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.
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
Optional
Dua Hazeen to be recited after Salaat-ul Tahajjud
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
bismillahir rahmanir raheem
In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, the Merciful
Source Mikyaal al-Makaarem, vol. 2, p. 14/26; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol.87, p. 250.
The evidence is its underlined presence in the supplications from
the infallible Imams (a.s.). These have been mentioned by the
scholars (a.r.) in a number of authentic and reliable books. After
reciting the first two units of the Namaz-e-Shab, one should recite,
This is to be recited in after the fourth unit of the night prayers. Our
Ulama have mentioned in the book, Aadaabo Saalaat al-Lail,
‘Among its manners is that after the fourth unit, in the thanksgiving
prostration, recite a hundred times,