Virtues of Night Prayer

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa RaḥmatuLlāhi wa Barakātuh. A‘ūdhu BiLlāhi Minash-shayṭāni r-rajīm. BismiLlāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm. Wa ṣ-Salātu wa s-Salāmu ‘alá Rasūlinā Muḥammadin Sayyidi l-Awwalīna wa l-Akhirīn. Madad yā RasūlAllāh, Madad yā Sādāti Aṣḥābi RasūliLlāh, Madad yā Mashāyikhinā, Dastūr Mawlana Sheikh Abdullāh al-Fā’iz ad-Dāghistāni, Sheikh Muḥammad Nāẓim al- Ḥaqqānī. Madad. Ṭarīqatunā aṣ-Suḥbah wa l-Khayru fi l-Jam‘iyyah.

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm:

(Qur’ān 73:06). ‘Inna Nāshi'ata Al-Layli Hiya 'Ashaddu Waţ'āan Wa 'Aqwamu Qīlāan’, ‘Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah).’ Sadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says that nighttime is more powerful and effective for worship. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam said that worship performed at night is far more acceptable than worship performed during the day. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Whoever prays two rak’ahs at night will earn the reward of praying a thousand rak’ahs during the day.” Waking up just before Fajr prayer and performing even two rak’ahs of Tahajjud prayer brings that great reward. Of course, one can perform more; such as the prayer of ablution, the prayer of shukr, Tahajjud, and then the prayer of najāt (salvation). Shukr to Allāh ﷻ that these prayers are a means for us to draw closer to Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says in a ḥadīth Qudsi, “My servant draws near to Me through nāfilah worship.” Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, “The closer one draws to Me, the more I will become his tongue with which he talks, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips.” Of course, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla’s wisdom becomes in that person. The more difficult these acts of worship are for your ego, the more reward Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla gives you. Along with this, spiritual strength is also gained.

Therefore, performing Tahajjud and Nāfilah prayers at night while people are sleeping is a great blessing for those who are able to do so. Those who can do this should thank Allāh ﷻ and praise Allāh ﷻ. They should not look at others and say, “I do it, they don’t,” and degrade them; this is also important. It should not be forgotten that Allāh ﷻ has granted this to you, and you are performing it; He ﷻ has not granted it to them. If you say, “I did it, I performed it,” all your worship will be in vain. Therefore, if you are able to

perform your acts of worship, thank and praise Allāh ﷻ and say, “May it not decrease, but increase. May Allāh ﷻ protect me. May Allāh ﷻ keep me steadfast and help me.”

Many people say, “We cannot get up for Tahajjud prayer.” This is due both to going to bed late at night and to the shorter nights in the summer. They think, “I’ll just sleep a little and then wake up,” and before they know it, it’s morning. Even if it’s morning, if there is time, they can still get up before sunrise and perform those acts of worship. If time is running out, they should perform the Fajr prayer directly without missing the time.

As we said, even those who never pray should gradually start praying whenever they can. Prayer is very important; for prayer is the pillar of religion. Also, as we said, our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam recommended night prayers as a favor to us. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam often rose for worship at night. Even before the five daily prayers were made obligatory, our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam would rise for night prayers and worship. May Allāh ﷻ help us and keep these good deeds perpetual upon us, in shā’a Llāh.

Wa min Allāhi t-Tawfīq. Al-Fātiḥa.

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 27 June 2026/ 12 Muharram 1448 Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul