Qiyam Al Layl— Night Prayers in Ramadan: Amazing Virtues & Tips

Every night before Fajr, Allah descends to the first heaven, calling out to His servants: “Who will ask Me, so I may give? Who will seek My forgiveness, so I may forgive?” Imagine the honour of being among those who rise in prayer at this blessed time.

In Ramadan, the rewards are even higher. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ  promised that those who stand in night prayers in Ramadan will receive forgiveness and freedom from Hellfire.

This article encourages you to wake up in the stillness of the night, recite the Quran before Allah, pour out your heart in sincere dua, and earn the mercy that Allah has promised through His Messenger ﷺ.

What is Qiyam Al Layl?

The word Qiyam (قِيامُ) means standing, and Layl (اللّيل) means night. So, the literal meaning of Qiyam al Layl is standing at night. The Islamic meaning is standing up for a portion of the night in voluntary prayer.

This includes spending a part of the night reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, and performing other acts of worship. 

Facts About Night Prayers

1. Qiyam al Layl (Tahajjud) was obligatory on our beloved Prophet ﷺ 
2. Any voluntary prayer performed at night after Fard prayer is Qiyam al Layl
3. Taraweeh and Tahajjud are sub-branches of Qiyam al Layl 
4. The Prophet ﷺ  prayed Qiyam al Layl in the congregation for three nights but stopped, fearing it might become obligatory for his followers.

Benefits of Qiyam Al-Layl in Islam

1. Forgiveness and Blessings From Allah

As the Hadith already mentions, Allah descends every night and says: 

أَنَا الْمَلِكُ أَنَا الْمَلِكُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ

Meaning: “I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him?” [Sahih Muslim: 758]

2. Qiyam Al Layl Subdues Whimps and Desires

Allah says in the Quran:

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًۭٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا ٦

Meaning: Traly, rising by night (for prayer of tahajjud) is the most effective way to subdue (one’s base self) and to make speech more upright. [Surah Al Muzzammil, 73: 6]

3. Prophet ﷺ  Attained Highest Honour Through Qiyam al Layl

Allah says in the Quran:

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَتَهَجَّدۡ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةٗ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبۡعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامٗا مَّحۡمُودٗا

Meaning: And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station. [Surah Al Isra, 17: 79]

4. A Great Reward Unlike Any Awaits

Allah says in the Quran:

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ١٦ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌۭ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍۢ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ١٧

Meaning: “Their sides remain apart from their beds (at night). They call their Lord with fear and hope, and spend (in charity) out of what We have given to them. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.” [Surah as Sajdah, 32: 16-17]

5. Honour in the Sight of Allah 

Allah says in the Quran:

أَمَّنۡ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيۡلِ سَاجِدٗا وَقَآئِمٗا يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَيَرۡجُواْ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ

Meaning: “Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” [Surah az Zumar, 39 : 9]

6. Paradise is the ultimate Reward of Qiyam Al-Layl

Allah says in the Quran:

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍ ١٥ ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ ١٦ كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ ١٧ وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ١٨

Meaning: “Indeed, the righteous will be amid Gardens and springs, ˹joyfally˺ receiving what their Lord will grant them. Before this ˹reward˺, they were truly good-doers ˹in the world˺: they used to sleep only little in the night, and pray for forgiveness before dawn.” [Surah adh Dhariyat, 51: 18]

Virtues of Night Prayers in Ramadan

Outside Ramadan, Qiyam al Layl is already a highly recommended act of worship. But in Ramadan, its reward is multiplied. The Prophet ﷺ would dedicate himself to night prayers, especially in the last ten nights. Here are some virtues of performing Qiyam al Layl in Ramadan: 

1. All Past Sins Are Forgiven 

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  said: 

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Meaning: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan an Nasai’: 5027]

2. Rewards of Thousand Month’s Worship

Laylatal Qadr is a night in Ramadan when the Quran is revealed. Allah has declared in the Quran that this night is better than a thousand months. Allah says: 

لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ ٣

Meaning: The Night of Qadr (power/decree) is better than a thousand months. [Surah Al Qadr, 97 : 3]

That means, if someone performs Qiyam al Layl on the night of Qadr in Ramadan, he will get the rewards of performing Qiyam al Layl for over 83 years. Subhanallah! One night could change your destiny. 

3. Guaranteed Forgiveness on Laylatal Qadr

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  said: 

مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ،

Meaning: “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1901]

How to Perform Qiyam al Layl in Ramadan?

1. The best way to perform Qiyam al Layl in Ramadan is to pray Taraweeh in Jama’ah. You can perform either 20 Rakat or 8 Rakat Taraweeh based on your location and the Madhab you follow. Please consult a reliable scholar from your locality regarding the matter. 

2. You can perform any number of Rakats Qiyam al Layl at night in multiples of two. By performing the Witr prayer, you should make the entire prayer odd-numbered. 

3. During the last 10 days of Ramadan, it is best to perform I’tikaf in search of Laylatal Qadr. Many masjids arrange Qiyam al Layl at late nights in Jam’ah during those nights. You can attend those prayers if you want, or you can pray alone as well. Make sure that the recitations are long and heartfelt. 

FAQs

Q. What are the differences between Taraweeh, Tahajjud, and Qiyam al Layl?

Ans. All are forms of Qiyam al Layl. Taraweeh is prayed in congregation after Isha in Ramadan. Tahajjud is prayed later in the night after sleeping and waking up. For further details, check out this link.

Q. Is it mandatory to perform Qiyam al Layl in Ramadan?

Ans. No. It is voluntary. But one should not neglect Qiyam al Layl, especially Taraweeh, as there are immense virtues in it.

Q. What is qiyam al layl dua?

Ans. There is no specific dua. You can do any dua you want.

Q. If I perform Witr with the Imam after Taraweeh, can I perform Qiyam al Layl later?

Ans. If you perform Witr with the Imam after Taraweeh, you can perform more voluntary prayers later. You don’t have to repeat Witr. 

Conclusion

Night prayers in Ramadan are a golden chance to connect with Allah. They bring peace to the heart, erase sins and increase our iman. The Prophet ﷺ  said those who pray in Ramadan will have their past sins forgiven. 

Whether it’s Taraweeh, Tahajjud, or just waking up to make du’a, don’t underestimate any of them. Let’s make the most of this blessing and be among those whom Allah loves. May Allah give us the strength to pray at night and accept our worship, Ameen.