Outline
- Introduction
- Qiyāmullayl and Its Significance
- #1: Qiyāmullayl Was a Constant Practice of the Prophet
- #2: Qiyāmulla is a Daily Practice of Good People
- #3: Qiyāmullayl is a Daily Practice of the Pious
- #4: Munafiqun Don’t Do Qiyamullayl
- #5: Qiyāmullayl Builds and Enhances Your Ikhlas (Sincerity)
- #6: Qiyāmullayl Keeps You Steadfast in Your Daily Prayers
- #7: Qiyāmullayl Makes You Calm, Yet Active and Productive
- #8: Qiyāmullayl Protects Your Ears from the Urine of Shaytan
- #9: Qiyāmullayl Has Some Unique Benefits Anyone Who Observes it
- #Conclusion
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 man who ever performed Qiyamullayl, Sayyiduna Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path.
This article supplements its video version, which is embedded below. I should highlight that this version is more detailed than the video. Both the video and article aim to inspire you to start your Qiyamullayl right away if you don’t already, or develop consistency in it if you lack some consistency in it.
Now, before we dive into the 9 reasons to start Qiyamullayl right away to be motivated to develop consistency in it, you may be asking, “what is Qiyamullayl in the first place”? Right? Let’s, first define Qiyamullayl and its significance.
Qiyamullayl and Its Significance
Qiyamullayl makes you kind and pious. It protects you from committing sins and keeps your body healthy. Additionally, it keeps you in the path of Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and the custom of the pious of the past. If you do Qiyamullayl, then you can rest assured that you are not a hypocrite (Munāfiq). Again, what is Qiyamullayl?
I do have a few write-ups with elaborations on Qiyamullayl. One of them is “The Significance, Effects and Guidelines of Qiyamullail”. Do check it out. And if you have questions upon reading it, don’t hesitate to comment below, or message me on that using the Contact Page.
Qiyamullayl is as the Rasululah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam described it, the best prayer after the obligatory prayers. In a hadīth reported by Imam Muslim (1163), Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
أفضلُ الصِّيامِ بعدَ شهرِ رمضانَ شهرُ اللَّهِ المحرَّمُ. وأفضلُ الصَّلاةِ بعدَ الفريضةِ، صلاةُ اللَّيلِ.ـ
“The best fast after the month of Ramadan is fasting the month of Allah; al-Muharram, and the best prayer after the prescribed ones is the night prayer.”
Now, moving on to the first reason you should start your Qiyamullay right away or develop consistency in it.
#1: Qiyamullayl Was a Constant Practice of the Prophet
Qiyamullayl was a special act of worship for the Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. Simply put, Qiyamullayl was an obligation upon him, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. We understand that from the command he received in the early days of Islam, in which Allah commands him to observe night prayers. For that, Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ * قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً * نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلاً * أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلاً
“O you who wraps himself. Rise in the night, except for a little. Half of it – or subtract from it a little. Or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.”
While Qiyamullayl is not obligatory upon us as it is upon him, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, many verses in the Qur’an emphasise and attribute Qiyamullayl to the good servants of Allah. For example, in Surah al-Furqan, Allah says:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا * وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا
“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them , they say peace. And those who spend the night to their Lord prostrating and standing .”
And, it’s not a secret that every Muslim wants to be a good servant of Allah, and be among ‘ibād al-Raḥmān. So, to achieve that, you have Qiyamullayl. You can do that. So, give in to the Devil.
#2: Qiyamulla is a Daily Practice of Good People
The Muslim can and may be good, even if he doesn’t pray Qiyamullayl. However, any Muslim who prays Qiyāmullayl is a good Muslim.
This is understood from the ḥadīth reported by Imam al-Bukhārī (1121) and Muslim (2479), in which Sālim, the son of ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umar narrates that his father, Ibn Umar said, that the Messenger of Allah, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam once said:
نِعْمَ الرَّجلُ عبدُ اللَّهِ لَو كانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْل.ـ
“What a good man Abdullah is! If only he prays at night (qiyamullayl).”
Sālim continues his narration and said, “from that moment, ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Umar never missed his Qiyamullayl.
Also, in another ḥadāth reported by Imam al-Bukhārī (1152) and Muslim (1159), ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ narrates, that the Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to him:
يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلانٍ: كانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ.ـ
“O Abdullah, don’t be like that guy: He used to pray qiyamullayl, and then has stopped.”
It’s worthy emphasing, that when I say that “good people do Qiyamullayl,” I don’t mean those who don’t do Qiyāmullayl are evil. I rather mean, while a person may be good even without doing Qiyamullayl, anyone who does Qiyamullayl (between him and Allah) is good.
#3: Qiyamullayl is a Daily Practice of the Pious
Likewise good people, Qiyāmullay is also a daily practice of the pious. Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam confirms in the ḥadīth. Again, it’s an open secret, that every Muslim wants to be pious. So what did the Messenger of Allah say in this regards? He says, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
عَلَيْكُمْ بِقِيَامِ اللَّيْلِ، فَإِنَّهُ دَأْبُ الصَّالِحِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَقُرْبَةٌ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، وَمُكَفِّرَةٌ لِلسَّيِّئَاتِ، وَمَنْهَاةٌ عَنِ الإِثْمِ، وَمَطْرَدَةٌ لِلدَّاءِ عَنِ الجَسَدِ.ـ
“Hold on to Qiyamillayl! It was the custom of the righteous people before you. It brings one closer to Allah, it’s eradicator for one’s sins, it’s a preventer for one from sins, and it’s a keeper of the body from illnesses.
#4: Munafiqun Don’t Do Qiyamullayl
One of the signs of hypocrisy (nifāq) is, that prayer becomes heavy on one as the time for prayer approaches. Since Munafiqun would usually pray only to show off (see some of their characteristics here), they have no reason to wake up at night and pray when there’s on one for them to show off to.
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿١٤٢﴾ـ
“The Munafiqun (the hypocrites) seek to outwit Allah, but it is He who outwits them. And when they stand up for prayer, they do so reluctantly and to be seen by others, and they hardly remember Allah at all” (Surah al-Nisa’, 4:142).
If this is the condition of the Munāfiqūn when in public, then how can you expect them to wake up at night in private to pray to Allah.
I pray that Allah purifies us and our loved ones from anything that leads to nifaq.
#5: Qiyamullayl Builds and Enhances Your Ikhlas (Sincerity)
Qiyāmullayl is one of the acts of worship that requires a lot of determination to achieve. For the one who is not a Munāfiq, you need to push yourself to achieve it. And when you do, because you would usually do it in your private space and time, your ikhlas builds up and strengthens.
May Allah grant us what it takes to achieve that.
#6: Qiyamullayl Keeps You Steadfast in Your Daily Prayers
Yes, that right. Qiyamullayl keeps you steadfast in your daily prayers. Therefore, if you want to attain steadfastness in your daily prayers, then start observing your Sunnah and nawāfil prayers. And Qiyāmullayl is the highest level prayer of that.
Here, I must say, there’s a difference between waking up at night to pray to Allah, simply because one is facing a problem, and the waking up for qiyamullayl regardless of his problems.
The latter does it anyways, by the will of Allah. But the former is likely to stop the moment he feels his problems have been solved.
وَإِذَا أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَأَىٰ بِجَانِبِهِ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ فَذُو دُعَاءٍ عَرِيضٍ ﴿٥١﴾ـ
“When We grant a blessing to a man, he turns away and draws aside, but when any evil touches him, he is full of endless prayers! (Surah Fussilat, 41:51)
#7: Qiyamullayl Makes You Calm, Yet Active and Productive
When you wake up for Qiyamullayl, even though you have sacrificed some of your sleep, that won’t deprive you of any goodness or health benefits. In fact, you become calm, yet active and productive. By the will of Allah.
In a ḥadīth reported by Imam al-Bukhārī (1142) and Muslim (776) from the narration of Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, the Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:
يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ علَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إذَا هو نَامَ ثَلَاثَ عُقَدٍ، يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ. فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ، انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فإنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فإنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فأصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ، وإلَّا أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلَانَ.ـ
“When one of you goes to sleep, the Shayṭān ties three knots at the back of his neck, sealing every knot with, ‘You have a long night, so sleep’. So if one awakes and mentions Allah, a knot will be loosened. If he performs ablution, a knot will be loosened. And if he prays, a knot will be loosened. And in the morning he will be active and in good spirits; otherwise, he will be in bad spirits and sluggish in the morning.”
#8: Qiyamullayl Protects Your Ears from the Urine of Shaytan
Our night sleep gets deeper when we are towards Fajr time. And that’s the best time for Qiyamullayl. Sadly, that is when Shayṭān urinates in the ears of the son of Adam. Why? So he doesn’t wake up for prayers.
In a ḥadīth reported by Imam al-Bukhārī (3270) and Muslim (774), from the narration of ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd, a man was mentioned in the presence of Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, that he slept the whole night. Upon hearing that, the Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:
ذاكَ رَجُلٌ بَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ في أُذنَيْهِ.ـ
“That’s is a man, in whose ears the Shayṭān has urinated.”
So, if you don’t want your ears to be a constant urinating hole for the Shayṭān, then you have the remedy in Qiyamullayl, insha Allah.
#9: Qiyamullayl Has Some Unique Benefits Anyone Who Observes it
Yes, Qiyamullayl has some unique benefits for anyone who observes it.
And these hidden benefits are indeed unique to each and anyone who does wake up for Qiyamullayl. Yours may or may not coincide with soomeone’s unique benefits. However, anyone who is consistent in Qiyamullayl has personal stories of unique benefits trailing back to Qiyamullayl.
These unique benefits are not meant for sharing. They are meant to be lived and appreciated. So, if you are not into Qiyamullayl, you know what to do. If you are lacking consistency in your Qiyamullayl, then compare the days you succeed in waking up and the days you fail. What else do you want more, to motivate you?
Conclusion
This article featured only 9 reasons why you should start your Qiyamullayl if you don’t already, or be consistent with it of you lack that consistency. 9 reason are more than enough to move the mountain. However, there are more than just that 9 highlighted as titles for the sections of this article. Some of the reasons not highlighted in titles, but mentioned in the verses or aḥādīth are that (1) Qiyamullay keeps you close to Allah, (2) it keeps you from committing sins, and (3) keeps your body healthy.
Moreover, Qiyamullayl is like your normal prayers. It’s like your choice of good and healthy food. It’s like your observation of cleanliness and fitness. Qiyamullayl is like anything that will bear fruits for you as long as you keep up with it. And when you stop, it simply stops bearing fruits.
If you find your Qiyamullayl getting interrupted, then remember what Rasulullah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam said to ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ?
يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلانٍ: كانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ.ـ
“O Abdullah, don’t be like that guy: He used to pray qiyamullayl, and then has stopped.”
If you have read this article to this point, I hope it has inspired you to take your Qiyāmullayl to a whole new level. Now that you’re inspired, by the grace of Allah, you may want to check out the 8 practices that will help you to wake up for Qiyamullayl easily.
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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