✦⋆· said, "The Archangel Gabriel continuously advises me about standing for prayer in the night such that I really thought the good people in my community will never sleep."

● "Every single servant who makes up his mind to wake up at a particular time in the night [to pray] but stays asleep, his sleep is considered charity that Allah accepts on his behalf, and the same reward for that which he intended is written down for him."

● "Verily when a servant withdraws to be alone with his Master in the middle of the dark night and intimately converses with Him, Allah places divine light into his heart…then He, Exalted be His Splendour, says to His angels, "O My angels, look at My servant how he seeks solitude to be with Me in the middle of the dark night while the worthless ones remain heedless and the negligent ones sleep. Witness that verily I have forgiven him."

● "You must get up for the night prayer, for verily it was the devoted practice of all righteous people before you, and verily the night vigil is a means of proximity to Allah and a prevention from sin."

✦⋆· "Standing to pray in the night is conducive to the health of the body, is a source of pleasure for the Lord, exposes one to [the descent of] divine mercy, and is adherence to the moral virtues of the Prophets."

● "I have never left the night prayer since I heard the Prophet (saw) say that the night prayer is a light." Ibn al-Kawwa asked, "Not even on the night of al-Harir?" [al-Harir: a celebrated battle between two tribes (ed.)] to which he replied, "Not even on the night of al-Harir."

● Imam Ali (as) was asked by a man, "I have been deprived of [the opportunity to] pray in the night", to which Imam replied, "Your sins have imprisoned you."

✦⋆· "A believer’s dignity lies in his standing for the night prayer, and his honour lies in abstaining from [tarnishing] other people’s good reputations."

● "The night prayer brightens one’s face, the night prayer fragrances one’s breath, and the night prayer attracts sustenance."

● "Do not leave the night prayer, for verily the one who is truly duped is the one who has lost out on the night prayer."

● "Verily a man tells a lie and he is deprived of the night prayer as a result."

● "Every single good deed that the servant carries out has a reward mentioned for it in the Qur’an except for the night prayer, for verily Allah has not expressed its reward because of the great significance it holds with Him. Thus, He says, "Their sides vacate their beds to supplicate their Lord in fear and hope …No one knows what has been kept hidden for them of comfort as a reward for what they used to do."[ Quran 32:16]

Salat al-layl is one of the most recommended prayers in Islam. It is a prayer that is to be offered during the late hours of the night, when everyone is asleep. The believer who performs this special prayer will be able to have intimate moments with the Almighty that transcend their relationship with Him.

The words of the Ahlulbayt (as)

illustrate the benefit of this prayer for those who wake up in the middle of the night to remember Him. 

Imam Sadiq (as) states, "Allah (swt says; ‘Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of this world’ [18:46], but the eight rakat (units of prayer) recited by a servant at the end of the night are an ornament of the Hereafter.

How to Perform the Night Prayer?

With such great rewards, one might think that the night prayer would be a lengthy one. However, it is rather simple.

The prayer altogether consists of 11 rakat.

- 8 rakat with the intention of 'Night Prayer' These prayers are to be offered in sets of two (Just like the morning prayers). After Surah Al-Fatiha, read Surah Al-Ikhlas

- 2 rakat Shaf'a Prayer, In the first rakat read: Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Ikhlas and Surah An-Nas.

In the second rakat, read: Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Ikhkas and Surah Al-Falaq.

- 1 rakat Witr Prayer, read Surah Al-Fatiha once and Surah Al-Ikhlas for 3 times. Then read Surah Al-Falaq & Surah An-Nas for once.

When the reading of these Surahs is complete, one should raise their hands in the state of qunut and talk about your wish with Allah. Then, one should ask for the forgiveness of forty believers. For example, one can say, “Oh Allah, forgive so and so” and continue for forty names. OR you can say this prayer for 40 times; which is asking forgiveness for all Muslims:

اَللَّهُمَّ اِغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ اَلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ اَلْمُسْلِمَاتِ.

("O Allah! Forgive the sins of faithful believeing men & women and all Muslims.")

Then for 70 times say: "Astaghfirullaha rabbi wa atubu ilayh"

《استغفر الله ربي واتوب اليه》

(I seek forgiveness from my Lord and turn to him in repentance).

Its been recommended that one should then say for 7 times:

《هذا مقام العائذ بك من النار》

"Hatha maqam al-aith bika

min a-nar."

(This is the position of one who seeks refuge in You from the fire).

Then for 300 times say: 《اَلْعَفو》 "Al-afu"

(I seek Your pardon).

Finally, say the following dua for once:

《رَبّ اغْفِرْلی وَ ارْحَمْنی وَ تُبْ عَلیََّ اِنَّکَ اَنْتَ التّوابُ اَلْغَفُورُ الرّحیم.》

(My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me, and accept my repentance. Surely You are the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful).

Once finished with your prayers, don't forget to recite Tasbih Lady Fatimah (sa): الله اکبر، 33 times،الحمد لله 33 times سبحان الله 33 times.

It has been recommended to read Dua Abu Hamzah after your Night prayer. It is enjoyable and beautiful, you might find it so joyful as though you are flying in the sky and are no longer on earth. It's a sweet connection with Allah (swt).

The supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali is a Du'a attributed to Imam Zayn al-Abidin. Abu Hamzah Al-Thumali, received it from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (as) and was the principal narrator of the work. 

The above is the official method of praying the night prayer. However, there is a simplified method as well. With the intention of praying the night prayer, one can offer the “prayer of Shaf'a” and “prayer of Witr” only if you don't have enough time. It is also permissible to pray the "prayer of Witr" alone with the same intention.

● What time can you perform the Night Prayer? You have time from 12 midnight until the time of morning prayer(dawn). But it's better to do your Night prayer a bit later than 12 or 1 am, at around 2:00am, 2:30 am, or 3:00am, 3:30am. But if the time of morning prayer is around 5:00am then you can do your Night prayer at 4:00am. The closer to the time of morning prayer, the better.

● It is better to Perform your Night Prayer while standing up. However, for those who have problems & issues, they can perform it while sitting down. ‌

● For those who are performing their Night Prayer while sitting down, it is better if they double their rakat since 2 rakat while sitting down equals to 1 rakat while standing up but it is not obligatory to do this. If they do 11 rakat while sitting down, it's acceptable.

If they can't perform 11 rakat then 2 rakat Shaf'a prayer and 1 rakat Witr is fine. But if it's trouble to do even this, then 1 rakat Witr is enough.

● If anyone, at the time of waking up from their sleep, don't have enough time for performing Night Prayer, they can only do their Shaf'a and Witr prayer only.

● You don't have to do Qunut for Shaf'a prayer, but if anyone wants to do it, they can.

● The traveler or anyone who finds it difficult to perform their Night Prayer late at night, can do it earlier than 12:00 midnight, and at the beginning of Night before sleep.

● Anyone who missed the time to do their Night Prayer before morning prayer, can perform it after their morning prayer, with the intention of missed Night prayer in mind.

● All the Voluntary/ recommended prayers are 2 rakat except Witr prayer which is only 1 rakat.

1. Prophet (saw) said, "Two rak'at of prayer (salat) in the heart of Night, is more beloved to me than the World and things inside it."

2. The Night Prayer destroys the sin of the day.

3. The Night Prayer creates a light in Judgement Day.

4. The Night Prayer is believer's honor in this world and afterlife.

5. The Night Prayer is solitude with Allah (swt).

6. People of Paradise envy those who perform their Night Prayer.

7. Allah (swt) doesn't send punishment for those who perform Night Prayer.

8. Nine queue of Angels stand behind the one who does his/her Night Prayer,

equivalent to the number of those Angels, Allah gives the performer of Night Prayer spiritual position & rank.

9. The Night Prayer destroys fear in the grave.

10. The Night Prayer is a light in the grave.

11. The Night Prayer is a companion in grave.

12. Humans can turn into best people by performing their Night Prayer and keeping it up.

13. The Night Prayer is believer's happiness in the world.

14. The Night Prayer is the adornment of Hereafter.

15. The Night Prayer is a breeze & aroma from Allah to the believer.

16. The Night Prayer helps body to be healthy.

17. The Night Prayer makes Allah (swt) pleased.

18. The Night Prayer brings Allah's blessings.

19. Performing Night Prayer is grasping the moral of Prophets (as) & Imams (as).

20. Prophet Ibrahim (as) became 'Khaliulallah' because of performing Night Prayer.

21. The Night Prayer prevents the believer from committing sins.

22. The Night Prayer turns one's face bright.

23. The deceived one is he/she who doesn't perform their Night Prayer.

24. The Night Prayer is the firm conduct of Prophets, Imams, and righteous people.

25. The Night Prayer creates a nice scent for the believer which makes people like to communicate with them.

26. The long nights is the spring of believer for waking up at night and performing Night prayer.

27. The Night Prayer helps with the annihilation of poverty and neediness.

28. The Night Prayer helps the believer to become good tempered.

29. The Night Prayer helps to get rid of the believer's debts.

30. The Night Prayer gets rid of sorrow and sadness.

31. Those who perform Night Prayer at their home, a light will shine from their place and people & Angels in the sky can see it just like how stars shines brightly for the people on earth.

32. Those who claim to do their Night Prayer and are in state of poverty and hunger are lying.

33. The Night Prayer guarantees the believer's sustenance for their day.

34. Standing up for long hour performing the Witr prayer, helps the believer to have a short stop in Judgement Day.

35. It turns the grave of the believer into a garden of Paradise.

36. Prophet (saw) continually recommend to Imam Ali (as) to keep up his Night prayer.

37. The Night prayer helps the believer to enter Paradise.

38. Allah (swt) covers the performer of Night Prayer with his own light.

39. The Night prayer makes Shaytan upset.

40. The Night prayer increases faith.

41. The Night prayer increases sustenance.

42. The Night prayer helps the believer to have more knowledge and cognition about Allah (swt).

43. The Night Prayer is the weapon of believer against enemies. (It has been mentioned, some people obtained victory against their enemy that were covered with weapons from head to toe by performing their Night Prayer).

44. The Night Prayer, is the intercessor for believer when the Angel of death comes to him.

45. The Night prayer helps your supplication (Dua) to get accepted.

46. The Night Prayer is the answer for Nakir and Munkar in grave.

47. The Night Prayer is the light and carpet in believer's grave.

48. The Night Prayer is the shadow on top of believer's head in Judgement Day.

49. The Night Prayer is the clothes of the believer in Judgement Day.

50. The Night Prayer is a crown on believer's head in Judgement Day.

51. The Night Prayer is a light in front of the believer and other people in Judgement Day.

52. The Night Prayer turns believer's scale of deeds heavy in Judgement Day.

53. The Night Prayer helps the believer to cross the bridge of Siraat.

54. The Night Prayer is the key to the doors of Paradise.

55. The Night Prayer is salvation from Hell fire.

56. The Night Prayer increases life span.

57. Imam Sadiq (as) said, "Performer of Night Prayer is amongst our Shias (followers).

58. The Night Prayer grants the believer dignity and honor.

59. Allah (swt) gives the performer of Night Prayer rewards personally in Paradise.