Hadiths for Category: Salat ul-Layl
How to pray salatul layl
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## structure of Salat al-Layl
Salat al-Layl consists of
11 Rak’at
(units of prayer) and is divided as follows:
1. 8 Rak’at – Performed as 4 prayers of 2 Rak’at each (Nafila of Layl).
2. 2 Rak’at – Shaf’ prayer (no qunut).
3. 1 Rak’a – Watr prayer (with qunut).
2. How to Perform Each Section
A. The First 8 Rak’at (Nafila of Layl)
- Pray 4 sets of 2 Rak’at.
In each Rak’a:
1. Recite Surah al-Hamd (Al-Fatiha).
2. Either:
- Most Recommended: Recite Surah al-Ikhlas 30 times.
Or:
- 1st Rak’a: Surah al-Ikhlas,
- 2nd Rak’a: Surah al-Kafirun.
After each 2 Rak’at, it is Mustahab (recommended) to recite the Tasbih of Fatima al-Zahra (سلام الله عليها):
- 34 times Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر)
- 33 times SubhanAllah (سبحان الله)
- 33 times Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله)
B. Shaf’ Prayer (2 Rak’at)
- Pray 2 Rak’at as usual.
- No Qunut is performed in Shaf’.
In each Rak’a:
1. Recite Surah al-Hamd.
2. Recite Surah al-Ikhlas.
C. Watr Prayer (1 Rak’a)
Pray 1 Rak’a with Qunut.
In this Rak’a:
1. Recite Surah al-Hamd.
2. Recite Surah al-Ikhlas 3 times.
3. Recite Surah al-Falaq 1 time.
4. Recite Surah al-Nas 1 time.
3. The Qunut of Watr Prayer
During the Qunut (raising hands in supplication):
1. Ask forgiveness for 40 believers (by name or generally).
2. Seek forgiveness for yourself (reciting Astaghfirullah).
3. Recommended: Lift your left hand and use the right hand to count or hold a sibha (prayer beads).
4. Prolonging the Qunut in Watr is encouraged, as it eases the Day of Judgment.
4. Timing of Salat al-Layl
- Best time: The last third of the night (before Fajr).
- If you are traveling, sick, or fear you will not wake up, you can perform Salat al-Layl earlier in the night.
5. Alternative Methods for Watr Prayer
You may pray the Shaf’ and Watr** in two ways:
1. Separate:
- Pray 2 Rak’at for Shaf’, finish with Tasleem, then pray 1 Rak’a for Watr.
Ref: -
Posted By: Khadim Gumnaam
The Prophet’s Advice on Salat al-Layl
و قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ لِعَلِيِّ ع يَا عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ عَلَيْكَ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَهَا فَكَبر اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَبْعاً وَ احْمَدُهُ سَبْعا ثُمَّ تَوَجَّهُ ثُمَّ صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْن تقرأُ في الْأُولى - الحَمْدَ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ الْحَمْدَ وَ قل يا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ وَ تَقْرَأُ فِي السِّبِّ الرَّكَعَاتِ بِمَا أَحْبَبْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ طَوَّلْتَ وَ إنْ شِئْت قَصَّرْتَ.
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said in his will to Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him):
“O ‘Ali! I advise you to perform the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl), I advise you to perform the Night Prayer, I advise you to perform the Night Prayer.
When you intend to pray it, glorify Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, seven times and praise Him seven times. Then face the Qiblah and pray two rak‘ahs.
In the first rak‘ah, recite al-Fātiḥah and Qul Huwa Allāhu Aḥad (Surah al-Ikhlāṣ);
in the second rak‘ah, recite al-Fātiḥah and Qul yā ayyuhā al-kāfirūn (Surah al-Kāfirūn).
In the remaining seven rak‘ahs, you may recite whatever you wish—if you want, lengthen them, and if you wish, shorten them.”
Ref: Jāmi‘ Aḥādīth al-Shī‘ah by Sayyid al-Burūjirdī, Vol 7, Page 122
Posted By: Khadim gumnaam
The Counsel of Jibrīl to the Prophet ﷺ on Life, Love, and Night Prayer
حدثنا أبوالحسن محمد بن أحمد بن علي بن أسد الاسدي قال: حدثنا محمد بن جرير، والحسن بن عروة، وعبد الله بن محمد الوهبي قالوا: حدثنا محمد بن حميد قال: حدثنا زافر بن سليمان قال: حدثنا محمد بن عيينة، عن أبي حازم، عن سهل بن سعد قال: جاء جبرئيل عليه السلام إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال: يا محمد عش ما شئت فانك ميت، وأحبب ما شئت فانك مفارقه، واعمل ما شئت فانك مجزي به، واعلم أن شرف الرجل قيامه بالليل، وعزه استغناؤه عن الناس
Gabriel (peace be upon him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and said:
“O Muhammad! Live as long as you wish — for you will surely die.
Love whomever you wish — for you will surely part from them.
Do whatever you wish — for you will surely be recompensed for it.
And know that the honor of a man lies in his standing for prayer at night,
and his dignity lies in his independence from people.”
Ref: Ma‘ānī al-Akhbār, P178
Posted By: Khadim gumnaam
The Virtues of the Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl)
عن الصادق (عليه السلام) قال: قال أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): صلاة الليل مرضاة الرب، وحب الملائكة، وسنة الأنبياء، ونور المعرفة، وأصل الإيمان، وراحة الأبدان، وكراهية الشيطان، وسلاح على الأعداء، وإجابة للدعاء، وقبول الأعمال، وبركة في الرزق وشفيع بين صاحبها وبين ملك الموت وسراج في قبره، وفراش تحت جنبه، وجواب مع منكر ونكير، ومؤنس وزائر في قبره إلى يوم القيامة.
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: Imam Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“The Night Prayer (Salat al-Layl) brings the pleasure of the Lord, the love of the angels, the practice of the prophets, the light of knowledge, the foundation of faith, comfort for the body, dislike of Satan, a weapon against enemies, an answer to supplications, acceptance of deeds, blessing in sustenance, an intercessor between its performer and the Angel of Death, a lamp in his grave, a bed beneath his side, a response to Munkar and Nakir, and a companion and visitor in his grave until the Day of Resurrection.”
Ref: Jāmi‘ Aḥādīth al-Shī‘ah by al-Burūjirdī, Vol 7, P105
Posted By: Khadim gumnaam