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TahajjudNight of Mercy

The virtues of night prayer

What the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah say about the standing of those who pray at night.

Pending scholarly review · Last updated 31 August 2026

In the Qur'an

"Their sides part from their beds; they call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided them."
— Qur'an 32:16
"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility... and who spend part of the night prostrating and standing before their Lord."
— Qur'an 25:63–64

In the Sunnah

  • "The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer." (Sahih Muslim 1163)
  • Allah descends in the last third of the night and calls to those who ask. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145; Sahih Muslim 758)
  • The Prophet ﷺ prayed until his feet became swollen, and when asked, said: "Should I not be a thankful servant?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 4837)

A caution

The night prayer is not a transaction. It is not a guarantee of any particular worldly outcome. It is a nearness — and nearness is itself the gift.

References

  • Surah as-Sajdah — 32:16quran

  • Surah al-Furqan — 25:63-64quran

  • Sahih al-Bukhari — 4837hadith

    "Should I not be a thankful servant?"

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