Easy Qiyamullayl: 7 Misconceptions About Qiyamullayl

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Posted By: Baba Salam 21/08/2023

Outline

In the Name of Allah, The Merciful, The Beneficent

Introduction

Alhamdulillah… infinite thanks and praise are due to the Almighty Allah. Complete peace and blessings are upon the best of performers of Qiyamullayl, Sayyiduna Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path.

This article is the text version of the video embedded below. Both video and article supplement the previous two videos and articles. Thus, they both serve as Part 3 of the previous two.

In Part One, we covered nine reasons you should start your Qiyamullayl right away or take it more seriously and be consistent with it. Part Two came with eight practices that enhance your Qiyamullayl habit, by the will of Allah. Today, Part Three comes to highlight seven misconceptions related to Qiyamullayl..

So, what’s the first misconception…

#1: Qiyamullayl Must Have One Primary Motive

We agree, that it takes the strength of mountain lifters to wake up for Qiyamullayl. Therefore, the primary motive for such hard work must be clean and pure.

And that primary motive can only be Allah subḥānahū wa ta’ālā.

Therefore, one shouldn’t, by any means do Qiyamullayl to fulfil a fortune-tellers instructions. It’s going to be such a waste for the Muslim to have that opportunity when it’s only him and his Creator, yet he wastes it, by inserting a third party.

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ

“They were not commanded, except that they worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, to be sincere in their faith, to pray regularly; and to give alms, for that is the right religion.”(Surah al-Bayyinah, 98:5)

The point here is make Allah the one and only motive, for which we wake up at night for Qiyamullayl.

So, it should be clear, that spiritual practices or rituals that are done in response to advice and instructions from fortune tellers are not Qiyamullayl. Even if they are done in the middle of the night… They’re simply fulfilling fortune-tellers' instructions.

It’s not a secret that even grave worshippers intensify their rituals at night. And armed robbers make their best break-ins at night.

Once again, Qiyamullayl is one of the few opportunities for the Muslim to keep the relationship between him and his Creator clean and pure.

#2: Qiyamullayl: Tahajjud vs Sala al-Tawbah and Sala al-Hajah

In Part One of this Qiyamullayl series, we mentioned that, there’s a difference between someone waking up for Qiyamullayl because he has a problem, and another waking up anyways, regardless of his condition. The former is likely to stop when his problems are solved, and the latter will likely continue do it, whether he’s in good times and otherwise.

A point to be clear about here is that, there’s nothing wrong for anyone to turn to Allah only when he has problem. In fact, that shows he’s a true believer. Simply because others turn to fortune tellers, graves or crime.

The same thing is applicable here. There’s nothing wrong for one to perform Ṣalāh al-Tawbah and Ṣalāh al-Hajah during your Qiyamullayl. However, the best form of Qiyamullayl is to simply pray… yes, pray… pray for the intention of Qiyamullayl (if you’re doing it before going to sleep) or for the intention of Tahajjud (if you’re sleeping first, and then waking up for the prayers).

Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam would pray maximum 11 raka’ahs in his Qiaymullayl. So, if you don’t have enough time, you can do as little as one single raka‘ah, and that will be considered Qiyamullayl.

The reason behind preferring simply praying  Qiyam or tahajjud over any other forms of prayers  is that Qiyamullayl can only be done at night. Whereby other prayers, think of Ḥājah or Tawbah, are prayers you can perform during the daytime.

Also, when you spend that time praying tawbah, you’re limiting your rewards, in a situation where Allah simply wants to shower you with HIs mercy, bounty and generosity. Similarly, when you spend that time praying Ḥājah, you’re limiting your rewards, in a situation where Allah simply wants to shower you with HIs mercy, bounty and generosity. After all, that big thing, for which you’re “dying” may not be in your best interest, if it’s given to you.

So, let’s learn to ask Allah for His bounties and favours, and we will never regret. Check my articles on etiquette of du’a which which come it two parts for more. Click here for Part 1, and here for Part 2.

#3: Qiyamullayl Doesn’t Have to Be Long

It’s inspiring, when we read or hear, that Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam would read long chapters in his night prayers. He, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam did that and was consistent. As for us, I’m afraid, we don’t have his consistency. Do we?

And because we don’t have his stamina and consistency, he taught us to be consistent in any form of ‘Ibadah even if it’s with less performance, unless it’s otherwise prescribed.

In the Hadith reported by Imam al-Bukhari (6465) from the narration of Sayyidah ‘Aishah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhā, the Messenger of Allah, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam was asked:

أيُّ الأعْمَالِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟

“What deeds are most beloved to Allah?”

He said,

أدْوَمُهَا وإنْ قَلَّ

“The most consistent of deeds even though they may be few.”

He then added, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam:

اكْلَفُوا مِنَ الأعْمَالِ ما تُطِيقُونَ.ـ

“Take upon yourselves, the deeds which are within your ability.”

In a nutshell, yes, Qiyamullayl can be performed long. However, performing it long is not a condition. That’s why in Part Two, I suggested, that when one is yet to develop the habit for Qiyamullayl, he should start less, and increase gradually. Check Part Two video below..

 

#4: Can One Read from the Qur’an

The question is, “Can we actually hold the Qurʾan in Ṣālāh?” And the answer is simply ‘Yes!’

Holding the Qurʾan in prayers means either reading from it, in the case of Imāms, or following the Imām as and when he ready, by looking, in the case of congregants. We can read from the Qur’an in our prayers. This is whether we are the Imām for a congregation, or we are praying alone.

Sayyidah ʿĀishah, raḍiya Allāhu ʿanha, used to ask her servant, Dhakwān, raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu, to lead her in Nafl (supererogatory) prayers, in which he would read from the Qur’an, so to be able to pray (read) for longer period… more on that in this article “How to Make Utmost Use of Our Tarāwīḥ.”

At the mention of a personal Qur’an, your Qur’an may be a physical copy, or an electronic one. However, in all honesty, I’ll recommend getting a portable physical Qur’an over electronic one. However, if your best choice happens to be electronic, then please remember to put your phone on Aeroplane mode, to avoid been interrupted by notifications from social media. For more on that, you may want to check my article, titled “Smartphones in Tarawih Increase Our Anxiety When Our Anxiety is Supposed to be Healed with Prayers.”

#5: Qiyamullayl on the Bed

Can we do Qiyamullayl just by simply reciting du’a without the need pray?

Well, in the ḥadīth, reported by Abū Dāwūd from the narration of ‘Ubādah ibn al-Ṣāmit, the Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam promised forgiveness for the one who wakes up at night and says a certain dhikr.

However, he didn’t stop there, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. What did he say? He said:

‏مَنْ تَعَارَّ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ‏.‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي‏.‏ أَوْ دَعَا اسْتُجِيبَ، فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ وَصَلَّى قُبِلَتْ صَلاَتُهُ.‏‏ـ

“Whoever gets up at night and says the du’a (that follows):

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ‏.‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ‏.‏ـ.

The above du’a means:

“None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah).”

The Messenger ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam then added, that “if the person then says:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي‏.ـ.

“O Allah! Forgive me”.

“Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to. And if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted.”

Here, it’s worth noting, that Imam al-Bukhārī puts this ḥadīth is Qiyamullayl (Tahajjud) chapter.

Having said thatو in another ḥadāth reported by Ibn Mājah (3145) from Mu‘ādh ibn Jamal, raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ بَاتَ عَلَى طُهُورٍ ثُمَّ تَعَارَّ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا أَوْ مِنْ أَمْرِ الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ.‏ـ

“There is no person who goes to bed in a state of purity, then wakes up at night, and asks Allah for something pertaining to Dunya matters or matters of the Hereafter, but it will be given to him.”

At the end of the day, while making du’a is rewarding when one wakes up in the middle of the night, that doesn’t suffice the need for Qiyamullayl… It’s like, the Prophet says, reciting Surah al-Ikhlas three times is like reciting the whole Qur’an. You may get the reward, but you won’t get what the one who reads it from cover to cover gets. The same applies to waking up for Qiyam, as compared to simply making du’a.

Here, it’s important to highlight something that interests our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters who go on holiday every month. The good news for them is that, when they can’t pray, the one among them who has the habit of Qiyamullay still accumulates the rewards for Qiyamullayl. And she gets bonus rewards, if she wakes up and makes dhikr or makes the du’a mentioned above.

#6: Don’t Impose Qiyamullayl on Your Loved Ones

It’s good to expose our family members and our loved ones, with whom we stay in the same home, to Qiyamullayl. However, we shouldn’t impose it on them.

Allah and His Messenger encouraged us to it. But they didn’t impose it on us nor made it an obligation upon us. Why then would we want to impose it on others?

The best way to get our family members to appreciate it and adopt it s to provide the environment for them. And then lead by example. The video from Part Two helps to create such an environment. Additionally, having regular educational circle sessions with our family members where we share and discuss matters like this helps… a lot.

After doing your best, take it easy, if all that effort bear no fruit, which is visible to your eyes. In the end, a house with only person waking up for Qiyamullayl is certainly better than a house with no one at all waking up for Qiyamullay.

Having said that, a house in which everyone in it fulfills their obligatory prayers but fails to wake up for Qiyamullayl is better than a house with only one person who fulfills his obligatory prayers and observes Qiyamullayl, while the rest in the house care less about their obligatory prayers.

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

“And enjoin your household to the prayers, and be consistent in it. We ask nothing from you. It is We who provide for you, and the best end is that of righteousness.”(Surah Taha, 20:132).

So, before we talk about Qiyamullayl to our loved ones, we must have succeeded with them regarding the basics and obligatory prayers.

#7: Repeating Witr in One Night

We have agreed, that one can pray his qiyamullayl before going to bed. Likewise, he may also go to bed first and wake up, later in the night to pray his qiyamullayl. Either way, the night prayer is encouraged to be sealed with witr. Check my article for the importance of witr prayers.

So, what if one already prayed his witr. But Māshā Allāh he gets energetic in the middle of the night and wants to pray more?

If you pray your Witr before going to sleep. And you happen to wake up in the middle of the night with the desire to pray more, you can pray as much as you wish. But you don’t have to repeat the witr. Abu Jamrah, Naṣr ibn ‘Imrān says, in the ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Bukhārī (4176).

سَأَلْتُ عَائِذَ بنَ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عنْه -وكانَ مِن أصْحَابِ النَّبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ مِن أصْحَابِ الشَّجَرَةِ-: هلْ يُنْقَضُ الوِتْرُ؟ قَالَ: إذَا أوْتَرْتَ مِن أوَّلِهِ، فلا تُوتِرْ مِن آخِرِهِ.ـ

“I asked Aidh bin `Amr, who was one of the companions of the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and also one of those (who gave the allegiance to the Prophet under the Tree): “Can the witr prayer be repeated (in one night)?” He said, “If you have offered it in the first part of the night, you should not repeat it in the last part ‘of the night.”

Most importantly, night prayers should conclude in odd numbers. So assuming you have prayed three raka‘ahs before going to bed when you wake up and decide to pray more, you don’t pray another 3 or 5 or 7. You should, instead only pray another 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20 or any even number.

Conclusion

It takes the strength of mountain lifters to wake up for Qiyamullayl… Understanding this helps each one of us to know how strong or weak he is. The good news is; with a consistent workout (I mean gradually waking up for qiyamullayl) each one of us will emerge among the strongest humans.

Additionally, the good feeling you get when you successfully wake up for Qiyamullayl is indescribable. Anyone who wakes up for Qiyamullayl will attest to that. However, that good feeling increases extraordinarily when you develop clarity pertaining to it. I hope this series of articles (and videos) has helped, to some extent in achieving that clarity.

This article highlighted some seven misconceptions people have regarding Qiyamullayl. I hope by now you’ve attained some clarity pertaining to those.

Is there any misconceptions you know, that you think should be addressed? Feel free to comment with it below. It may be highlighted in the final part of the Qiyamullayl series, Insha Allah.

May Allah grant us what it takes to overcome our inner evils and the outer devil and be among the community of qiyamullayl.

Until our next, I leave in Allah’s protection. See you, and see you in Jannah.

Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz ☺

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