Chapter: Unrestricted Supererogatory Prayer

The compilers of the Sunan relate that the Prophet was asked, “Which prayer is best after the prescribed ones?” He answered, “During the night there is a moment that no Muslim servant meets while asking Allah for any good of this world or the next without Allah granting it to him.”

He also said, “Commit yourselves to the night vigil (qiyām al-layl), for it was the practice of the righteous who came before you; it draws you near to your Lord, erases sins, and keeps one away from wrongdoing.” Reported by al-Hākim.

Allah has praised those who stand in prayer at night, saying: “Indeed, they were before that people of righteousness; they would sleep but little of the night, and in the early dawn they would seek forgiveness” (Q 51:16-18).