Salatul-Layl consists up of 11 (eleven) Rak’ats
After Niyyah and say Takbiratul Ihram Recite the following surah:-
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.
...اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ل
Allaahummagh Firli… (Name)
O Allah, forgive (Name)…
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullah Rabbi wa Atuubu Ilayh
I seek forgiveness of Allah my Lord and I turn to Him
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]
اَلْعَفْوَ
Al-'Afwa
(I ask for) forgiveness
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ تُبْ عَلَيَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ
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
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:
Then, pray for forgiveness of forty [40] people who are either dead or living in the following manner:
Continuing with the Qunoot, recite the Istighfar seventy [70] times:
Still continuing qunoot, recite the following Dua seven [7] times:
Continuing qunoot yet further , recite three hundred [300] times: -
Finally, the following should be said once:
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
-Followed by Sajdah of Shukr. (reciting 5 times
-Finally, for the second time, perform Sajdah of Shukr reciting 5 times
Dua by Imam Ali Zain al Abideen (peace be upon him) that he recited in the dead of the night
The Imam (peace be upon him) would then prostrate, place his cheek on the ground and say:
وَ لَمْ یَثِقْ اِلاَّ بِکَ یَا مُطْلِقَ الْاُسَارٰی یَامَنْ سَمّٰی
وَ فِیْ کُلِّ حَالاَتِیْ اَسْئَلُکَ اَنْ تُصَلِّیَ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (’’وَاَنْ تَفْعَلْ بِیْ کَذَا وَکَذَا وَ تَذْکُرُ حَاجَتَکَ‘‘)
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).
In Qunoot
In al-Faqeeh: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to seek forgiveness seventy times in the Watr Prayer and then say seven times:
Source al-Faqeeh, vol. 1, p. 489; Tafseer al-Ayyaashi, vol. 1, p. 165 - Surah Aal-e-Imraan (3)
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
Duas recited in Qunoot of Witr
Prophet(saws) | Baqiyatus Salehat |Imam Ali(as) | Imam Zainul Abideen(as)|
1)The "Holy Prophet" used to say in the qunut of the Witr Prayer:
أَللّٰهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَ عَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَ تَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَ بَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَ قِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَ لاَ يُقْضى عَلَيْكَ سُبْحَانَكَ رَبَّ الْبَيْتِ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ وَ أُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَ لاَ حَوْلَ وَ لاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِكَ يَا رَحِيمُ.
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! al-Faqih 1:487, Bihar al-Anwar 87:205
Another Qunoot dua in witr
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
لآ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
وَ رَبِّ الاَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَ
رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
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.
5th Imam Dua in begining of Qunoot Witr
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 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
Prophet(saws) | Baqiyatus Salehat |Imam Ali(as) | Imam Zainul Abideen(as)|
1)The "Holy Prophet" used to say in the qunut of the Witr Prayer:
Another Qunoot dua in witr
5th Imam Dua in begining of Qunoot Witr
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 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
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.
مَا شَاءَ الُ
Then supplicate,
ي اَ رَب ،ّ اَنْ تَ ال ،ُ م اَ شِئْ تَ مِ نْ اَمْرٍ يَکُوْ نُ، فَ صَلّ عَل یٰ مُحَمّدٍ وَ آلِ
مُحَمّدٍ، وَ اجْعَلْ لِىْ فِيْ مَا تَشَاءُ اَنْ تُعَجّلَ فَرَجَ آلِ مُحَمّدٍ صَلّی الُ عَلَيْْهِ
وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلّمَ، وَ عَجّلْ فَرَجِىْ وَ فَرَجَ اِخْوَ انِىْ مَقْرُوْناً بِفَرَجِهِمْ، وَ تَفْعَلَ
بِىْ مَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهُ.
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:
أَللَّهُمَّ إِنّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَلَمْ يُسْأَلْ مِثْلُكَ ، أَنْتَ مَوْضِعُ مَسْأَلَةِ السَّائِلينَ وَمُنْتَهى رَغْبَةِ الرَّاغِبينَ ، أَدْعُوكَ وَلَمْ يُدْعَ مِثْلُكَ ، وَأَرْغَبُ إِلَيْكَ وَلَمْ يُرْغَبْ إِلى مِثْلِكَ ، أَنْتَ مُجيبُ دَعْوَةِ الْمُضْطَرّينَ وَأَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمينَ .
أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَفْضَلِ الْمَسائِلِ وَأَنْجَحِها وَأَعْظَمِها ، يا اَللَّهُ يا رَحْمانُ يا رَحيمُ وَبِأَسْمائِكَ الْحُسْنى ، وَأَمْثالِكَ الْعُلْيا ، وَنِعَمِكَ الَّتي لاتُحْصى ، وَبِأَكْرَمِ أَسْمائِكَ عَلَيْكَ ، وَأَحَبِّها إِلَيْكَ ، وَأَقْرَبِها مِنْكَ وَسيلَةً ، وَأَشْرَفِها عِنْدَكَ مَنْزِلَةً ، وأَجْزَلِها لَدَيْكَ ثَواباً ، وَأَسْرَعِها فِي الْاُمُورِ إِجابَةً ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الْمَكْنُونِ الْأَكْبَرِ الْأَعَزِّ الْأَجَلِّ الْأَعْظَمِ الْأَكْرَمِ ، اَلَّذي تُحِبُّهُ وَتَهْواهُ ، وَتَرْضى بِهِ عَمَّنْ دَعاكَ ، فَاسْتَجَبْتَ لَهُ دُعاءَهُ ، وَحَقٌّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ لاتَحْرِمَ سائِلَكَ وَلاتَرُدَّهُ .
وَبِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ فِي التَّوْراةِ وَالْإِنْجيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْعَظيمِ ، وَبِكُلِّ اسْمٍ دَعاكَ بِهِ حَمَلَةُ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلائِكَتُكَ ، وَأَنْبِياؤُكَ وَرُسُلُكَ ، وَأَهْلُ طاعَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَأَنْ تُعَجِّلَ فَرَجَ وَلِيِّكَ وَابْنِ وَلِيِّكَ ، وَتُعَجِّلَ خِزْيَ أَعْدائِهِ
(then tender your wishes and needs).[1]
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:
وَتَجْعَلَنا مِنْ أَصْحابِهِ وَأَنْصارِهِ ، وَتَرْزُقَنا بِهِ رَجآءَنا ، وَتَسْتَجيبَ بِهِ دُعآءَنا
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.
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:
أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَفْضَلِ الْمَسائِلِ وَأَنْجَحِها وَأَعْظَمِها ، يا اَللَّهُ يا رَحْمانُ يا رَحيمُ وَبِأَسْمائِكَ الْحُسْنى ، وَأَمْثالِكَ الْعُلْيا ، وَنِعَمِكَ الَّتي لاتُحْصى ، وَبِأَكْرَمِ أَسْمائِكَ عَلَيْكَ ، وَأَحَبِّها إِلَيْكَ ، وَأَقْرَبِها مِنْكَ وَسيلَةً ، وَأَشْرَفِها عِنْدَكَ مَنْزِلَةً ، وأَجْزَلِها لَدَيْكَ ثَواباً ، وَأَسْرَعِها فِي الْاُمُورِ إِجابَةً ، وَبِاسْمِكَ الْمَكْنُونِ الْأَكْبَرِ الْأَعَزِّ الْأَجَلِّ الْأَعْظَمِ الْأَكْرَمِ ، اَلَّذي تُحِبُّهُ وَتَهْواهُ ، وَتَرْضى بِهِ عَمَّنْ دَعاكَ ، فَاسْتَجَبْتَ لَهُ دُعاءَهُ ، وَحَقٌّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ لاتَحْرِمَ سائِلَكَ وَلاتَرُدَّهُ .
وَبِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ فِي التَّوْراةِ وَالْإِنْجيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْعَظيمِ ، وَبِكُلِّ اسْمٍ دَعاكَ بِهِ حَمَلَةُ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلائِكَتُكَ ، وَأَنْبِياؤُكَ وَرُسُلُكَ ، وَأَهْلُ طاعَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَأَنْ تُعَجِّلَ فَرَجَ وَلِيِّكَ وَابْنِ وَلِيِّكَ ، وَتُعَجِّلَ خِزْيَ أَعْدائِهِ
(then tender your wishes and needs).[1]
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.
[1]- Misbaahul Mutahajjid: 139.
[2]- Mikyaalil Makarim 2: 14.
[3]- Al-Misbaah : 75.