The Virtues of Solh Tahajjud

Question: As-Salm `alaykum! Could you tell me how to

pray Tahajjud (late night prayer)? Is there any
supplication before starting and after finishing it
according to Sunnah? Jazakum Allh Khayran
In the name of Allh, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to Allh, the Lord of allamn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship
except Allh, and that Muhammad, Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam, is His Messenger.
Description: Solh Tahajjud or Qiyamulail is a night
prayer which is performed by getting up in later part of
the night after having a sleep after observed Solh
`Isha. Solh Tahajjud is a Sunnah Muakadah prayer. It is
a most meritorious Solh next to the five daily Solh.
Solh Tahajjud may be performed in twos, a minimum of
two raka`at; either 8 raka`at or 10 rakaat; in accordance
with ones capability. But, it has to be capped with witir.
One may perform this prayer at any suitable places at
night.
Qiyam and Solh Tahajjud is infact the same Solh with
different names. But when these two names are used in
Ramadhn, it is also referred as Qiyam of
Ramadhn or Solh Tarwh including Solh Witr; while
spending the late night in worship after some sleep is
called Tahajjud or Qiyamulail.
Both names have been used in the Qur'n. The Qur`n
uses the phrase Qum al-layl when Allh says: "O thou
wrapped up in thy raiment! Keep vigil the night long

(Qum al-layl), save a little, a half thereof, or abate a little

thereof, or add (a little) thereto and recite the Qur`n in
measure" [Al-Muzzammil, 73: 1-4] The
verb Fatahajjad is a derivative from the root word Hajada
(to keep vigil), Allh says: "And some part of the night
awake for it (fatahajjad), a largess for thee. It may be
that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate." [Al-Isra',
17: 79] The later verse means to get up and
perform Solh Tahajjud.
It derives from night prayers or Qiyam, which means
standing. Qiyam or Tahajjud also refers to spending the
night in worship in general, whether it is solh or any
other form acts of worship.
The Qiyamulail was initially an obligatory Solh before
the five daily Solh were prescribed as an obligation
upon every Muslim during Miraj, the night of the Prophet
Muhammads (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) miraculous
journey to heaven, which was believed on the night of
27th Rajab, during the first periods of Islam in
Makkah. Sa`ad Ibn Hisham Ibn `Amir said to
`Aishah (radiyallhu`anhu): Tell me about how the
Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) performed qiyam. She said: Have you not
read Y ayyuhal-Muzzammil (O you wrapped in your
garments!)? He said, Of course. She said: Allh, may
He be exalted and glorified, made Qiyam obligatory at
the beginning of this surah, so the Prophet (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam) and his companions observed Qiyam
for a year, and Allh withheld the end of this surah for
twelve months, until He revealed something at the end of
this surah to make things easier, so Qiyam al-layl became
voluntary after it had been obligatory. [Muslim].
When the Five Daily Solh has been legislated as
Fardhu, Solh Tahajjud was made as Nawafil Solh (a

Supererogatory Solh), yet the Prophet (Sallallhu

`alayhi wasallam) maintained observing it to attain a
praised position with Allah: And some part of the night
awake for prayer, a largess for thee. It may be that thy
Lord will raise thee to a praised position.[Al-Isr, 17:
79]. Although the ayat specifically directed to the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) it also refers to all
Muslims, since the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam)
is a perfect example and guide for us in all matters.
In short Tahajjud derives from the term night prayers or
Qiyam, which means standing. Qiyam also refers
tospending the night in worship in general, whether it
is solh or any other form acts of worship. The occasion
of such long Solh is known as Qiyam Al-Layl. Muslims
are encouraged to perform Qiyam Al-Layl throughout the
years.
The Excellence of the Solh Tahajjud
Al- Qur`an and ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) and his early followers
clearly illustrate merits of Qiyam Al-Layl. It indicates the
boundless blessings Allh would bestow upon those who
observes it.
1. Allh Subhnahu wa ta`ala praises the characters of
the devout believers who observes Solh Tahajjud.
Allh Almighty says of such devotees:
Say, Shall I inform you of things far better than those?
For the pious ones, there are gardens (Paradise) with
their Lord, underneath which rivers flow. Therein is their
eternal home and purified wives. And Allh will be
pleased with them. And Allh is All-Seer of the slaves.
Those who say: Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so

forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of

Fire. They are those who are the patients ones, those
who are truthful and obedient with sincere devotion in
worship to Allh. Those who spend (in the way of Allh)
and those who pray and seek Allhs pardon in the last
hours of the night. [Al-Imran 3: 15-17]
They do forsake their beds of sleep, the while they call
on their Lord, in fear and hope.... [As-Sajdah, 32:16]
They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night,
and in the hours of early dawn, they [were found] praying
for forgiveness [Adh-Dhariyat, 51:17-18]
"The slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the
earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address
them, they say: 'Peace' and they who spend the night
prostrating before their Lord and standing." [Al-Furqn,
25: 63-64]
They engaged most of the night in worshipful
remembrance of Allh and Solh for His grace and
mercy. The verses make obvious reference to Qiyam AlLayl.
Salman Al-Farsi (radiyallhu`anhu) reported the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying: "Observe the
night prayer, it was the practice of the righteous before
you and it brings you closer to your Lord and it is
penance for evil deeds and erases the sins and repels
disease from the body." [Narrated by, at-Tirmidzi, anNasa`ie and ibn Majah: Sahih]
`Aishah, (radiyallhu`anha) reported: The Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used to keep standing - in
long night prayer - so long that the skin of his feet would
crack. When asked, why he did this while all his past and

future sins were forgiven, Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi

wasallam) said: "Should I not be a grateful slave of
Allh?" [Al-Bukhri and Muslim]
2. Performing Solh Tahajjud regularly qualifies one as of
the Righteous and earns one Allhs bounty and mercy.
Allh Almighty says: "Lo! Those who keep from evil will
dwell amid gardens and water springs, taking that which
their Lord gives them. For, lo, they were doers of good.
They used to sleep but little of the night and before the
dawning of each day would seek forgiveness.'' [AdhDhariyat, 51: 15-18]
`Abdullah Ibn As-Salam (radiyallhu`anhu)
reported: "When the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) came to Medinah, the people gathered around
him and I was one of them. I looked at his face and
understood that it was not the face of a liar. The first
words I heard him say were: 'O people, spread the
salutations, feed the people, keep the ties of kinship, and
perform Solh during the night while the others sleep
and you will enter Paradise in peace."'[Narrated by alHakim, Ibn Mjah, and at-Tirmidzi: sahih]
Salman Al-Farsi (radiyallhu`anhu) reported the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying: "Observe the
night prayer, it was the practice of the righteous before
you and it brings you closer to your Lord and it is
penance for evil deeds and erases the sins and repels
disease from the body." [Narrated by an-Nasa`ie and Ibn
Mjah: Sahih]
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallhu`anhu) reported that the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) has said: The best
of Solh, after the prescribed Solh, is Solh in the
depths of the night, and the best of fasting after the

month of Ramadhn is fasting the month of Allh,

Muharram. [Muslim]
`Abdallh Ibn `Amr (radiyallhu`anhu) reported that the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: The most
beloved of solh to Allh is the solh of Dawud, and the
most beloved of fasts to Allh is the fast of Dawud. He
used to sleep for half of the night, then get up and
observe Solh for a third of the night, then sleep for a
sixth of the night, and he used to fast every other
day. [Al-Bukhri and Muslim]
`Amr ibn `Absah, (radiyallhu`anhu) narrated that the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) has said: The
time when the closest the Lord is to His slave is in the
later part of the night, so if you can be one of those who
remember Allh (Solh) at that time, then do so. [AtTirmidzi]
`Uqbah ibn `Amir (radiyallhu`anhu) reported the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) has said: When a
man from my Ummah (nation) gets up to pray at night,
striving against his own self to get up and purify himself,
there are knots on him. When he washes his hands in
wudu', one knot is undone. When he washes his face,
another knot is undone. When he wipes his head another
knot is undone. When he washes his feet, another knot is
undone. Then Allh says to those who are veiled (in the
unseen): Look at this slave of Mine, he is striving against
his own self and asking for Me. Whatever My slave asks
of Me shall be his. [Ahmad]
3. Qiyam Al-Layl is an act of worship that attaches the
heart to Allh and enables it to overcome the
temptations of life.
It is to strive against ones own self, at the time when
voices are stilled, eyes are closed in sleep, and sleepers

are tossing and turning in their beds. Therefore, Qiyam

Al-Layl is one of the measures of sincere determination
and one of the qualities of those who have great
ambitions. Allh has praised them and distinguished
them from others.
Allh Almighty says: Is one who is obedient to Allh,
prostrating himself or standing [in prayer] during the
hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for
the mercy of his Lord [like one who disbelieves]? Say:
Are those who know equal to those who know not? It is
only men of understanding who will remember. [AzZumar, 39:9]
4. Night prayers strengthen the bond between man and
his Lord.
The Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam)
said: Solh is the best matter - and let one who can
perform to observe it as much as possible. [Muslim] The
Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam)
said: The best Solh after the obligatory ones is the
night prayer. [Muslim]
5. The best of Solh after the prescribed Solh is Solh in
the depths of the night.
Abu Hurairah (radiallhu`anhu) narrated the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: The best of Solh
after the prescribed prayers is Solh in the depths of the
night, and the best of fasting after the month of
Ramadhn is fasting the month of Allh,
Muharram. [Muslim]
6. Qiyam Al-Layl is an established Sunnah of the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) which he (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) urged us to do it.

The Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: You

should perform Qiyam Al-Layl, for it is the habit of the
righteous people who came before you, and it will bring
you closer to your Lord, will expiate for bad deeds,
prevent sin and expel disease from the body. [AtTirmidzi and Ahmad] Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) always had the habit of performing Solh
Qiyam Al-Layl, and never missed it, whether he was
traveling or staying at home.
7. Among the pious ladies of the old times too, were very
keen observers of Qiyam Al-Layl.
Anas Ibn Mlik (radiyallhu`anhu) reported that the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: Jibreel said
to me, Go back to Hafsah, for she fasts a lot and
observes a lot at night (Qiyam Al-Layl). [Al-Hakim]
Muadhah Al-`Adawiyyah, one of the righteous women
physicians spent her wedding night; along with her
husbandSilah ibn Ashyam, observing Solh until dawn.
Then, when her husband and son were killed in Jihad, she
would spend the whole night in performing Solh,
worshipping and beseeching Allh. Then, she would sleep
during the day. If she felt sleepy whilst she was
performing Solh at night, she would tell herself: O soul,
there is plenty of sleep ahead of you.
The verses and hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam) and his early followers clearly illustrate
merits of Qiyam Al-Layl. It tells us about the boundless
blessings Allh would bestow on us, if we spend the later
parts the night in prayerful worship of our All-Merciful
Lord.
Etiquettes of Solh Tahajjud

The following acts are recommended for one who wishes

to perform Solh Tahajjud:
1. Upon going to sleep, one should make the intention to
perform Tahajjud. Abu ad-Darda'(radiyallhu`anhu)
quoted the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as
saying: "Whoever goes to his bed with the intention of
getting up and observing Solh during the night, but,
being overcome by sleep, fails to do that, he will have
recorded for him what he has intended, and his sleep will
be reckoned as a charity (an act of mercy) for him from
his Lord." [Narrated by an-Nas`ie and Ibn Mjah: Sahih]
2. On waking up, one should wipe one's face, brush the
tooth, and look to the sky and make the supplication. It
was reported the du from the Prophet (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam)
"O Allh! There is no god but Thee, Glory is to Thee, I
seek Thy forgiveness for my sins, and I ask for Your
mercy. O Allh increases my knowledge and let my heart
not swerve after You have guided me, and bestow mercy
upon me from Thyself. All praise is to Allh who has given
us back life after our death and unto Him is the
resurrection."
Then, one should recite the last ten verses of Surah Al`Imran starting with, Behold! In the creation of the
heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and
day, - there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.
2. Then one should say the supplication as `Abdullah Ibn
Abbas (radiyallhu`anhu) narrated that when the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) got up at night to offer the
Solh Tahajjud, Raslullh used to say:

Allhumma lakal-hamd. Anta qaiyimus-samawati wal-ard

wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, Laka mulkus-samawati
wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, anta nurussamawati wal-ard. Walakalhamd, anta-l-haq wa wa'dukal-haq, wa liqa`uka Haq, wa qualuka Haq, wal-jannatu Han
wan-naru Haq wannabiyuna Haq. Wa Muhammadun,
salll-lahu`alaihi wasallam, Haq, was-sa'atu Haq.
Allhumma aslamtu Laka wabika amantu, wa `Alaika
tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika
hakamtu faghfir li ma qaddamtu wama akh-khartu wama
as-rartu wama'a lantu, anta-l-muqaddimu wa antal-mu
akh-khir, l ilha illa anta (or la ilaha ghairuka).
(O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder
of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them.
All the praises are for You; You have the possession of
the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All
the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens
and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the
King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises
are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the
truth, And to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth And
Paradise is true And Hell is true. And all the Prophets
(Peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad is true,
And the Day of Resurrection is true.
O Allah! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and
depend on You. And repent to You, And with Your help I
argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) And I take
You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me
my previous And future sins; And whatever I concealed or
revealed And You are the One who make (some people)
forward And (some) backward. There is none to be
worshipped but you. )

Sufyan said that `Abdul Karim Abu Umaiya added to the

above, Wala hawla Wala quwata illa billah (There is
neither might nor power except with Allah).
[Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 21, Number 221]
3. One should begin Solh Tahajjud with two quick
raka`at and then one may perform Solh whatever one
wishes after it. `Aishah (radiyallhu`anha) said: "When
the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) performed
Solh during the late-night, he would begin his Solh
with two quick raka`at." [Narrated by Muslim]
Ibn Abbs (radiyallhu`anhu) narrated after that Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) performed Solh Tahajjud
eleven raka`at (including Solh Witr).Raslullh
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) then lay down and slept and
snored (and it was his habit to snore while asleep) till
[Bilal bin Rabab (radiallhu`anhu)] the Mu`azzin came to
him [and informed him about the Solh Fajar. (Book 004,
Number 1671)]
Rasulullah (Sallallhu alayhi wa sallam) then stood up;
did not perform ablution; observed two short raka`at
(Sunnah Fajar) before proceed to masjid to observe the
obligatory Solh Fajar; [and his supplication included the
words:
"O Allh, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light
in my hearing, light on my sight, light behind me, light in
front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light
above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in
my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place
light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make
me light and grant me light. ([Muslim; Book 004,
Number 1671)]

4. One should wake up one's family for Solh

Tahajjud. Abu Hurairah (radiyallhu`anhu) quoted the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying: "May
Allh bless the man who gets up during the night to
perform Solh and wakes up his wife and who, if she
refuses to get up, sprinkles water on her face. And may
Allh bless the woman who gets up during the night to
pray and wakes up her husband and who, if he refuses,
sprinkles water on his face." The Prophet (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam) also said: "If a man wakes his wife and
observes Solh during the night or they perform Solh
two raka`at together, they will be recorded among those
(men and women) who (constantly) make remembrance
of Allh." [Narrated by Abu Dawud and others: sahih]
5. If one gets sleepy while performing Tahajjud one
should sleep as narrated by `Aishah (radiallhu`anha) as
she quoted Allhs Messenger (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) as saying: "When one of you gets up during
the night for Solh and his Qur`anic recital gets mixed up
to the extent that he does not know what he says, he
should lie down." [Narrated by Muslim]
6. The more virtuous way and time of the Prophet
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) is after perform Solh
Isha is to retire to bed, then wake up at midnight or after
one third of the night and perform the Solh Tahajjud by
extending the time of each raka`ah if possible, then
concludes it with Solh Al-Witr, took again a brief sleep
before observing nfil and Solh Al-Fajar. [Muwatta,
Muslim, Bukhari]
The Time Frame for Solh Tahajjud
The Qiyam and Solh Tahajjud (and witr) is to be offered
after Solh `Isha until before Solh Fajar. [Al-Bukhari,

Muslim] Allah Says: Verily, your Lord knows that you

stand (to perform Solh at night) a little less than twothirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the
night, and so do a party of those with you, And Allah
measures the night and the day. He knows that you are
unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you
(in mercy). So, recite the Qur`n as much as may be easy
for you [Muzzammil, 73:20] Allh has praised those
who observe them: "Those who spend the night in
adoration of their Lord, prostrate and standing." [AlFurqan, 25:64] "Their limbs do forsake their beds of
sleep, the while they call on their Lord in fear and hope
and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which
we have bestowed on them." [As-Sajdah, 32:16]. It also
indicates the basis for nightly prayer and the good
rewards for those who observe it.
Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "The best
Solh after the obligatory ones is the night
Solh." [Muslim] Elsewhere he (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) said: "O people! Disseminate the salutations of
peace As-Salm `alaikum; feed the needy food, and join
the blood ties among the next of kin; and observe night
prayer while people are at sleep, you will enter paradise
peacefully." [Tirmidzi]
With regard to witr, Rasulullah (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) said: Allh has added one more prayer for
you, which is witir, so pray it between Solh al-`Isha and
Solh al-Fajar. [Al-Tirmidzi, 425: sahih]. Jabir bin
`Abdullah(radiyallhu`anhu) said: The Messenger of Allh
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: Whoever fears that
he will not get up at the end of the night, let him observe
Witir at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks
that he will be able to get up at the end of the night (i.e.
Solh Tahajjud ), let him pray Witir at the end of the

night, for prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by

the angels) and that would be better. [Muslim 755]
Many narrations that tell about actual Sunnah that the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) of observing Solh
al-Tahajjud. Solh Tahajjud may be performed in the early
part of the night, the middle part of the night, or the
latter part of the night, but after the obligatory Solh
`Isha.
Ans bin Malik (radiyallhu`anhu) said: "If we wanted to
see him praying during the night, we could see him
praying. If we wanted to see him sleeping during the
night, we could see him sleeping. And sometimes he
would fast for so many days that we thought he would
not leave fasting throughout that month. And sometimes
he would not fast (for so many days) that we thought he
would not fast during that month." [Narrated by Ahmad,
Al-Bukhri, and An-Nas`ie]
Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (rahimahullh) says: "There was no
specific time in which the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) would perform his late night prayer; but
Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used to do
whatever was easiest for him."
The Best time for Solh Tahajjud
The best time to perform it at the last third portion of the
night as Abu Hurairah (radiyallhu`anhu) quoted that the
Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu 'alayhi wa sallam), as
saying: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during
the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me
so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of
Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My
forgiveness so I may forgive him?" [Narrated by Ahmad,
al-Bukhri, and an-Nas'ie]

`Amr ibn Abasah (radiyallhu`anhu) reported that he

heard the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam)
saying: "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is
during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you
can be among those who remember Allh, the Exalted
One, at that time then does so." [Narrated by Ahmad, alBukhari, and an-Nas'ie]
`Abdullh ibn `Amr (radiyallhu`anhu) reported
Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying: With
Allh the best fasting is that of Dawud and the best Solh
is that of Dawud (`alaihissalam) for he slept half of the
night and stood for Solh for the third of it and (then)
slept the sixth part of it and he observed fast one day
and broke on the other. [Narrated by Muslim (2595)]
The number of raka`at to be performed during Tahajjud
Solh Tahajjud does not entail a specific number of
raka`at which must be performed nor is there any
maximum limit which has to be performed.
`Aishah (radiallhu`anha) narrated that the number of
raka`at was not fixed by Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi
wasallam) but rather a changeable according to the
situation of his health, or whether it was done in
standing or sitting form.
`Aishah (radiyallhu`anhu) narrated Raslullh
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used to perform eleven
raka`at, in form of an extended two four-raka`at [eight
raka`at of Tahajjud], then perform three-raka`at [of Solh
Witir.] [Bukhari, Muwatta, Muslim], and in some
narrations, Raslullh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used
to perform it in the raka`at-of-twos, which is mustahab
way, as Ibn `Umar (radiallhuanhu) reported that a
companion asked the Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu

`alayhi wasallam) about the night prayer. The Messenger

of Allh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: "In sets of
two, in sets of two. Then when one of you fears the
coming of morning, he perform one (raka`ah) that will
serve as a Solh Witir (i.e. make the number odd) of what
he has observed the Solh." [Al-Bukhari no. 990 and
Muslim no. 749] Many narrations, Raslullh (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam) would begin the Solh Tahajjud with a
two short raka`at [Muslim, Abu Dawud]. And in some
narrations, Solh Tahajjud is mentioned only as a two
raka`at [Bakhari].And it is narrated that this number
lessened to 9 and 7 as his age progressed [Bukhari,
Muslim, and Abu Dawud]
Make Witir the end of your night prayer
Ibn `Umar (radiyallhu`anhu) reported Allh's Messenger
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) as saying: Make Solh Witir
the end of your night prayer [Muslim (1639)]. And the
Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: There should
not be two Witirs in one night. [Abu Dawud 1439]
Scholars are in consensus that The Prophet (Sallallhu
`alayhi wasallam) would normally perform eight
raka`at and ending with three raka`at of Solh witir. And
it may be perform with a two raka`at Solh Tahajjud with
one raka`ah Solh witir. It would be fulfilled even if one
just observed one raka`ah of Witir after the `Isha.
Samurah ibn Jundub (radiyallhu`anhu) said: "The
Messenger of Allh (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) ordered
us to perform Solh during the night, a little or a lot, and
to make the last of the Solh the Solh Witir." [Narrated
by at-Tabarni and al-Bazzr]
Anas ibn Mlik (radiyallhu`anhu) quoted Allhs
Messenger (Sallallhu `alaihi wasallam), as

saying: Solh in my mosque is equal to ten thousand

Solh [elsewhere]. And Solh in the Sacred Mosque is
equivalent to one hundred thousand Solh [elsewhere].
And Solh in the battlefield is equivalent to one million
Solh [elsewhere]. And what is more than all of that is
two raka`at performed by a servant [of Allh] during the
middle of the night. [Reported by Abu Al-Bukhari and
Muslim, Ibn Hibban in his work ath-Thawab, and alMunzhiri, in his book at-Targhib wa Tarhib, is silent about
it.]
What should we recite at night prayers?
The Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used to recite
long surah during qiyam (standing up position in a Solh)
at the night prayers. Those were the surah such as AlBaqarah, An-Nis or Al-`Imran. And he used to keep long
the ruk (bowing position) and (sujud) prostrations as
well. He used to think about the deep meaning of the
verses.
Following the solh, he often used to supplicate
concisely, remembers Allh, and aplenty used to repent
and ask for forgiveness. Many hadiths narrated about
Allhs acceptance of the prayers, presence of the hour of
acceptance [Muslim, 757] and certainty that it will be
accepted [Bukhari, Tahajjud, Muwatta, The Qur`n, 1,
214; Muslim, 758, 2800; Tirmidzi, 446] therefore, one
should make use between of the time well for repenting
and praying profusely.
Here, the criterion should be as follows: We should
choose a recital which we can apply it any time and
suitable with our time and potential. However, even if we
do not it every time, when we are convenient, we can
recite long chapters. For example, as one may recite a
short chapter or several verses at every rakaah, also she

or he may recite a page or the chapters such as Y-sn,

Fath, Al-Rahmn, Al-Mulk or Juzuk Amma.
Seeking Lailatul-Qadar in last ten days of Ramadhn
`Aishah (radiyallhu`anha) reported: When the (last) ten
started, the Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) would
tighten his izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in
order to have more time for worship), spend the whole
night awake (in Solh), and wake up his family. [AlBukhri and Muslim]
`Aishah (radiyallhu`anha) also said: Allhs Messenger
(Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) used to exert more (in
worship) on the last ten than on other nights.[Muslim]
The Prophet (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: Seek it
in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.[AlBukhri and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallhu`anhu) narrated that the
Messenger (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) said: Whoever
stands (in qiyam) in Lailatul-Qadar [and it is facilitated
for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allhs reward),
will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Al-Bukhri
and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him" is
recorded by Ahmad from the report of Ubadah Ibn AsSamit(radiyallhu`anhu); it means that he is permitted to
be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed
night]
`Aishah (radiyallhu`anha) reported that she asked
Allhs Messenger (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam), O
Messenger (radiallhuanha) of Allh! If I knew which
night is Lailatul-Qadar, what should I say during it? And
he (Sallallhu `alayhi wasallam) instructed her to
say: Allhumma innaka `afuw wun tuhibbul `afwa fafu

`anni (O Allh! You are forgiving, and you love

forgiveness. So forgive me) [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn
Majah, and At-Tirmidzi]
And Allh Almighty Knows best