Sunnah of the Prophet in Qiyamul Lail... its Quantity, Quality and Timing

Sunnah of the Prophet in Qiyamul Lail...
its Quantity, Quality and Timing

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Praise be to Allah Almighty, peace and blessings be upon our beloved Rasul (Messenger) and his companions and those who followed him.

In line with following the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (peace and blessing be upon him) – Muslims seek to perform the Salat of Taraweeh in Ramadan. They pay special attention in terms of the quantity (i.e. in the number of rak‘ah) and usually pay no heed to the other points in relation to the Sunnah rulings of Taraweeh, Qiyamul Lail or Tahajjud, according to the different namings.

I won’t take long, but just want to mention three points which may help to make clear the methodology with which to deal correctly this issue (the number of rak’ah) in this blessed month of Ramadan as well as afterwards bi idhnillahi ta‘ala.

Point One : The Sunnah of Qiyamul Lail in Terms of Quantity:
The Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – did not pray more than eleven rak‘ahs, not in Ramadan nor in any other month.

It is narrated by ‘A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anha (may Allah be pleased with her) : “Rasulullah (Allah’s Messenger) did not pray more than eleven rak‘ahs, not in Ramadan nor in any other month.” [Muslim (738)]

In another Riwayah (narration) ‘A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anha (may Allah be pleased with her) said : “The Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – used to offer thirteen rak‘ahs of the night prayer and that included the Witr and two rak‘ahs (Sunnah) of the Fajr prayer.” [Al-Bukhari (1140)]

That’s why we notice that many people offer Taraweeh with short Surahs and finish eleven rak’ahs within 15 minutes! Is this truly the Sunnah of Taraweeh to finish it with such speed?!

Point Two : The Sunnah of Qiyamul Lail in Terms of Quality:

The Prophet’s – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – Sunnah in Qiyamul Lail is both in ‘quantity’ and ‘quality’ together and not in quantity only!

We get that Allah – subhanaH – describes His Prophet’s – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – Salat as well as that of the Sahabah saying: “Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Rasul], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or one third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you.” [Al-Muzzammil : 20]

That means if the night consists of 9 hours then almost two thirds of it is nearly 6 hours, half of it is 4.5 hours and one third of it is 3 hours.

Allah – ‘azza wa jalla – said ordering: “O you who wraps himself [in clothing], arise [to pray] the night, except for a little, half of it - or subtract from it a little, or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.” [Al-Muzzammil : 1-4]

It has been narrated by the Mother of the believers ‘A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anha – who said describing the Prophet’s – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – Salat (prayer) : “He observed four rak‘ahs, ask not about their excellence and their length (i.e. these were incomparable in perfection and length); then he again observed four rak‘ahs, and ask not about their excellence and their length (i.e. these were incomparable in perfection and length); then he would observe three rak‘ahs.” [Muslim (738)].

Imam An-Nawawi – rahimahullah – said : “And in this Hadeeth with the other Hadeeths mentioned after it – regarding elongating Qira’at (reciting) and Qiyam (standing) – is the daleel (evidence) of Ash-Shafi‘ee school and others who said : elongating Qiyam is better than doing more Rukoo‘ (bowing) and Sujood (prostrating);

Another group of Scholars said : Increasing the number if Rukoo‘ (bowing) and Sujood (prostrating) is better.

While others stated:
♦ Elongating Qiyam at night is better, and

♦ Increasing the number of Rukoo‘ (bowing) and Sujood (prostrating) at day time is better.

This mas’alah/topic has been discussed in details with its evidences in chapters of ‘Sifat As-Salat’.

[From the Sharh (explanation) of Sahih Muslim, An-Nawawi, 3/18-19]

The Prophet - sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – read Surah Al-Baqarah, An-Nisaa’ and Aal ‘Imran in one rak‘ah! And he used to elongate the Rokoo’ (bowing) nearly the same length of time as his Qiyam, and stood for a long time after Rukoo‘ (bowing) nearly the same length of time as he had spent in Rukoo’ (bowing) and his Sujood (prostration) lasted nearly the same length of time as his Qiyam. [Muslim (772)]

It has been narrated by Hudhaifah – radiyallahu ‘anh – that he said : “I performed Salat with the Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – one night, and he started reciting Surah Al- Baqarah. I thought that he would go in Rukoo‘ (bowing) at the end of one hundred ’ayahs, but he continued (reciting); then I thought that he would perhaps recite in the whole rak‘ah, but he continued (the recitation); I thought he would perhaps make Rukoo‘ (bowing) on completing this (Surah); then he – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – started reciting Surah An-Nisaa’, then he started to recite Al Imran (the whole surah). He recited leisurely.

When he recited an ’ayah which mentioned the Tasbeeh, he made Tasbeeh and when he recited an ’ayah on supplication he made supplication and when he recited an ’ayah on seeking protection from Allah, he sought protection from Allah.

Then he made Rukoo‘ (bowing) and said, “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Adheem” (My Rabb, the Great is free from imperfection); his Rukoo‘ (bowing) lasted about the same length of time as his Qiyam, (and then on returning to the standing posture after Rukoo‘) he said : “Sami‘allahu liman hamidaH (Allah listens to him who praises Him),” and he stood nearly the same length of time as he had spent in Rukoo‘ (bowing).

Then he prostrated saying “Subhana Rabbiyal A‘laa (My Rabb, the Supreme is free from imperfection),” and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his Qiyam.” [Muslim (772)]

His holy feet would have cracks due to his long Qiyam.

‘A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anhaa – reported : “The Prophet of Allah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – used to offer Salat at night (for such a long time) that his feet used to get cracked. ‘A’ishah said, “O Allah's Messenger! Why do you do it since Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?” He said, “Shouldn't I love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?” And when he grew old and put on weight, he prayed sitting, but when he wanted to perform Rukoo‘ (bowing), he would get up, then recite and then perform Rukoo‘ (bowing).” [Al-Bukhari (4557), Muslim (2820)].

Even the Sahabi (Companion) ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood – radiyallahu ‘anh – at one point intended to leave Salat with the Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – due to prolonged Qiyam.

By ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ood – radiyallahu ‘anh – that he said : “(One night) I prayed with Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – (Qiyamul Lail). He prolonged the Qiyam so much that I thought of doing something evil. He said he was asked, “What did you intend to do?” He replied: “I intended to sit down and leave him.” [Muslim (773)]

And Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – gave glad tidings to those who do Qiyam Al-Layl.

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr – radiyallahu ‘anhuma – said that Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – said : “The one who prays at night reciting ten ’ayahs, he will not be recorded among the negligent; and the one who prays at night reciting a hundred ’ayahs, he will be recorded among the Qanitoon (those who are obedient to Allah); and the one who prays at night reciting one thousand ’ayahs, he will be recorded among the Muqantiroon (those who receive huge rewards).” [Abu Dawood (1398), Ibnu Hibban (2572) and Al-Albany (642) classified it Sahih].

So if anyone recites short Surahs in Taraweeh, it’s better for him to increase the number of rak‘ah whether it is 30 or 40 or 50 rak‘ahs, as much as he is able to; and if any recites long Surahs it’s better for him to maintain the number of rak‘ah of the Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – so that the Sunnah in terms of quality is not missed out. This is because the Salat of Taraweeh has no specific number of rak‘ah according to the following hadeeth.

It has been narrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar – radiyallahu ‘anh – said that Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – said : “Night Prayer is two by two, so if one of you fears that dawn will break, then he should pray one rak‘ah to make the total number that he prayed odd (Witr).” [Al-Bukhari (900), Muslim (749)]

‘Umar – radiyallahu ‘anh– gathered the Muslims on this.

It has been narrated by ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Ibn Rafee‘ : “Ubayy Ibn Ka’b used to pray with the people in Ramadan at Madinah by 20 Rak’ahs and used to pray Witr by three rak‘ahs.” [Ibnu Abee Shaibah in ‘Al-Musannaf, 2/163, no. 7684].

Ibnu Qudamah said : “Abu Abdillah’s (i.e. Imam Ahmad’s) chosen opinion (in Ramadan night prayer) is 20 Rak‘ahs, this is also what Ath-Thawry, Abu Hanifah and Ash –Shafi’y said, and Malik said : 36 rak‘ahs.” [Al-Mughnee (1/123)].

Point Three : The Sunnah of Qiyamul Lail in Terms of Timing:

The Qiyamul Lail of the Prophet – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – was not only restricted in Ramadan, but was also his habit during the rest of the days of the year.

As has been reported by Ummul Mum’mineen (Mother of the believers) ‘A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anha : “Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – didn’t pray more than eleven rak’ahs, not in Ramadan nor in any other month.” [Muslim (738)]

Even if the Prophet missed out the Qiyamul Lail, he used to make it up in an even number of rak‘ah during the daytime…

It’s been narrated by A’ishah – radiyallahu ‘anha : “When the Phophet of Allah – sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam – observed prayer, he liked to keep on observing it, and when sleep or pain overpowered him (and made it impossible (for him) to observe Qiyamul Lail,) he prayed twelve rak'ahs during the daytime..” [Muslim (746)].

This is why we should maintain Qiyamul Lail – in terms of quantity, quality and timing – even after Ramadan. If not possible, then we can at least increase the number of rak‘ahs we pray.

This means, if one used to pray 1 rak‘ah of Witr, he will increase it and make it 3; and if one used to pray 3 rak‘ahs of Witr, he will add 2 more rak'ahs and make it 5; and if one used to pray 5 rak‘ahs of Witr, he will make it 7 and so forth. And all of this is in order to be elevated higher from good to better and from better to best..

“[That] you will surely experience state after state.” [Al-Inshiqaq : 19]

It has reported by Al-Husain Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abee Talib : “Indeed Allah – the Most High – loves the noble and honorable of the affairs and dislikes the worthless ones.” [Al-Albany classified it as Sahih in Sahih Al-Jami’ (1890)]

A poet once said:

“I have never seen any imperfection/shortcoming like the able one who doesn’t look for completion”.

It is noteworthy to mention that the continuation of righteous deeds even after Ramadan is an evidence of the acceptance of deeds done in Ramadan...

I ask Allah - subhanaH - that He teaches us what is beneficial and benefits us through what He teaches us and increases our knowledge and Taqwa.

رابط المقال على الألوكة إنجليزي (Alukah In English)

http://en.alukah.net/Shariah/0/8199/