the Night Prayer (Qiyaam Al-Layl)

Från: Umm_Amatillaah (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-05-02 00:45
Bismillah wal hamdulillah wa salaat wa salaam 'ala nabiyyina Muhammad 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi, wa ba'd!



Shaykh Muhammad Baazmool on the Legislated Number of Rak'ahs of Witr, the Night Prayer (Qiyaam Al-Layl)
[ With Audio in 'Arabic Only ]

QUESTION

I understand that the qiyaam al-layl (the night prayer) has to be a certain number of rak'ahs. Could you clarify the correct position in this issue, including a discussion of the different opinions of the scholars? May Allaah reward you much.

ANSWER by Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Baazmool, professor of higher studies at Umm Al-Quraa University in Makkah [ audio in 'Arabic only ]

The scholars view qiyaam al-layl (the night prayer) to be from the optional acts of worship that are muqayyad (restricted). And its restriction is that the reports concerning it show that it is legislated to be performed at a certain time, and it also is legislated to be performed in a certain manner. Furthermore, they differed over the issue: Does it have a set number of rak'ahs or not?

The reason for this differing can be found in the hadeeth of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), when a man came to him and asked him about the night prayer, saying, "O Messenger of Allaah, how do I pray at night?" He (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) replied:

"The night prayer is (to be prayed) two by two." [1]

So based on this, some of the scholars have said that there is no limit to the number of rak'ahs to be prayed as night prayer, while they still viewed it to be a restricted form of optional worship.

Those who have said that this hadeeth is not a proof for the absence of a limit say, "Because the questioner only asked about how to pray the night prayer, and he did not ask about the number of its rak'ahs." Furthermore, they stated that the phrase used by the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), "Mathnaa, mathnaa (two by two)," only refers to the basic description of something, and it is not something used to define a set number. Thus, these scholars say that this hadeeth is not a proof for the issue of whether or not there is a limit to the number of rak'ahs that can be prayed.

When we return to the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), to his actions, we find that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) has said, when she was asked about the Messenger's (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) night prayers, "He did not pray more than 11 rak'ahs in Ramadhaan or in other than Ramadhaan." [2]

So it is known from this hadeeth, a hadeeth that is agreed upon (by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim), that the Witr of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and his night prayer, that which is referred to as salaat al-layl or qiyaam al-layl, that which is referred to in Ramadhaan as salaat at-taraaweeh and sometimes salaat al-qiyaam, was only 11 rak'ahs.

However, it has been authentically established that (some of) the Companions prayed more than 11 rak'ahs. Some of them prayed 21, and others prayed more. This action of the Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) must have been based upon a Sunnah, since this is an affair of worship.

Based on this, I say that a person has options as to how he can pray his night prayers. If a person wants to pray 11 rak'ahs of night prayer, then he may do so. And whoever wants to pray 21, then he may do so. And whoever wants to pray more or less than that, then he may do so. This is since the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) alluded to the act of making Witr with 3, 5 or 7 rak'ahs. He said:

"Make Witr with three (rak'ahs), but do not make it like Maghrib." [3]

And he (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

"Perform Witr with three (rak'ahs), and perform Witr with five (rak'ahs)." [4]

And it is authentically established, on the authority of Mu'aawiyah, that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) performed Witr by praying a single rak'ah. [5]

So then all of these options, in shaa' Allaah, are legislated and, thus, permissible. The Muslim may:

(a) Perform Witr by praying a single rak'ah;

(b) Perform Witr by praying three rak'ahs;

(c) Perform Witr by praying five rak'ahs;

(d) Perform Witr by praying seven rak'ahs;

(e) Perform Witr by praying nine rak'ahs;

(f) Perform Witr by praying 11 rak'ahs.

And 11 rak'ahs was the most prayed by the Messenger. However, as you know, the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) consists of statements, actions, and approvals. The Sunnah based on his own actions is no more than 11 rak'ahs, however, we say: The action of the Companions, when they prayed more than 11 rak'ahs, shows that there exists another (variety of the) Sunnah, perhaps it was from the approval of the Messenger, or perhaps it was from a statement of his that did not reach us, since they understood that one could pray more than 11 rak'ahs, and thus they prayed more than 11 rak'ahs.

So this makes the Sunnah of his action 11 rak'ahs. Furthermore, we can say that the Sunnah, in general, shows the permissibility of praying more than 11 rak'ahs as well.

Thus, we can express the fiqh of this issue with the following phrase: The most virtuous thing to do is restrict oneself to 11 rak'ahs, but is if one adds to that, then it is permissible. Adding to 11 rak'ahs is permissible, based on the general application of the Sunnah, by way of the actions of the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. This is what is related to qiyaam al-layl.

It is also important to make note of another issue, that the night prayer is an optional form of worship that is maqayyad (restricted). Here is a question: Is it permissible for a Muslim to pray something other than salaat al-layl at night, just some general optional prayers?

The answer: Yes, as general optional prayers have no set limit. Let me give you an example so as to clarify the difference between the two. The Sunnah prayers throughout the day are:

(a) Two rak'ahs before Thuhr, two rak'ahs after Thuhr, two rak'ahs after Maghrib, two rak'ahs after 'Eshaa', and two rak'ahs before Fajr;

(b) Or four rak'ahs before Thuhr, four rak'ahs after Thuhr, (along with the above);

(c) Or four rak'ahs before Thuhr, two rak'ahs after Thuhr, (along with the above);

(d) Or four rak'ahs before 'Asr (along with the above);

This is all based upon what has come in the narrations. So let us say that a man has prayed all of these prayers already, or even if he did not pray them, and he wants to pray some other additional optional prayers, wihtout intending them to be from the established rawaatib (daily Sunnah prayers), then we say: It is permissible for him to do that, whether it is at night or during the day.

However, do not stand up, intending to pray the rawaatib (daily Sunnah prayers), and then add to them. No, as the rawaatib (daily Sunnah prayers) have a set limit, set times, and set numbers of rak'ahs.

And similarly is the night prayer. If you want to pray some general optional prayers at night, then pray however you like. [6] But if you want to pray salaat al-layl, then you must pray according to the limits legislated by the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) related to the time of the prayer and its description. And as far as the number of rak'ahs is concerned, then, as I mentioned, what has been related from the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), based on the generality of His Sunnah, is that there is no specific limit to the number of its rak'ahs.

SOURCE

This was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a cassette recording with the knowledge and permission of the shaykh, file no. AAMB037, dated 1423/8/17. [ Click here for audio ]

FOOTNOTES

[1] From an authentic hadeeth collected by Al-Bukhaaree (#473, 1/701 of Fat-hul-Baaree), Muslim (#1746, 3/273 of Sharh An-Nawawee), and others, on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him).

The full text of Al-Bukhaaree's version is: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) while he was delivering a khutbah, and said, "How is the night prayer (prayed)?" He replied:

"Two by two, and when you fear the (coming of the) morning, then perform Witr by praying one rak'ah. It will be a Witr for you for everything you have prayed."

[2] From an authentic hadeeth collected by Al-Bukhaaree (#473, 1/701 of Fat-hul-Baaree), Muslim (#2013, 4/310 of Sharh An-Nawawee), and others, on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him).

[3] In his book, Bughyatul-Mutatawwi' (p.56), the shaykh said, "It was collected by Al-Haakim in his Mustadrak (1/314), and he called it saheeh according to their (Al-Bukhaaree's and Muslim's) conditions. It was also collected by At-Tahaawee in Sharh Ma'aanee Al-Aathaar (1/292). And Al-Albaanee declared it to be saheeh in Salaat At-Taraaweeh (p.85)."

[4] I was not able to find this exact wording, however it is similar to an authentic hadeeth collected by An-Nasaa'ee in his Sunan (#1711), on the authority of Aboo Ayyoob Al-Ansaaree (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

"Witr is something established, so whoever wants to perform Witr by praying five (rak'ahs), then let him do so. And whhoever wants to perform Witr by praying three (rak'ahs), then let him do so. And whoever wants to perform Witr by praying one (rak'ah), then let him do so."

Al-Albaanee declared it to be saheeh (authentic).

[5] I could not find the hadeeth being referred to here. However the shaykh, in his book, Bughyatul-Mutatawwi' (p.55), states that Witr with only one rak'ah is established by three narrations:

(a) The first one has been mentioned in footnote #1, "...Then perform Witr by praying one rak'ah..."

(b) The second one has been mentioned in footnote #4, "...And whoever wants to perform Witr by praying one (rak'ah), then let him do so."

(c) The third one has been collected by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh (#1754, 3/274 of Sharh An-Nawawee), on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him):

"Witr is a rak'ah performed in the last part of the night."

[6] For example, you do not pray qiyaam al-layl before Maghrib. Also, you do not pray anything after Witr, intending it to be qiyaam al-layl.

Från: Umm-Aicha (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-03-08 22:30
Från: <NOBR>UmmYusuf_88</NOBR> (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2004-11-03 23:06
Olika sätt som Qiyāmul-Layl kan bes på
al-Imām Nāsir-ud-Dīn al-Albānī

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Sätten som nattbönen (Qiyāmul-Layl) kan bes på:

al-Imām Muhammad Nāsir-ud-Dīn al-Albānī sade1:
”Jag har tidigare talat om dessa sätt i detalj i min bok 'Salātut-Tarawih' (sid 101-115), därför väljer jag att nämna dessa sätt kortfattat som en påminnelse och i syfte att underlätta för läsaren:


Det första sättet

13 raka´āt som inleds med två korta raka’āt – det är troligast att dessa är sunnah-bönen efter ´Ishā`, eller de kan även vara två speciella raka´āt som nattbönen inleds med som vi nämnt tidigare – sedan bad han två väldigt långa raka´āt, sedan två som är något kortare, sedan två som är kortare än de två tidigare, sedan två som är kortare än de föregående, sedan två som är kortare än de föregående, sedan bad han witr med en rak´ah.


Det andra sättet

13 raka´āt. Varav åtta som bes två åt gången med taslīm mellan dem. Sedan bad han witr med fem raka´āt där man inte sitter och läser eller gör taslīm utom i den femte rak´an.


Det tredje sättet

11 raka´āt. Där han bad tio; två åt gången med taslīm efter varje par. Sedan bad han witr med en rak´ah.


Det fjärde sättet

11 raka´āt. Där han bad fyra raka´āt med en taslīm. Sedan fyra till på samma sätt, sedan tre raka´āt. Frågan som kan ställas här är: ”Brukade han sitta efter två raka´āt under de fyra respektive tre raka´āt?”. Jag har inte lyckats hitta någon tillfredsställande svar på detta, men det som är känt är att sittande efter två rak’ah i den bönen som består av tre raka´āt inte är tillåtet!


Det femte sättet

Han bad 11 raka´āt. Han satt inte förrän den åttonde rak´an, sedan läste han tashahhud och salāt-an-Nabiyy, sedan ställde han sig upp UTAN att göra taslim och bad witr med en rak´ah. Sedan gjorde han taslim. Vi är nu alltså uppe i nio raka´āt. Sedan bad han två raka´āt sittande.


Det sjätte sättet

Han bad nio raka´āt. Han satte sig inte ner förrän den sjätte rak´an. Där läste han tashahhud och salāt-un-Nabiyy och sedan ställde han sig upp och bad... etc på samma sätt som vi nämnde i den föregående beskrivningen [dvs den femte].

Dessa är de sätt som har bekräftats från Profeten i autentiska texter. Det är tillåtet att göra andra variationer på sådana vis att man drar bort ett par raka´āt [från de tidigare beskrivna sätten] ända tills det inte återstår mer än en enda rak’ah, detta i enlighet med hadithen: ”.....så den som önskar kan avsluta (yuwtir) med fem, och den som så önskar kan avsluta (yuwtir) med tre, och den som så önskar kan avsluta (yuwtir) med en.”2

Dessa fem och tre raka´āt som nämns ovan kan den bedjande be med en enda sittning och taslīm som förekommer i det andra sättet, eller om han vill kan han be med en sittning och taslīm efter varannan rak´ah, som förekommer i det tredje sättet bland annat. Och detta sistnämnda är bäst.Det är tillåtet för individen att be vilket som helst antal som kommit på autentisk väg från Profeten (s), och på vilket som helst sätt som utövades av Profeten (s). Inget förbud finns att utföra bönen på dessa autentiskt bekräftade sätt." Jag [shaykh al-Albānī) säger: Detta överensstämmer helt med det som jag valt som åsikt, nämligen att det antalet raka´āt som förekommit på autentisk väg från Profeten (s) är det som man ska hålla sig till och att man INTE får lägga till det. Jag tackar Allāh för att Han givit mig framgång i detta och jag ber Honom om mer av Hans Förtjänst.' href="http://www.salafi.se/?url=38#fnref3" name=fn3>3

Vad beträffar att be dessa fem eller tre raka´āt på sådant vis att man sitter och läser tashahhud efter varannan rak’ah utan att göra taslim säger jag: Jag har inte funnit någon autentisk hadith som stödjer detta. Och trots att grunden i detta är att det är tillåtet, är falltet så att då Profeten förbjöd oss att likna vår witr-bön med maghrib i hadithen där han sade: ”...och gör inte den [witr] lik salāt-ul-Maghrib”4, till följd av detta måste den som ber witr med tre raka´āt se till att den inte liknar Maghrib. Detta kan göras på två sätt:

Det första: att göra taslīm mellan shaf´ (de första två) och witr (den sista). Detta är det starkaste och bästa sättet.

Det andra: att inte sitta mellan shaf´ och witr.

Och Allāh ta’āla vet bäst.”

Salafi.se not: Då det inte alltid är så att vi kan åka till moskén för att be tarawih med Jamā’ah kan vi be det hemma. Det är dock bäst att be den i moskén då Profeten har sagt: ”Om man ber bakom imāmen [under Ramdān] ända tills imāmen går därifrån kommer detta att räknas för honom som om han bett hela natten.” 5 Det ska inte tros att antigen ber man tarawih i moskén eller inte alls. Utan man kan be den hemma ensam, eller med andra och då kan man be den på de olika sätt som kommit från Profeten och ta vara på chansen att tillämpa den kunskapen som man läst om. Observera även att man inte ska be mer raka´āt än det antalet som bekräftats från Profeten och att man inte kan be witr mer än en gång, t ex om man ber witr bakom imāmen i tarawih sedan vill man be det igen hemma senare samma natt; detta är inte tillåtet då Profeten sade: ”Det finns inte två witr-böner i en och samma natt” 6.

Må Allah ge oss framgången att lyckas göra vårt yttersta för att observera Ramadān så nära Profetens sunnah vi kan, och må Han acceptera vår fastan och bön och välgörenhet, āmīn.


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1 Qiyām Ramadan sid 27-30.
2 Nedtecknad av at-Tahāwi och al-Hākim och andra. Denna hadith har en sahīh isnād som flera framstående lärda har fastslagit. Se min bok Salātut-Tarawih sid 99-100 där jag tydliggjort detta.
3 Viktig Nytta: Ibn Khuzaymah sade i sin Sahīh (2/194) efter att ha nämnt hadithen från ´Āishah och andra hadither som beskrev de olika sätt som Profeten brukade be nattbönen på: "Det är tillåtet för individen att be vilket som helst antal som kommit på autentisk väg från Profeten , och på vilket som helst sätt som utövades av Profeten . Inget förbud finns att utföra bönen på dessa autentiskt bekräftade sätt." Jag [shaykh al-Albānī) säger: Detta överensstämmer helt med det som jag valt som åsikt, nämligen att det antalet raka´āt som förekommit på autentisk väg från Profeten är det som man ska hålla sig till och att man INTE får lägga till det. Jag tackar Allāh för att Han givit mig framgång i detta och jag ber Honom om mer av Hans Förtjänst.
4 Nedtecknad av at-Tahāwi och ad-Darqutnī bland andra. Se at-Tarawih (sid 99-100).
5 Sahih Abū Dawūd.
6 Sahīh al-Jāmi’ 7567.

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Från: Umm_Amatillaah Skickat: 2005-05-02 00:50
Bismillah wal hamdulillah wa salaat wa salaam 'ala rasoolillah wa ba'd!

Här är artikeln på svänska. N-joy!

Performance of the Night Prayer
Author: Imaam al-Albaani
Source: Qiyaam Ramadaan (pgs. 28-30) (trans. Masjid Ahl ul-Quran was-Sunnah Association, NY, USA)
Article ID : IBD090009 [3544]



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I spoke in detail about this subject in my book Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (pg. 101-115), so I felt that I should abridge that discussion here in order to make it easy for the reader and to remind him:

The First Manner: consists of thirteen rak’aat, which is commenced with two short rak’aat. According to the most correct opinion, these are the two rak’aat of Sunnah prayer offered after ‘Ishaa, or they are two specific rak’aat by which one begins the Night Prayer, as has been stated previously. Then one prays two very long rak’aat (after that). Then two more rak’aat are prayed, and then another two rak’aat are prayed. Then two more rak’aat are prayed and another set of two rak’aat are prayed. Then witr is made with one rak’ah.

The Second Manner: consists of thirteen rak’aat. There are eight rak’aat within them, in which one makes tasleem after every two rak’aat. Then witr is made with five rak’aat and one does not sit nor make the tasleem except in the fifth rak’ah.

The Third Manner: consists of eleven rak’aat, in which one makes tasleem after every two rak’aat and then prays witr at the end with one rak’ah.

The Fourth Manner: consists of eleven rak’aat, in which one prays four rak’aat and makes one tasleem after the four. The he prays another four in a similar manner and ends it with three rak’aat (for witr).

Would the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) remain in the sitting position after eveyr two rak’aat, when praying a unit of four rak’aat or a unit of three rak’aat? We do not find a clear answer for this, but remaining in the sitting position (for tashahhud) while doing a unit of three rak’aat is not legislated (in the Religion)!

The Fifth Manner: consists of eleven rak’aat, in which one prays eight rak’aat and does not sit in any of them except for the eighth rak’ah. While sitting (in the eighth rak’ah), he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and then stands up again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with one rak’ah and when finished, he makes the tasleem. This consists of nine rak’aat. Then he prays two rak’aat after that while in the sitting position.

The Sixth Manner: One prays nine rak’aat, in which he does not sit except after the sixth rak’ah. Then he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and then stands again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with three rak’aat and when finished, he makes the tasleem, etc. (the rest is the same as the previous manner)

These are the manners in which it is reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) performed the Night Prayer. It is possible to add other types of manners to it, by subtracting what one wishes from each set of rak’aat until he cuts it down to one rak’ah, acting on the previously mentioned hadeeth of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam): “So whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with five rak’aat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with three rak’aat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with one rak’ah.”

So if one wants, he can pray these five rak’aat or three rak’aat with one sitting and one tasleem, as is stated in the Second Manner. And if he wants, he can make tasleem after every two rak’aat, as is stated in the Third Manner, and this is preferred.

As for praying the set of five rak’aat or three rak’aat by sitting after every two rak’aat and not making the tasleem, then we did not find any authentic report that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to do this. The asl (foundation) is that it is permissible, but since the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) forbade us from praying witr with three rak’aat indicating the reason for that by saying: “And do not liken it to the Maghrib prayer.” [1] So then anyone that prays the witr in three rak’aat must not liken it to the Maghrib prayer. This can be done in two ways:

1. Making the tasleem between the even and odd number rak’ah (i.e. between the second and the third rak’ah). This is what is more strong and preferred.

2. One does not sit between the even and odd number (i.e. he prays three rak’aat straight with one tasleem), and Allaah knows best.

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by At-Tahawee, Ad-Daraqutnee and others. See At-Taraaweeh (pg. 99 & 110)

Article courtesy of www.al-manhaj.com


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