Tahajjud – The Mark of Piety
Have you ever observed the life of an individual, who is blessed with regularity in night prayer? I had an experience of a few people. The first thing that I noticed about them is that whenever you see them, they make you remember Allah SWT. They seem so satisfied and calm that one is amazed. Allah SWT has blessed their hearts with purity, chastity and tranquility. They have got mysterious ways to get their answers directly from Allah SWT.
One example that I read in a book about these people was that Abdullah Hussain RA mentioned that he had a maid and he observed her praying to Allah SWT at night prayer, she was saying “Oh my Lord, You love me so forgive me for the sake of that love”. Abdullah Hussain RA stopped her and advised her to say like this instead, “Oh my Lord, I love You so forgive me for the sake of that love.” She replied, “You don’t know that my Lord loves me. That is why I am awake and you are sleeping.” This narration clearly explains the relationship of such individuals with Allah SWT.
Tahjjud is the optional night prayers offered at any time after Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer, but the best time is the last third of the night. Sayyidatina Aishah RA said about the night prayer of Prophet Muhammad SAW, “It was seven, nine or eleven Rakaat besides the two Rakat of the Fajr prayer (i.e. Sunna).”
Tahajjud, although optional, has huge benefits, rewards and effects on the individual. Tahajjud bestows the most reward of all the nawafils. Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Two rakaats of prayer performed in the middle of the night are dearer to me than the entire world and everything therein.” Just probe in this hadith, you will clearly understand and find the solution to all problems. I perceive tahajjud as a litmus test for every Muslim, if one is on right track he will be blessed with the regularity of night prayer, because a disobedient Muslim cannot perform such an act that is loved by the Prophet SAW. Night prayer is the best tool for a Muslim to strengthen his love with Prophet Muhammad SAW and Allah SWT.
Prophet Muhammad SAW explained how effective night prayer is to get the mercy and forgiveness of Allah SWT, in these words , “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes down every night to the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” Islam is a beautiful religion and look how Allah SWT, the Most Merciful has given us the opportunity to get mercy and ask for success in both lives.
The rewards of night prayer are countless and beyond our imagination. Allah SWT says
“They forsake their beds of sleep, 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. Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them – as a reward for their good deeds.” (Surah as-Sajdah: 16-17)
None can imagine the blessings of Allah SWT. If we do not avail this opportunity to establish night prayer then we would truly be losers. May Allah SWT set us on right path and give us strength to implement night prayers in our lives.
Junayd