The Reward of the Night Prayer

نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ عِظْنِي‌ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ عِشْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَ أَحْبِبْ مَنْ شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مُفَارِقُهُ وَ اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مُلَاقِيهِ شَرَفُ الْمُؤْمِنِ صَلَاتُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ عِزُّهُ كَفُّ الْأَذَى عَنِ النَّاسِ‌[1].

Hadith.1360 - Archangel Jibril (as) descended upon the Prophet (sw) and said to him: "O’ Muhammad, live as long as you wish, for you will surely die; love whomever you wish, for you will be separated from them; and do whatever you wish, for you will be recompensed for it. The honor of a believer lies in their night pra

إِنَّ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثَلَاثَةً التَّهَجُّدَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ إِفْطَارَ الصَّائِمِ وَ لِقَاءَ الْإِخْوَانِ.

"Indeed, among the blessings and comfort from Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, are three things: praying in the late hours of the night (Tahajjud), breaking the fast (iftar) of a fasting person, and meeting with one's brothers (fellow believers)."

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ وَ رَهْبانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوها ما كَتَبْناها عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغاءَ رِضْوانِ اللَّهِ قَالَ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ[2]

Hadith.1362 - Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal (as) said regarding the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "But as for monasticism, they innovated it; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the pleasure of Allah (swt)" (Surah Al-Hadid 57:27). Imam (as) said: "It refers to the night prayer (s

عَلَيْكُمْ بِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنَّهَا سُنَّةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَ أَدَبُ الصَّالِحِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ وَ مَطْرَدَةُ الدَّاءِ عَنْ أَجْسَادِكُمْ[3]

Hadith.1363 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "You must engage in the night prayer (salat al-layl), for it is the tradition (sunnah) of your Prophet and the practice of the righteous before you, and it drives away illness from your bodies."

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّ ناشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ‌ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئاً وَ أَقْوَمُ قِيلًا[4] قَالَ قِيَامُ الرَّجُلِ عَنْ فِرَاشِهِ يُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يُرِيدُ بِهِ غَيْرَهُ‌[5].

Hadith.1364 - Hisham ibn Salim reported that Imam (as) said regarding the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, the rising by night is [more effective] for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words" (Surah Al-Qiyamah 73:6). Imam (as) said: "It refers to a person rising from their b

يَقُومُ النَّاسُ مِنْ فُرُشِهِمْ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَصْنَافٍ صِنْفٍ لَهُ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ وَ صِنْفٍ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا لَهُ وَ صِنْفٍ لَا عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا لَهُ فَأَمَّا الصِّنْفُ الَّذِي لَهُ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُومُ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ فَيَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُصَلِّي وَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي لَهُ وَ لَا عَلَيْهِ وَ أَمَّا الصِّنْفُ الثَّانِي فَلَمْ يَزَلْ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَذَلِكَ الَّ

Hadith.1365 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "People rise from their beds in three categories: one for whom it is in their favour and not against them, one for whom it is against them and not in their favour, and one for whom it is neither in their favour nor against them. As for the one who is in their fa

هُوَ السَّهَرُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ[1].

Hadith.1366 - Abdullah ibn Sinan asked him (Abu Abdullah (as)) about the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration" (Surah Al-Fath 48:29). Imam (as) said: "It refers to staying awake for prayer."

إِنَّ الْبُيُوتَ الَّتِي يُصَلَّى فِيهَا بِاللَّيْلِ بِتِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ‌[2] تُضِي‌ءُ لِأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ كَمَا تُضِي‌ءُ نُجُومُ السَّمَاءِ لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ.

"Indeed, the houses in which the Qur'an is recited during the night and where prayer is performed shine for the inhabitants of the heavens just as the stars of the sky shine for the inhabitants of the earth."

وَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: «إِنَّ اَلْحَسَنٰاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ اَلسَّيِّئٰاتِ» قَالَ «صَلاَةُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ بِاللَّيْلِ تَذْهَبُ بِمَا عَمِلَ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ بِالنَّهَارِ.

Hadith.1368 - Imam (as) said regarding the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds" (Surah Hud 11:114). He (as) explained, "The night prayer of a believer erases the sins committed during the day."

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُصِيبَ‌ أَهْلَ الْأَرْضِ بِعَذَابٍ قَالَ لَوْ لَا الَّذِينَ يَتَحَابُّونَ بِجَلَالِي‌[1] وَ يَعْمُرُونَ مَسَاجِدِي وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ لَوْ لَا هُمْ‌[2] لَأَنْزَلْتُ عَذَابِي.

Hadith.1369 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Indeed, when Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, intends to afflict the people of the earth with punishment, He says, 'Were it not for those who love one another for My Majesty, who populate My mosques, and who seek forgiveness during the pre-

مَنْ كَثُرَ صَلَاتُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ حَسُنَ وَجْهُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ

Hadith.1370 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "Whoever increases their prayers during the night will have a radiant face during the day."

وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ الْحَاجَةَ فَأَفْرَطَ فِي الشِّكَايَةِ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَشْكُوَ الْجُوعَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا هَذَا أَ تُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ نَعَمْ فَالْتَفَتَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ كَذَبَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ وَ يَجُوعُ بِالنَّهَارِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى ضَمَّنَ صَلَاةَ الل

Hadith.1371 - A man came to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) and complained to him about his dire need, exaggerating his complaint until it seemed as though he was on the brink of starvation. Abu Abdullah (as) asked him, "Do you pray at night?" The man replied: "Yes." Abu Abdullah (as) turned to his companions and

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ الْمُدَاعِبَ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ بِلَا رَفَثٍ الْمُتَوَحِّدَ بِالْفِكْرِ الْمُتَخَلِّيَ بِالْعِبَرِ السَّاهِرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ[4]

Hadith.1372 - Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, loves one who engages in light-heartedness in a gathering without indecency, one who reflects deeply while alone, one who contemplates lessons from life in solitude, and one who stays awake for prayer."

وَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ لِأَبِي ذَرٍّ رَحْمَةُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ اِحْفَظْ وَصِيَّةَ نَبِيِّكَ تَنْفَعْكَ مَنْ خُتِمَ لَهُ بِقِيَامِ اَللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ مَاتَ فَلَهُ اَلْجَنَّةُ. Hadith.1373 - The Prophet {saws}, at the time of his death, said to Abu Dharr (may Allah {SWT} have mercy on him): "O’ Abu Dharr, uphold the advice of your Prophet, and it will bene

The Prophet (saws), at the time of his death, said to Abu Dharr (may Allah (swt) have mercy on him): "O’ Abu Dharr, uphold the advice of your Prophet, and it will benefit you: Whoever's life concludes with performing the night prayer and then dies will have Paradise."

لَهُ أَبْشِرْ مَنْ صَلَّى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ عُشْرَ لَيْلَةٍ لِلَّهِ‌[5] مُخْلِصاً ابْتِغَاءَ ثَوَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ اكْتُبُوا لِعَبْدِي هَذَا مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ عَدَدَ مَا أَنْبَتَ فِي اللَّيْلِ مِنْ حَبَّةٍ وَ وَرَقَةٍ وَ شَجَرَةٍ وَ عَدَدَ كُلِّ قَصَبَةٍ وَ خُوصٍ وَ مَرْعًى‌[6] وَ مَنْ صَلَّى تُسْعَ لَيْلَةٍ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ عَشْرَ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٍ وَ أَعْطَاهُ اللّ

Hadith.1374 - Jabir ibn Isma'il narrated from Ja'far ibn Muhammad, from his father (as), that a man asked Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) about praying during the night with recitation. Ali (as) said to him, "Rejoice! Whoever prays a tenth of the night for the sake of Allah (swt) with sincerity, seeking His reward, Allah (swt),