Salat Al-Layl
Author(s):
Muhammad Baqir Majlisi [1]
Publisher(s):
Al-Fath Al-Mubin Publications [2]
This text explains methods of reciting Salat al-Layl or Tahajjud, the night prayer, and includes Arabic
along with English translations.
Get PDF [3] Get EPUB [4] Get MOBI [5]
Translator(s):
Saleem Bhimji [6]
Topic Tags:
Salatul Layl [7]
Introduction
In many of the verses of the Qur’an, the performance of Salat al-Layl and staying awake a portion of the
night - after midnight - in the worship of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) has been mentioned, of
which, we present some of these verses:
ِﺎرﺤﺳ ﺑِﺎﻻﺮِﻳﻦﺘَﻐْﻔﺴاﻟْﻤو
“…and those who ask forgiveness in the morning times” (3:17).
َﻠَﺔً ﻟﱠﻚ ﻧٌﺎﻓﺪْ ﺑِﻪﺠ ﻓَﺘَﻬﻞ اﻟﻠﱠﻴﻦﻣو
“Say your special (tahajjud) prayer during some part of the night…” (17:79).
ﺎﺎﻣﻴﻗﺪًا وﺠ ﺳِﻬِﻢﺑﺮﺒِﻴﺘُﻮنَ ﻟ ﻳاﻟﱠﺬِﻳﻦو
“And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing.” (26:54).
َﻘُﻮنﻨﻔ ﻳﻢزَﻗْﻨٌﺎﻫﺎ رﻤﻣﺎ وﻌﻃَﻤﻓًﺎ و ﺧَﻮﻢﻬﺑﻮنَ رﺪْﻋ ﻳﺎﺟِﻊﻀ اﻟْﻤﻦ ﻋﻢﻬﻨُﻮ ﺑ ﺟَﺎﻓﺗَﺘَﺠ
“Their sides draw away from (their) beds, they call upon their Lord in fear and in hope, and they
spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them.” (32:16).
َونﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺴ ﻳﻢﺎرِ ﻫﺤﺳﺑِﻼ و.َﻮنﻌﺠﻬﺎ ﻳ ﻣﻞ اﻟﻠﱠﻴﻦ ﻣﻴﻼﺎﻧُﻮا ﻗَﻠﻛ
“They used to sleep but little in the night. And in the morning they asked forgiveness” (51:17-18).
The Salat al-Layl was Wajib upon the Messenger of Allah1 and no Prophet had been sent before him
except that it was obligatory upon them as well.2
In the ahadith from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon all of them), it has been emphatically mentioned that:
1. Salat al-Layl protects one during the daytime.3
2. Salat al-Layl is a Kaffarah for the sins committed in the day.4
3. That house in which Salat al-Layl is recited beams with light for those who are in the heavens just as
the stars beam with light for those who are on earth.5
4. The great and noble people of our nation are those who are protectors of the Qur’an and who stay
awake the night in worship.6
5. There are three things which raise a person’s rank and station:
(i) Initiating the greeting to a fellow Muslim,
(ii) feeding poor people,
(iii) Salat in the darkness of the night when all other people are busy sleeping.7
6. Salat al-Layl makes one’s face beautiful; beautifies one’s etiquette; gives a pleasant smell to one’s
body and increases one’s daily sustenance. It also removes sorrow and grief and gives strength to the
eyes.8
7. One who does not read the Salat al-Layl is not considered as a Shi’a of the Ahlul Bayt.9
8. One who is not able to perform the Salat al-Layl is truly a very unfortunate person.10
9. Committing sins is one of the reasons for one to be unsuccessful in the performance of Salat al-
Layl.11
10. The performance of Salat al-Layl leads to gaining the pleasure of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to
Him); love of the Angels; is the Sunnah of the Prophets; leads to the light of true recognition of Allah
(Glory and Greatness be to Him); is the foundation of belief; tranquility of the soul; destruction of
Shaitan; a weapon against one’s enemies; acceptance of one’s supplications; acceptance of one’s
actions; increases the blessings in one’s sustenance; intercession when the Angel of Death comes;
brightness in the grave; protects the person while in the grave; ease in the answering of the angels
Munkir and Nakir and is the companion and friend in the grave.12
1. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 122.
2. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 136; Tafsir Al-Qummi, Pg. 701.
3. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 154; Mahasin Barqi, Pg. 53.
4. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 136.
5. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 161; Rawdhatu ‘l-Wai’dhin, Pg. 320.
6. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 138; Amali Shaikh aduq, Pg. 141.
7. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 141; Khisal, Vol. 1, Pg. 42.
8. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 86, Pg. 153, Thawab Al-A’mal, Pg. 38.
9. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 162; Maqnah of Shaikh Mufid, Pg. 111.
10. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 164; Ma’ani Al-Akhbar, Pg. 342.
11. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 152; Tawhid Shaikh aduq, Pg. 17.
12. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 161; Irshad Al-Qulub, Pg. 316.
Method Of Reciting Salat Al-Layl
Salat al-Layl is 11 Rak’at in which the first 8 Rak’at are prayed in four Salat of two Rak’at each with the
intention of Salat al-Layl (we finish each two Rak’at of Salat off with the Salam and then start the next
set of Salat until we have completed 8 Rak’at). Following this, two Rak’at would be read with the
intention of Salat ash-Shaf’. Once this is recited, one Rak’at with the intention of Salat al-Witr would be
recited.
The time of Salat al-Layl is the last one third of the night.1
It is a commonly held belief that the closer that the Salat al-Layl is read to the time of Salat al-Fajr, the
better it is, however, in many ahadith it has been mentioned that a little bit after the middle of the night,
the Prophet of Islam and the A’immah (blessings of Allah be upon all of them), performed the Salat al-
Layl. The narrations that mention these are great and it is has been mentioned that this is the time when
one’s supplications are answered.2
However, it has also been mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and
his family) used to recite the Salat al-Layl in three stages:
1. Four Rak’at after the middle of the night.
2. Four Rak’at in the last one-third of the night.
3. Three Rak’at near to the time of Fajr while performing a very long Ruku.3
It has been narrated that when Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him) was on his way from
Madinah to Khurasan, he first recited the Salat of Ja’far at-Tayyar and counted that Salat as a part of
the Salat al-Layl.4
It is Mustahab that after each two Rak’at, the Tasbih of Fatima az-Zahra (blessings be upon her) is
performed.5
In the second Rak’at of each of the two Rak’at Salat, it is Mustahab that before going into Ruku’, the
Qunut is performed. It is also Mustahab that in the Qunut, if possible, one sheds tears for the fear of
Allah and for the fear of the punishment of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and if one cannot cry,
he should at least ‘pretend’ to cry.6
It is Mustahab that in the first and second Rak’at of the Salat al-Layl that after Surah al-Fatiha, Surah
al-Ikhlas is recited 30 times.7 If one is not able to recite this, then in the first Rak’at after al-Fatiha, one
should recite Surah al-Ikhlas and in the second Rak’at after Surah al-Fatiha, one should recite Surah
al-Kafirun.
It is better that in the second Rak’at of the first Salat, Surah al-Muzzammil is read and in the second
Rak’at of the second Salat, Surah an-Naba is read. It is Mustahab that in the first Rak’at of the third
Salat, Surah Ya Sin is read, and in the second Rak’at (of the third Salat), Surah ad-Dukhan is read –
alternately, one can read Surah Waqiyah in place of Ya Sin and Surah al-Muddathir in place of Surah
ad-Dukhan. It is Mustahab that in the first Rak’at of the fourth Salat, Surah al-Mulk is read and in the
second Rak’at of the fourth Salat, Surah al-Insan is read.8
It has been mentioned that Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir (peace be upon him) used to recite Surah
al-Ikhlas in the Salat al-Shaf’ and Salat al-Witr and after reciting this Surah, would say:
ِﺑ رﻪﻚَ اﻟﺬٌاﻟﻛ
“This is Allah my Lord”9
Recitation of Surah al-Ikhlas is counted as the recitation of one-third of the Qur’an, thus, who ever
recites this Surah in the three Rak’at ( Salat al-Shaf’ and Salat al-Witr) is as if he has recited the entire
Qur’an.10
1. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 223; Al-Hidayah, Pg. 35.
2. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 227.
3. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 228.
4. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 231; ‘Uyun Al-Akhbar ar-Rida, Vol. 2, Pg. 181.
5. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 243.
6. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 272; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 107.
7. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 232.
8. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 243.
9. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 226; Furu’ Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, Pg. 441.
10. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 86, Pg. 226; Tahdhib, Vol. 1, Pg. 171.
Qunut Of Salat Al-Witr
The Salat al-Witr is one Rak’at and is the Salat and whispered supplication that completes the Salat al-
Layl. As it has been mentioned in the ahadith, the Salat is the Me’raj of the believer, and the Salat al-
Witr is the wave that carries the believer to the higher realms. It has been specifically mentioned in the
ahadith that, “The more a person stands while in the Salat al-Witr will have to stand less on the Day of
Judgement.” 1
The main item that carries one during this spiritual journey is the Qunut of the Salat al-Witr in which
those who are the true servants of Allah, spend countless hours, engrossed in supplication and tears
and asking forgiveness for their sins.
The Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said:
“Whichever of you prolongs the Qunut in his Salat al-Witr will have more ease on the Day of
Judgement.”2
In the Wajib Salat, the Qunut is in place for the servant to supplicate to his Lord however in the Salat al-
Witr, it is for asking forgiveness to Allah.3
The following verse of the Qur’an has been constantly mentioned in the ahadith in reference to asking
forgiveness during the Salat and especially during the Salat al-Witr4:
َونﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺴ ﻳﻢﺎرِ ﻫﺤﺳﺑِﺎو
“And in the morning time, they used to ask for forgiveness” (51:18).
During the Qunut of the Salat al-Witr, there are many supplications, which can be recited, and although
it is not possible to list all of them here, we will mention the most important forms of seeking forgiveness.
At the time of asking forgiveness, one should lift his left hand for asking forgiveness and use the right
hand to count the number of times5 and if one uses a tasbih made from the dirt of Karabala, then the
reward of the forgiveness is increased.
It has been related that the Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn Abdullah (blessings of Allah be upon him
and his family) would ask forgiveness 70 times during the Salat al-Witr.6
Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Whosoever recites the following
in the Salat al-Witr 70 times and continues to do so for one entire year will be counted by Allah as a
Mustaghfirin bil ashar or one who used to ask forgiveness during the night time and will make Jannah
Wajib upon that person.”7
ﻪﻟَﻴ اﺗُﻮب ا وﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.”
In another hadith it has been mentioned that, “Whosoever says the following 100 times at the end of his
Qunut and continues to do so for fourty nights will be counted as a Mustaghfirin bil ashar or one who
used to ask forgiveness during the night time. 8
ﻪﻟَﻴ اﺗُﻮب ا وﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.”
The Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) used to
ask for forgiveness 70 times in the Qunut of Salat al-Witr followed by reciting the below line seven times:
ِ اﻟﻨﱞﺎرﻦﺬِ ﺑِﻚَ ﻣﺎﺋ اﻟْﻌﻘٌﺎمﺬَا ﻣﻫ
“This is the station of the person who seeks refuge with You from the Hell Fire.”9
The method of asking forgiveness as taught to us by Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon
him) in the night as is follows:
1. Recite the following 70 times:
ﻪﻟَﻴ اﺗُﻮبا وِﺑ رﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.”
2. Followed by reciting the following seven times:
ﻟَﻴﻪ اﺗُﻮبا وﻮم اﻟْﻘَﻴ اﻟْﺤﻮ ﻫﻻ اﻟٌﻪ ا اﻟﱠﺬِي ﻻﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah the One whom there is no god except Him, the Living and Self-Subsisting
and to Him I turn back.”10
One of the most important acts in the Qunut of the Salat al-Witr is supplication for forty believers (men
or women) amongst one’s family, friends, those who have asked to be prayed for, the deceased and the
Shi’a of Amir Al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). Whosoever does this will be assured
that his supplications are answered.11
One should then say the following three hundred times:
ﻔْﯘاَﻟْﻌ
“I ask for forgiveness.”
Following this, the following should be said once:
ﻴﻢﺣ اﻟﺮاب اﻟﺘﱠﻮﻧْﺖﻧﱠﻚَ ا اَﻠ ﻋﺗُﺐ وﻨﻤﺣار وﻟﺮ اﻏْﻔبر
“Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-
Turning back, Most Merciful” 12
It has been mentioned that Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husain as-Sajjad (peace be upon him) used to recite the
following line three hundred times in his Qunut during the Salat al-Witr:
ﻔْﯘاَﻟْﻌ
“I ask for forgiveness.” 13
Allamah Majlisi has mentioned that the word (ﻔْﯘ )اَﻟْﻌcan also be recited as (ﻔْﻮ( )اَﻟْﻌwith a fathah instead of
a dhammah) on the last letter.
* Please do not forget this humble servant of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) in your prayers and
especially in the blessed Qunut of the Salat Al-Layl.
1. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 154; Fiqh ar-Rida, Pg. 1.
2. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 287; Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, Pg. 308.
3. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 18, Pg. 261, Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, Pg. 311.
4. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 207; ‘Illul ash-Shara’i, Vol. 2, Pg. 53.
5. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 208.
6. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 121; Tahdhib, Vol. 1, Pg. 272.
7. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 120; Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, Pg. 301.
8. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 22 ;اMisbah of Kaf’ami, Pg. 53.
9. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 287; Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, Pg. 301.
10. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 308; Misbah of Al-Kaf’ami, Page 58.
11. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol., 87, Pg., 284; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 101.
12. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol., 87, Pg. 275; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 101.
13. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol., 87, Pg., 275; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 101.
The Concise Method Of Reciting Salat Al-Layl
Salat al-Layl is 11 Rak’at in which:
1. The first 8 Rak’at are prayed in four Salat of two Rak’at each with the intention of Salat al-Layl (after
each two Rak’at, give the Salam, finish the Salat and then stand for the next set of Salat.)
2. Following this, two Rak’at would be read with the intention of Salat ash-Shaf’ (this Salat is performed
exactly as Salat ul-Fajr).
3. Once this is recited, one Rak’at with the intention of Salat al-Witr would be recited. In this Salat, recite
Surah Al-Fatiha once, Surah al-Ikhlas three times followed by Surah al-Falaq and Surah al-Nas once
each.
Once this part of the Salat is finished, we raise our hands in Qunut such that our palms are facing the
sky and our hands are level with our eyes and perform the following.
Qunut Of Salat Al-Witr (In Concise Method)
1. Recite the following 70 times:
ﻪﻟَﻴ اﺗُﻮبا وِﺑ رﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.”
2. Followed by reciting the following seven times:
ﻟَﻴﻪ اﺗُﻮبا وﻮم اﻟْﻘَﻴ اﻟْﺤﻮ ﻫﻻ اﻟٌﻪ ا اﻟﱠﺬِي ﻻﻪ اﻟﺮﺘَﻐْﻔﺳا
“I seek repentance from Allah the One whom there is no god except Him, the Living and Self-Subsisting
and to Him I turn back.”1
3. One of the most important acts in the Qunut of the Salat al-Witr is supplication for forty believers (men
or women) amongst one’s family, friends, those who have asked to be prayed for, the deceased and the
Shi’a of Amir Al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). Whosoever does this will be assured
that his supplications are answered.2
4. One should then say the following three hundred times:
ﻔْﯘاَﻟْﻌ
“I ask for forgiveness.”
5. Following this, the following should be said once:
ﻴﻢﺣ اﻟﺮاب اﻟﺘﱠﻮﻧْﺖﻧﱠﻚَ ا اَﻠ ﻋﺗُﺐ وﻨﻤﺣار وﻟﺮ اﻏْﻔبر
“Lord, please forgive me and have mercy upon me and turn back towards me. Verily You are the Oft-
Turning back, Most Merciful”3
Please do not forget all of the believers throughout the world in your Salat al-Layl, especially those
downtrodden and oppressed Muslims of Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir, Chechnya, Bosnia, and all over the
globe – this humble servant of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) as well.
May Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) hasten the advent of the 12th Imam (may Allah hasten his
return) to fill this world with justice and equality.
1. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 87, Pg. 308; Misbah of Al-Kaf’ami, Page 58.
2. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol., 87, Pg., 284; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 101.
3. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol., 87, Pg. 275; Misbah Al-Muttahajjid, Pg. 101.
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