Does Night Prayer Require Sleep First?
Question: Does a person earn the reward of Qiyām al-Layl (the night prayer) only if they wake up from sleep to perform it? And if I stay up late into the night and then pray, can I still receive the reward?
Summary:
Qiyām al-Layl is a broad term that includes all voluntary night prayers offered between ʿIshāʾ and Fajr, whether one sleeps before it or not. Tahajjud is a special form of Qiyām performed after waking from sleep, and it carries extra reward due to its difficulty. Tarāwīḥ, commonly prayed in Ramadan, is also part of Qiyām al-Layl and has its own unique method.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
The time for Qiyām al-Layl starts after ʿIshāʾ and ends at the Fajr adhān. A person can pray up to 11 rakʿahs. For example, after praying ʿIshāʾ, if you do some work and then get up to pray 2 rakʿahs, this is considered Qiyām al-Layl.
Tahajjud is more difficult it involves sleeping after ʿIshāʾ, then waking up in the middle of the night or during the last third of the night to pray. Both Qiyām and Tahajjud carry reward, but Tahajjud has greater reward because it requires more effort.
The best time for Tahajjud is during the last third of the night, and it carries the most reward. However, as long as you pray before Fajr, it is still counted.
There is also Tarāwīḥ. It is called Tarāwīḥ because people used to pray four rakʿahs and take a short rest, then pray another four. Tarāwīḥ is also a form of Qiyām al-Layl, but it is specifically called Tarāwīḥ due to this pattern of resting.
And Allah knows best.
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