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 9 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."
"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."
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?"
Islamic educational content is provided with references. For personal religious rulings, please consult a qualified scholar.
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