Siraat” without any difficulty.
Forms the key to the Paradise.
The first 8 (eight) Rak’ats are prayed as normal (like morning prayer) in pairs of two Rak’ats each with the niyyah of Nawafilatul-Layl.
The next 2 (two) Rak’ats are prayed (like morning prayer) with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Shif’a'
The remaining 1 (one) Rak’at is prayed (as below) with the Niyyah of 'Salatul Witr.' as follows..
After Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram Recite the following surah:-
- Surah Al-Hamd - Once
- Surah Ikhlas (Qul Huwallahu Ahad) - three times
- Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbil Falaq - once
- Surah Qul-Audhubi Rabbin Naas - once
Say Takbir and raise hands for Qunoot and You may recite any Dua or Rabbana or the following:
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab'
Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth
وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab'
And Who is the Sustainer of all the things
وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ
wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna
in them, and between them,
رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim
And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin
And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.
Then, pray for forgiveness of forty [40] people who are either dead or living in the following manner:
...اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name)
O Allah, forgive (Name)…
Continuing with the Qunoot, recite the Istighfar seventy [70] times:
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh
I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him
Still continuing qunoot, recite the following Dua seven [7] times:
هذَا مَقَامُ الْعَآئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Haadhaa Maqaamul 'Aaidhi Bika Minannaar
This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire [of Hell]
Continuing qunoot yet further , recite three hundred [300] times: -
rabbighfirli warhamni wa tub alayya ,innaka antat-tawwabur-rahim
Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me, and turn to me, Surely You are the Oft-returning, the Merciful
Complete the Rukuh and Sujood and end the prayer with Salaam
-Recite Tasbih of Syeda Fatemah Zahra (peace be upon her); 34 times - Allahu Akbar, 33 times - Al-Hamdu Lillah, 33 times - Subhanallah
-Followed by Sajdah of Shukr. (reciting 5 times
سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Subbohon, Qoddoson, Rabbul Mala’ekati Wal-Rooh
All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.
-Next, recite Ayatul Kursi.2:255/6
-Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr reciting 5 times
سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ
Subbohon, Qoddoson, Rabbul Mala’ekati Wal-Rooh
All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.
How to Pray
Optional before Starting
Holy Prophets(saws)Dua reported by Imam Ali(as)
من أراد شيئاً من قيام الليل فإذا أخذ مضجعه فليقل:
اَللّهُمَّ لَا تُؤْمِنِّي مَكْرَكَ وَلَا تُنْسِنِي ذِكْرَكَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ أَقُومُ إنْ شَاءَ اللهُ سَاعَةَ كذا وكذا فإنّ الله (عزّ وجلّ) يوكل ملكاً يقيمه تلك السّاعة
Duas from Imam Sadiq(as) when he stood up for night prayer
O Allah! I ask You by the honour of that person who has sought refuge in You and the refuge of Your Honour rested in the shade of Your Majesty and was familiar with Your ways and had no hopes from anyone else. O the giver of great rewards.O the one to free the indigents,
O the one who has praised Himself with generosity and has named himself "Wahab" (the bestower) and that I call on You, in fear and anxiety in greed and success, in helplessness and freedom, in gains and loses, standing and sitting, in bowing and prostrating, in walking and mounting, coming and going, so much so that in all conditions I ask You to send Your mercy and blessings on Mohammed and his progeny (ask for Your needs over here).
allaahummah denee feeman hadayta wa a’afenee feeman a’afayta wa tawallanee feeman tawallayta wa baarik lee feeman a-a’tayta wa qenee sharra maa qazayta innaka taqzee wa laa yuqzaa a’layka subhaanaka rabbal bayte astaghferoka wa atoobo elayka wa oomeno beka wa atawakkalo a’layka wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa beka yaa raheemo.
O Allah! Guide me as those whom You have guided, and grant me well-being as those whom You have granted well-being, and take care of my affair as those whose affairs You have taken care of and bless me in what You grant me and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed, verily You decree and nothing is decreed upon You. Glory be to You O Lord of the House! I seek forgiveness from You and turn to You, and I seek refuge with You and rely on You, and there is no power or might but by Your will, O Most Merciful!
source al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, p. 487; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 87, p. 205
Qunoot dua 2 in witr
Laa ilaaha illallaahul Halimul Karim
Laa ilaaha illallaahul ‘Aliyyul ‘Azim
Subhaanallaahi Rabbis Samaawaatis Sab'
wa Rabbil ‘Arzinas Sab'
wa maa fihinna wa maa baynahunna
wa Rabbul 'Arshil ‘Azim
Wal Hamdul lillaahi Rabbil 'Aalamin
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great
Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens and of the seven earth
And Who is the Sustainer of all the things in them, and between them,
And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)
And all praise for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds.
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Allah bless Muhammad and his family
There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing the Noble
There is no god but Allah, the High, the Mighty
Glory be to the Rabb of the seven heavens
and the Rabb of the seven earths
and what is in them and what is between them
and what is above them and what is under them
Rabb of the Mighty throne
O Allah , You are Allah,the Light of the heavens and the earth
You are Allah, the Ornament of the heavens and the earth
You are Allah, the Beauty of the heavens and the earth
You are Allah, the Pillar of the heavens and the earth
You are Allah, the Support of the heavens and the earth
You are Allah, the Object of those who call out for help
You are Allah, the Helper of those who seek help
You are Allah, the Reliever of those in distress
You are Allah , the one who gives happiness to the grieved
You are Allah, the one who answers the call of the distressed
You are Allah, God of the worlds
You are Allah, the most merciful
6)Dua to be recited at the end of Qunoot for Saltul witr 4
In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Allah bless Muhammad and his family
My Master, My Master, I have stretched out these hands to You full of sins
and my eyes stretched out with hope
and it is the right of the one who calls You with regret and humility
that You answer him with Generosity and Grace
My master,have You created me from the unfortunate ones
so I should lengthen my weeping?
or have You created me from the fortunate ones
so I should give glad tidings to my hopes?
My master, if a servant was able to escape from his Master
then I would be the first of those who escape from You
but I know that I cannot escape You
My God and my master, have mercy on me when I am lying on my bed
[dead]
and the hands of my loved ones turn me when I am placed on the place
of ghusl and the virtuous near ones wash me
Have mercy on me when I am being carried, and my relatives have
surrounded my coffin
Have mercy on me in that dark house on my fear, my separation, and
my loneliness have mercy on me
In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful.
O Allah! I am a sinner, I have done oppression on my self, and whatever I have done is wrong, now both these hands are presented for punishment, and the neck is bowed down due to my sins and now I have presented myself in Your presence.
So for my sake snatch away the happiness from me, so that You love my actions and then I never repeat such deeds again.
Then recite 300 timesاَلْعَفْوُ 'Al-Afw' (forgive me) then say
- O Allah pardon me, have Mercy on me, accept my repentance, as You are the only one to accept repentance and bestow Mercy.
From Mafatih -Baqiyqtus salehat 6
This is a dua that is said in the Witr Prayer (i.e. the one-unit prayer following the Night Prayer and the Shaf` Prayer). `Allamah al-Majlisi, may Allah have mercy upon him, in Bihar al-Anwar, has quoted it from the book entitled al-Ikhtiyar.The suppliant may raise his hands towards the sky and say:
Invocation in the Thanksgiving Prostration after the fourth unit of the night prayers.
book Aadaabo Saalaat al-Lail mentions‘Among its manners is that after the fourth unit, in the thanksgiving prostration, recite a hundred times.
Optional after every 2 Rakats :
Supplication for his reappearance (may our souls be sacrificed for him) after every two (raka'at) units of the night recommended prayer
Source Mikyaal al-Makaarem, vol. 2, p. 14/26; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol.87, p. 250.
Sheikh Tusi (may Allah elevates his position) said: it is recommended to recite this supplication after every two Raka'at in the night recommended prayer:
O' Allah! I requested from You what was not requested from Your type, You are in the position to answer the needier and extreme desire of those who desired, I call You, the call that was not made to Your type, I desired from You, the desire that was not made to Your type, You answer the call of the compelled ones and the most Merciful of the merciful.
I requested from You the best, the tremendous and most successful issue, O' Allah, O' the Beneficent, O' the Merciful, and by the sake of Your beautiful Names and exaltedness of Yourself and Your uncountable favours and by the Most honoured names to You which You love most and most closer to You, whose rank is more exalted before You and more recompensed before You that hasten the acceptance of request, for the sake of Your great hidden name that is honoured, mighty and more splendid. The name You love which pleases You if You are call with it. Thus You answer the call; it is Your responsibility not to prohibit nor reject those that requested from You.
For the sake of Your name mentioned in Torah, Gospel, Zabur and in the Glorious Qur'an, and for the sake of Your name called by the Angels and the carrier of Your Throne, Your Apostles and the Messengers and those obedient servants among Your creatures, so send Your blessing on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad and to hasten the relief of Your legacy the son of Your legacy and quicken the humiliation of his enemies.
It was said in Mikyaalil Makarim that the following addition was found in Jamaalu Ssaliheen:
And make us among his companion and helper and grant us all our hopes through him and accept our prayers.[2]
Kafa'ami (may Allah have mercy on him) said: it is recommended to rescite this supplication after every two Raka'at in the night recommended prayer.[3]
[1]- Misbaahul Mutahajjid: 139.
[2]- Mikyaalil Makarim 2: 14.
[3]- Al-Misbaah : 75.