Night prayers or usually called tahajjud is a prayer performed besides the obligatory prayers. It is one of sunnahs and usually performed at night. The exact time to perform this prayer is between the isha time and fajr time. The tahajjud is voluntary, it is not obligated yet persuaded. Our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) encouraged his people to regularly perform tahajjud as it is the best prayer after the obligatory ones (see also importance of subh prayers). Our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) once said:
“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)
To perform tahajjud prayer, we need to go to sleep first and have intention to wake up in the middle of the night. We can use our alarm to help us waking up at night. We can perform it after completing isha prayer either in the early part of the night, the middle part of the night, or the later part of the night. There’s no specific number of rak’ahs, but usually performed in two rak’ahs and followed by two rak’ahs after that, and so on. It is based on the hadith below:
“It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats.” (Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud)
Realizing the importance of tahajjud for Muslims, now we are going to find out some benefits of night prayers for us. Let’s pintpoint one by one!
Indeed, the best time for intimate contemplation with Allah is the time of doing tahajjud. What makes it the best time is because mostly the life business is often absent at night.You may want to read about How to Pray Salatul Layl
Besides that, mostly people around us are asleep so that we can be more certain and honest in doing our praying. We can tell anything to Allah and ask for the closure of our life problems.
“o! The night vigil is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain. Lo! You have by day a chain of business. So remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself with a complete devotion.” (Qur’an, 73: 6-7)
2. The Same Virtue as Charity
Our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) once said that doing night prayers will be rewarded by Allah with virtue as the same as the open charity over open charity. It is told in the hadith below:
“The virtues of night prayer over day prayer is like the virtue of secret charity over open charity.” [Tabarani]
3. The Way to Get Our Sins Forgiven
Allah describes the true believers as those who seek forgiveness from him at night during tahajjud prayers. The frequent of night prayers of ours defines our devotion as Muslims. Allah told us in the ayah below:
“… and, in the hours of dawn, they seek forgiveness from their lord…” ( Qur’an, 51:18 )
4. The Way to Get Allah’s Paradise
Another benefits of night prayer is the easy access it provides to reach Allah’s paradise. Performing night prayers include tremendous attempt, therefore Allah guarantee those who seek for tahajjud regularly the Paradise. You may want to read about Seven Heavens in Islam
It is told by our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) in the hadith below:
“O people, spread Salam (greeting of peace), give food, maintain kin relationships, and pray at night while people are asleep. With this, you shall enter Heaven in peace.” (Ibn Majah)
5. The Protection from Satans
The Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) once told that night prayers can be our best protection from satans, that it help us getting rid of their temptation and desires. It is told in the hadith narrated by Uqba ibn Amir (R.A):
“When one, out of two persons of my Ummah gets up at night and motivates himself for Wudhu despite not feeling to do so since, Shaytaan had tied knots on him. When he washes his two hands in Wudhu, one knot is loosened, when he washes his face, another knot is loosened when he wipes his head with wet hands another knot is loosened, when he washes his feet yet another knot is loosened. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says to those behind the veil- His angels: “Look at My slaves! How much hardship he is enduring in dealing with his Nafs (inner self), so now whatever this slave asks of Me, it will be granted to him.” (Ahmad)
[AdSense-B]
6. The Doors for Mercy
Night prayers can be the doors for mercy for all Muslim. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah may be upon him) said:
“The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (Al- Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
7. The Implementation of Sunnah
Following the sunnah of our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) is a great deed to do. One of the sunnah persuaded by our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) is to comple night prayer. You may want to read about Types of Sunnah Prayer in Islam
The habit of completing night prayers once tld by A’ishah, the Prophet’s wife (may Allah be pleased with her):
When the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) prayed (the optional night prayers: Qiyam-ul-layl), he would stand until (the skin of) his feet swelled. So, I said:
“O Prophet of Allah, do you do as such while Allah has forgiven you all mistakes?”
He responded: “Should not I be a grateful servant of Allah?” (Muslim)
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8. The Reflection of Devotion
We need to reflect our devotion as Muslims. It is what distinguishes as with those unbelievers. The easiest way to reflect our devotion besides committing obligatory prayers, fasting during ramadhan, and doing charity is by completing night prayers. The night prayers are beneficial for our hereafter and guarantee with mercy. Allah has told us in the ayah below:
“ Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding .” (Qur’an, 39:9)
9. The Way to Get Allah’s Reward
Allah loves those who wake up at night for His mercy, supplication, and forgiveness. There’s none we can count on to for refugee except Allah. Allah has promised to accompany us no matter what happens. Then, you may want to read about Right Ways How to be Closer to Allah SWT
It is indeed told in the ayah below:
‘They forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid from them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Qur’an, 32: 16-17)
10. The Best Deed
The best prayers after obligatory prayers are the night prayers. Seeing so many benefits of tahajjud, our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) never ceased to persuade us more to start completing tahajjud prayers. Read more about Importance of Good Manner in Islam
Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) said:
“The best month for observing fasting after Ramadan is Allah’s month of Muharram, and the best Salah after the prescribed Salah is Salah at night.” (Muslim)
[AdSense-C]
11. The Habit of The Righteous
Islam as the complete way of life occurs its people to be righteous as it is actually a part of faith. Being righteous will be rewarded the same amount of virtue as other obvious voluntary act of worships. There are some things we can do to be righteous, one of them is by completing night prayers. Completing night prayers is beneficial to us as it removes our sins and help us from committing sins. Our Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah may be upon him) once told:
“Be keen on night prayer as it is the habit of the righteous, it’s your mean of proximity to your Lord, expiation of sins and a barrier against sinning.” (Al-Albani)
Besides those points mentioned above regarding to benefits of night prayers, there are also some miraculous benefits of night prayers we need to know:
see also: how women should behave in islam
So, what are you waiting for? After knowing all those 25 benefits of night prayers, we, as Muslim, will start to regularly do tahajjud to maintain our good deeds, and of course to gain prosperity from Allah as our Greatest Creator. May eventually we will always be blessed with overflowing love and mercy!
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