Who seeks the companionship of Allah as a secret in the stillness of the pre-dawn hours? And who rejects it?
My answer, filling my mind and resonating within the chambers of my chest, doesn’t quench the thirst for understanding. What I comprehend is that the first is an intelligent, devout, and wise person. As for the second…
Didn’t I tell you my answer doesn’t satisfy? So, let everyone hear the answer their own heart conjures.
The first undoubtedly hears the heartbeat of the noble recommendation:
“Hold fast to Qiyam al-Lail, for it is the practice of the righteous before you, and indeed Qiyam al-Lail is a means of nearness to Allah, a means of prevention from sin, an expiation for bad deeds, and a barrier for the body against disease.” (1)
He pauses at the word “practice,” realizing it means habit, tradition, and the consistent way of the righteous. He desires to join their ranks and reflects deeply on the noble phrase, “a means of nearness to Allah,” yearning to be in Allah’s companionship. With all love and sincerity, we ask the second: Don’t you want to join the ranks of the righteous? Don’t you wish to be in Allah’s companionship? We know you do, and we understand you want it! Allah invites you to His table, as does Shaitan. But do devils ever show their faces? Never. Do they reveal their intentions? Never. Instead, their crows hover over your head, plunging you into heedlessness, striving to keep you from rising, scattering your emotions because scattered feelings lack reason, lack a home, and lack an address to seek refuge.
Allah invites you to His table, to gather your scattered feelings, to reclaim your mind and soul, to find refuge in your cave. When darkness envelops the world and curtains fall, hearts long for their Lord in the stillness of the pre-dawn hours. The most sincere part of the heart emerges, raising its innermost whispers to its Creator during the night. So, take the invitation from His noble hand and seek refuge in Him. Your Lord will extend mercy to you and prepare for you guidance in your affairs. Seek the comforting shade amidst the chaos of this world, shade that grows in meaning, repels Shaitan, casts him out of your heart and home, and fills them with light, security, and spirituality. These blessings will carry you, in peace, to Paradise. Seek the hours before dawn.
Let it be Allah, then the night, and you. Beware of letting nights pass by, living off the memory of one or several nights of prayer. Reflect on the Prophet’s words when he advised all Muslims: “Hold fast to Qiyam al-Lail.”
It is enough honor for you that you are one of the Muslims. The Prophet’s advice applies especially to you. Take time to contemplate the words of the noble recommendation with a discerning mind and an open heart. Ask them: Why does your beloved Prophet advise you to perform Qiyam al-Layl?
Let his advice answer you: It was the habit of the righteous from previous nations and their way in the endless succession of nights with Allah. So long as your heart and body are able, rise in the night, leave your bed, and stand before Allah alone. You’ll feel the night embracing you like a father, caring for you like a mother, as the gentle breezes and whispers of the pre-dawn hours surround you.
If your heart burns with the guilt of sin, if your soul is scorched by the flames of disobedience, the coolness and sweetness of the pre-dawn prayer will soothe and purify it. If, as your beloved Prophet described, Qiyam al-Layl is “prevention from sin, an expiation for bad deeds,” it will ensure your victory over Shaitan, ending your inclination toward sin effortlessly and easily. It will show you that striving as a Muslim for Allah’s religion is always appropriate, but the pre-dawn hours are the crown of all times. Beyond all this, it unites your heart, mind, and body in perpetual health, bringing physical and mental well-being.
Some medical opinions even state that Qiyam al-Layl repels illnesses and diseases because standing at this time comes with spiritual peace and bodily health.
Qiyam al-Layl reveals the path before you in the darkness, unlike the blinding haze of life’s fog. As you stand before Allah, the clarity and light you receive will fill not only your hands but also your heart, chest, and even your sight. Understand that many people see with the eyes of their hearts as clearly as they see with the eyes of their faces. If this becomes your practice, you’ll reach the end of the path accompanied by light and clarity.
Listen to Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, when he was asked: “Why are those who pray at night have the most radiant faces?” He replied: “Because they secluded themselves with the Most Merciful, and He clothed them with His light.” (2)
And let Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib add to this light: “A man may pray at night, and Allah places light on his face, making every Muslim love him. Even someone who’s never met him might say: 'I love this man.'” (3)
The eyes of the heart lift the veil from the eyes of the face. Pause here if you cannot discern this yet. Don’t you want Allah to open your heart and fill it with light? Imam Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, answers: “Whoever wishes Allah to open and illuminate their heart must abandon what does not concern them, avoid sins, and have a hidden deed between themselves and Allah.” (4)
If you ask, “What does this has to do with Qiyam al-Layl?” The answer lies in the question: Is there any act easier to keep hidden between you and Allah than Qiyam al-Layl?
Follow Imam Al-Shafi’i, who leads you to the heart of this meaning, as you understand that Qiyam al-Layl is one of the easiest (5) and most private acts of worship between you and your Lord.
Its light will suffocate your darkness and all your afflictions. If you’re looking for what extinguishes calamities until they breathe their last, Allah invites you to His table once again. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, extends his noble hand to you with another invitation: “Our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, descends every night to the heaven of this world when the last third of the night is still to come and says, 'Who will call on Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so that I may give him? Who will ask forgiveness of Me so that I may forgive him?'” (6)
Will you answer? Listen to Allah with your heart: “Who will call upon Me that I may respond to them? Who will ask Me that I may give to them?” Then pour out everything in your heart to Him. Let your voice rise above the corners of your world and echo through its horizons: “I long for You, O Allah!” Let His radiant light shine upon your world. Converse with Him and ask Him, knowing that you’re asking Allah and no one else. “They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration.” (As-Sajdah: 16)
Talk to Him, knowing that every private conversation feels special. How much greater are the secrets shared between you and your Lord in the pre-dawn hours? Let Him hear the voice of your heart, singing His praise while you prostrate before Him. Unburden your grief and sorrow to Him, completing yourself through these moments. Without the obligatory prayers, you are incomplete. But if you seek true completion, nearer to perfection, then stand in prayer during the night. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Ask Him for everything your soul desires and your heart yearns for. Ask Him, and ask Him again, and ask Him again. He will respond.
Here arises the question: Has Qiyam al-Layl beautified your world as it has adorned your virtues?
It is as if the “second” person responds with one word: “Yes,” releasing a drawn-out sigh rooted deep within. It’s only natural that this gaze extends beyond the worldly life to the Hereafter. We tell him: As you advance on the path of the righteous, you draw closer to Allah day by day, each day more than the last. Would Allah leave you in your striving without rewards?
Everyone reaps what they sow, but we don’t have the right to reassure you, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has already done so. He has informed you that by praying at night, you will enter Paradise in peace, without prior punishment or reckoning. In a similar recommendation, he illuminated the end we all yearn for: “O people, extend greetings (saying Salam to each other), keep relations with your kin, provide food (to people) and pray at night when people are asleep and you will enter Paradise in peace.” (7)
Dear “second” person, how precious and priceless are the moments of the night! Don’t cheapen them through heedlessness, nor deprive your Hereafter of them. Return with your heart and mind to a time adorned by the presence of the Prophet. Visualize and sharpen your sight. Dive into his noble character and listen attentively. Do you hear the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?
“In paradise there are rooms the outside of which can be seen from within and the inside from without.” Do you hear Abu Malik Al-Ash’ari asking: “Who are they for, O Messenger of Allah?” And he answers: “For those who speak gently, provide food, and perform Salat for Allah during the night while the people sleep.” (8)
So, stand in prayer while others sleep. Focus solely on your future on the path of Allah. Hold no love in your heart greater than this love. It is a love that illuminates your world with peace and light, and your Hereafter with what words cannot describe.
We remind you of aids to help you rise for Qiyam al-Layl: avoiding sins, eating lightly before sleep, and keeping your focus on Allah. We only remind you, and you know best how to approach Allah. Think of your tomorrow: your tomorrow in the grave, your tomorrow in the Resurrection, your tomorrow on the Day of Gathering, and your tomorrow when a caller will say: “O people of Paradise! Eternity for you and no death O people of Hell! Eternity for you and no death.'” (9)
Rise tonight, and may Allah bless your night. May His blessings extend to all your nights.
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(1) An authentic hadith, authenticated by Al-Suyuti in Al-Jaami' al-Saghîr (5555) and by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami' (4079).
(2) Reported by Ibn Abi Al-Dunia in Al-Tahajjud and by Muhammad ibn Nasr in Qiyam Al-Layl.
(3) Found in the archives of Multaqa Ahl Al-Hadith, section The Salaf and Qiyam Al-Layl, p. 490.
(4) Al-Majmu' Sharh Al-Muhadhab by Imam Al-Nawawi (1/31).
(5) Qiyam Al-Layl is one of the easiest hidden acts of worship because it does not require much effort. All it demands is that you defeat your Shaitan, perform wudu’, and stand before Allah during the last portion of the night when no one else sees you. And if your family and children join you, Allah’s blessings will descend upon your household, making this secret a shared treasure for all of you. It is also one of the most abundant opportunities, as it offers this fragrant, pure chance every night without exception. Have you ever heard of a night that passed without its last hours!
(6) Authentic hadith: Reported by Al-Bukhari (1145) and Muslim (758).
(7) Authentic hadith: Reported by Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah (2648). May Allah enable us in the future to pause and reflect upon spreading peace, feeding others, and maintaining ties of kinship.
(8) Authentic hadith: Reported by Ahmad (6615), Al-Tabarani (14687), and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Targhib (946).
(9) Authentic hadith: Reported by Al-Bukhari (4730).
These days, faithful souls long to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the House of Allah. We ask Allah to grant us all the opportunity to perform Hajj. The reason for this longing is the desire to engage in one of the most esteemed acts of worship in the eyes of Allah, which is Hajj. It brings about the forgiveness of sins, the earning of rewards, and entry into paradise. Hence, a Muslim hastens to perform Hajj whenever they are able, in response to Allah's command: "And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Al-Imran: 97). However, for those who are unable to perform Hajj, they seek the best deeds, the forgiveness of sins, and entry into paradise. So, what is the path to achieving this?
When examining the obligation of prayer, one finds that everyone can perform it. Islam has made prayer encompass all these virtues for those who are unable to perform Hajj. This is evident when we look closely at the hadiths concerning Hajj and the rewards associated with it, as well as the hadiths concerning prayer and the identical rewards associated with it. This can be seen in the following:
Firstly: The Best Deeds:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clarified that Hajj is among the best deeds. In a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: 'Which deed is the most virtuos ? And which deed is the best ?' He (ﷺ) said: 'Faith in Allah and His Messenger.' It was said: 'Then what ?' He said: 'Jihad is the hump (the most prominent) of the deeds.' Then what O Messenger of Allah ? He said: 'Then Hajj Mabrur.'" In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The women came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah's Cause?" He said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur".
These hadiths confirm that Hajj is among the best deeds. For those unable to perform Hajj and achieve this esteemed deed, prayer also stands as one of the best deeds. In Sahih Al-Jami, Abdullah ibn Masood said: I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the best deeds and he said: “-to offer Salat (prayer) in its early time.” Therefore, whoever maintains performing prayer on time has achieved one of the best deeds.
Secondly: Forgiveness of Sins
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) affirmed that Hajj is a means for the forgiveness of sins. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return [free from sin] as on the day his mother bore him.” In Sahih Muslim, when Amr ibn al-As came to declare his Islam before the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said to the Prophet: “Stretch out your right hand and let me swear allegiance to you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) stretched out his hand, but Amr clenched his hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “What is the matter with you, O Amr?” He replied: "I want to make a condition." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “What condition do you want to make?” Amr said: “That I should receive forgiveness.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Do you not know, 'Amr, that Islam demolishes what preceded it, that the Hijra demolishes what preceded it, and the Pilgrimage demolishes what preceded it?”
Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Masood that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Make the hajj and the ‘umra follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver” These hadiths confirm that Hajj is a means to forgiveness of sins. For those unable to achieve forgiveness through Hajj, prayer also expiates sins, as clarified in authentic hadiths. In Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
Thirdly: Entering Paradise
The hadiths indicate that Hajj is a path to entering Paradise. Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their Sahih collections from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “An 'umra is an expiation for sins committed between it and the next, but a hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise.”
For those unable to enter Paradise through Hajj, prayer also serves as a path to entering Paradise. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone goes out in the morning or in the evening to the mosque, God will prepare for him his food in paradise as often as he goes out in the morning or in the evening.”
Fourthly: Acts Related to Prayer that Grant the Reward of Hajj
Islam emphasizes certain acts that, when performed by a Muslim, grant the reward of Hajj. Interestingly, these acts are related to prayer, including:
- Praying Fajr in congregation and then remembering Allah until the sun rises and praying two Rak'ahs. In Sahih Al-Jami, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak'as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajja* and an ‘umra. A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.”
- Remembrance after prayer; Ibn Hibban narrated in his Sahih from Abu Huraira that the poor came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and `Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "Subhana l-lah", "Al hamdu li l-lah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty-three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.”
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