Al Minah Al `Aliyyah (10)

-10Supplication in the last third of the night.

From among the emphatic Sunnan is to make supplication at the end of the night. Yet, if a person made du’a in the Qunut, that would be enough for him. However, if he did not make du’a in the Qunut, let him make it at that time.  It is the time in which the du’a would be accepted as it is the time in which Allah, the Almighty, descends (in a manner befitting His Majesty).

It has been reported in the two sound collections of Bukhari and Muslim through Abu Hurairah t that the Prophet r said,

“Allah, Our Lord, descends (in a manner befitting His Majesty) to the nearest heaven to us of this universe during the last third of the night and says: ‘Is there anyone to call upon Me so that I shall respond to him (fulfill his prayer). Is there anyone to ask of Me that I may grant his request. Is there anyone to seek My forgiveness so that I shall pardon him (and forgive his sins)’.”[1]

11- It is Sunnah for the Muslim to say,

 “ Glory be to the King and the Holy,” when he finishes his witr thrice. He should raise his voice in the last one.  It was narrated that Ubayy Ibn Ka’b t said: “The Messenger of Allah r used to recite: “Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High.” (Al-A’La: 87) in witr, and in the second rak’ah he would recite: “Say: O you disbelievers! (Al-Kafiroon: 109),” and in the third, “Say: He is Allah, (the) One.” (Al-Ikhlas:112).[2] And “only said the tasleem at the end.” Besides, in the hadith of ‘Abdul Rahman Ibn Abzah , he (the Prophet ) would say – meaning after the tasleem: ‘Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the sovereign, the Most Holy)’ three times.”[3]

12 -  It is recommended for both man and woman

to wake their family members to offer the night prayer and this kind of co-operation to do goodness. What proves this is the hadith narrated by ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), “I used to stretch my legs towards the Qiblah of the Prophet r while he was praying; whenever he prostrated he touched me and when  he was about  to offer witr, he would wake me up to offer it too.”[4]

Besides, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet once woke up and said, “Subhan Allah! How many tribulations have been manifested tonight and how many treasures have been disclosed! Go and wake the dwellers of these apartments (i.e. his wives) for prayer. A well-dressed soul in this world may be naked in the Hereafter.”[5]

In the last ten days of Ramadan, any person performing the night prayer would be greater rewarded. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, “During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet r would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He would also wake up his family.”[6]

13 - It is better for the one who offers the night prayer to be merciful to him/herself, lest he lose his humbleness khushu ’:

If a person feels tired, then they should pray while sitting. Anas t narrated that, “Once the Prophet r entered the Mosque and saw a rope hanging in between its two pillars. He said, ‘What is this rope?’ The people said, ‘This rope is for Zainab who, when she feels tired, holds it (to help her keep standing for the prayer).’ The Prophet said, ‘Do not use it. Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and when you get tired, sit down.’”[7]

If a person feels drowsy, they should take a nap as this will help them regain their energy and then, they can continue praying. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet r said,

 “If one of you feels drowsy while he is praying, then let him rest until his sleepiness is gone. Verily, if one of you is praying while he is drowsy, he does not know if he is asking for forgiveness or abusing himself.”[8]

The same also applies to a person who feels drowsy while reciting the Qur’an at night. It is the Sunnah to sleep so when a person rises they will be more energetic. Abu Hurairah t narrated that Allah’s Messenger r said,

“ If one of you wakes up at night to recite the Qur’an, but found it difficult to recite (due to drowsiness) and he/she cannot not discern their recitation, then it is better for such a person to sleep. ”[9]

14 -  It is Sunnah to make up what was missed out of the night prayer .

Thus, if it was a persons habit to pray witr three rak’ahs altogether and he was unable to offer it due to illness or sleep, he may offer them as four rak’ahs in the daytime. If it was his habit to offer five rak’ahs at night and could not offer them due to the same reason, he may then offer six rak’ahs in the day and so on. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, “If the Prophet r felt sleepy or tired and could not offer the night prayer, he would offer twelve rak’ahs during the day the following day.” [10]

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[1] Al-Bukhari no. 1145, Muslim no. 758.

[2] An-Nasa’i. 1702. 

[3] Ahmad 3/406 no. 15354. An-Nasa’i No.1734.

[4] Al-Bukhari no. 512, Muslim no. 512.

[5] Al-Bukhari no. 115.

[6] Muslim no. 1174.

[7] Al-Bukhari no. 1150, Muslim no. 784.

[8] Al-Bukhari no. 212, Muslim no. 786.

[9] Muslim no. 787.

[10] Muslim no. 746.