Why do I perform Optional Night Salah? (Intentions for Optional Night Salah) (2)

11- I stay up for Optional Night Salah to gain the true honor:

Al Hakim reported in his Mustadrak and Al Bayhaqy on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Gabriel came to me and said: O Muhammad, Live as much as you want, for you will die and love whomever you want, for you are going to leave him and do whatever you want, for you are rewarded with it. Let it be known that the honor of a believer is his praying at night, and his glory is his sufficiency from what other people have. [Sahih Al Jami`: 73, As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (831)].

12- I stay up for Optional Night Salah to be firm and to seek help for righteous actions and for reformation of matters:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)! * Stand (to pray) all night, except a little - * Half of it or a little less than that, * Or a little more. And recite the Qur'ân (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. * Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws). * Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allâh)." [Surat Al Muzzammil: 1 - 6].

Al Farra' said: "is very hard " means: More confirming for those who want to worship Allah more. Night is the time when people are free to worship Allah. `Ikrimah said: "and most potent and good for governing oneself" means: More active, sincere, and blessing. Ibn Zayd said: The meaning is: More worthy to ponder over the Qur'an. Others said: More rapid in answering invocations.

13- I stay up for Optional Night Salah to rescue myself of trials whether apparent or hidden:

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) got up and said: "Subhan Allah! (Glory be to Allah) How many afflictions have been descended tonight and how many treasures have been disclosed! Go and wake the sleeping lady occupants of these dwellings (his wives) up (for Salah). A well-dressed (soul) in this world may be naked in the Hereafter."

The Hadith indicates that staying up for Optional Night Salah guards against afflictions.

14- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that I would have a good and active soul:

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep. 'When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart."

* Ibn Majah reported the Hadith with the following wordings: "So, he wakes up energetic and cheerful, he has already earned something good. But if he does not do that, he wakes up lazy and bad-tempered, having earned nothing good."

Ibn Khuzaymah reported the Hadith and added the following phrase at the end of the Hadith: "So, undo the knots of Satan even with two Rak`ahs."

15 - I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that Allah would grant me what I ask for:

Imam Ahmad and Ibn Hibban reported on the authority of `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "When a man from my nation gets up to perform Salah at night, striving against his own self to get up and purify himself while there are knots on him [Knots made be Satan to prevent him from waking up].When he washes his hands in ablution, one knot is undone. When he washes his face, another knot is undone. When he wipes his head another knot is undone. When he washes his feet, another knot is undone. Then Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says to those who are veiled (in the Unseen):Look at this servant of Mine, he is striving against his own self to ask Me. Whatever My Servant asks of Me shall be his." [Sahih Al Targhib: 627].

Imam Muslim reported on the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "There is a special time at night during which whatever a Muslim asks Allah of any good relating to this life or the Hereafter, it will be granted to him; and this moment comes every night."

16- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that Allah would make my face bright on a day when faces will turn white and others will turn black:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Some faces that Day will be bright (true believers of Islâmic Monotheism), * Laughing, rejoicing at good news (of Paradise)." [Surat `Abasa: 38 - 39].

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Bright faces due to Optional Night Salah. It was said to Al Hasan Al Basry (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul): Why are the people who stay up for Optional Night Salah the brightest in faces?

He said: Because they stay alone with the Most Gracious, so He clothes them from His Light.

17- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that my sins and faults are forgiven:

Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Whoever performs Salah at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." We have mentioned that Hadith which At-Tirmidhy and Ibn Khuzaymah reported on the authority of Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Keep up to Optional Night Salah, for it was the usual practice of the righteous people before you, it draws you nearer to your Lord, and it atons your evil deeds and prvents you from sins." [Sahih Al Targhib: 620].

Imam Ahmad, An-Nasa'y, and At-Tirmidhy reported on the authority of Mu`adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): Inform me of an act which will cause me to enter Paradise and keep me far from Hell. He (peace be upon him) replied: You have asked me about a matter of great importance, but it is easy for one for whom Allah makes it easy. He added: Worship Allah, associate nothing with Him in worship, offer As-Salat (the prayer), pay the Zakat, observe Sawm (fasting) during Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House of Allah if you can afford it. He (peace be upon him) further said: Shall I guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a screen (from Hell), charity extinguishes (i.e., removes) the sins as water extinguishes fire, and standing in Salah by a servant of Allah during the last third part of the night. Then he recited: "Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rubb in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." [Surat As-Sajdah: 16 - 17].

Ibn Al Hajj said: One of the benefits of Qiyam is that it erases sins as stormy wind removes dry leaves off trees, enlightens one's grave, brightens one's face, and activates one's body:

18- I stay up for Optional Night Salah to gain good deeds:

At-Tabarany reported from Fadalah ibn `Ubayd and Tamim Ad-Dary (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites ten Ayahs in Qiyam a Qintar [amount of reward] shall be written for him  and Qintar is better than the world and all that in it. When it is the Day of Recompense, your Lord (may He be Glorified and Exalted)will say to that person: Recite and rise a degree for each Ayah until he reaches the last Ayah. Allah (Glory be to Him) says to His Servant: Take a handful. The servant says by his hand: O Lord, You are the most knowledgeable. He says: By this you shall attain immortality and by this you shall attain the bliss." [Sahih At-Targhib: 634].

19- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that I will be rescued from Hell-Fire:

In the story of Ibn `Umar's vision, he said: "I saw in the dream that two angels caught hold of me and took me to the Fire which was built all round like a built well and had two poles in it and the people in it were known to me. I started saying: I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire. Then I met another angel who told me not to be afraid. I narrated the dream to Hafsah who told it to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: `Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed Tahajjud. After that `Abdullah (i.e. Salim's father) used to sleep but a little at night." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

20- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that I would win Paradise:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Truly! The Muttaqûn (the pious) will be amidst Gardens and water-springs (Paradise). * Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinûn (good-doers). * They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allâh) and praying, with fear and hope]. * And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allâh) for forgiveness. * And in their properties there was the right of the Sa'il (the beggar who asks) and the Mahrûm (the poor who does not ask others)." [Surat Az-Zariyat: 15 - 19].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allâh's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. * No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." [Surat As-Sajdah: 16 - 17].

It was reported in Mustadrak Al Hakim on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "It was written in the Torah: Allah prepared for those who whose sides forsake their beds that no eye could have ever seen and that no ear could have ever heard and no person has ever imagined that. No close angel knows it or a sent Prophet. He said: we recite it : "No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." [Surat As-Sajdah: 17].

At-Tirmidhy reported from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

"When the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to Medina with his migration; people rushed to him and exclaimed: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) has come! I also went to see him with the people. When my eyes fell on him, I could not help say. This cannot be the face of a liar. At this juncture, he said for the first time: "O People! Spread Salam (peace), feed the people, maintain the ties of kinship, and offer Salah at night when people are asleep so that you may enter the Paradise peacefully." [Sahih Al Jami`: 7865, Sahih At-Targhib: 610].

21- I stay up for Optional Night Salah so that I would raise my degrees in Paradise:

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And the (faithful) slaves of the Most Gracious (Allâh) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness. * And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing." up to His Saying: "Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect. * Abiding therein - excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to rest in." [Surat Al Furqan: 63 - 76].

Ibn Hibban reported on the authority of Abu Malik Al Ash`ary (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"There are rooms in paradise whose outer can be seen from the inside and whose inside can be seen from the outside. Allah prepared them for those who feed others, spread Salam (peace), and perform Salah at night while people are asleep." [Sahih Al Jami`: 2123].

Finally, the reward of Optional Night Salah cannot be apprehended. Here we know the meaning of the Prophet's Hadith: "Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases. A man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur'an, and so he recites it during the night and during the day; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and so he spends from it during the night and during the day." [Reported by Muslim on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him)].

The meaning of envy here is the praised envy which is wishing goodness for the envied as was reported in the previous Hadith; so it is praised envy