format_quote Originally Posted by
abbas_ali
Jazakallah.
Your post has been very helpful. I do pray Witr according to one tashahud and one salam - i believe this is the predominant view of the Hanafi school.
So for example, tonight i am just back home after Taraweeh and read my Witr too with congregation. Now there is some time until Fajr, i can read say for example 4 'Nafl' salat (2 rakats then say salaam; another 2 rakats and say salaam) and that will be Tahajjud?
Also one final question: what would my intention be for Tahajjud? Would the following be acceptable?
'I intend to perform two rakat Tahajjud salat, praying to Allah facing the Holy Kabba'
then repeat for the next cycle (if you know what i mean?)
Asalaamu Alaikum Wr Wb, If one is certain that they will awaken for Tahajjud before Sehri ends then one should not pray the Witr with jamaat after tarawee and instead pray the witr after Tahajjud as Witr should be the last prayer of the night and it is more rewarding to delay it until the latter part of the night. But if one is uncertain if one will wake up on time then one should just pray the witr with jamaat after Tarawee.
Tahajjud can be read anytime after tarawee however it is much more rewarding to pray it after having some sleep and then awaken to pray it in the last third of the night. Du'as are also readily accepted around this time. Minimum for Tahajjud is 2 raka'ah but 8 is recommended to pray if you have the time but if you don't then 4 is fine.
Niyyah of any prayer is done by the heart but there is nothing wrong with making by whispering to oneself if it will help one to affirm the niyyah in one's heart. There is no specific niyyah for any prayer as long as in your heart that you are doing it solely for Allah.
Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said,
"There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer."
[al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]
The scholars derived the following from the Qur'an and prophetic hadiths:
1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]
2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]
3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]
4. If one divides the night in thirds, then the final middle third is most virtuous. [Durr al-Mukhtar]
5. If one divides the night in half, then the second half is more virtuous.
[ibid.]
6. Voluntary (nafl) prayer at night is more virtuous than voluntary prayer during the day. However, the full reward mentioned in the Qur�anic verses and Prophetic hadiths refers to worship that was preceded by sleep. This is also understood from the very linguistic meaning of tahajjud, which is to struggle rid oneself of sleep.
[Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Ibn Amir Haajj's Halba]
7. Ibn Nujaym and Haskafi both affirmed that night prayer is recommended.
[al-Bahr al-Ra'iq, and al-Durr al-Mukhtar; chosen in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya] Kamal ibn al-Humam, the brilliant mujtahid who was the greatest Hanafi faqih of the latter half of Islamic history, however, wavered between it being recommended or a confirmed sunna.
This is because while the spoken hadiths indicate recommendation, the continued practice of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) would seem to indicate it being a confirmed sunna. This was also chosen by Ibn al-Humam's student, Ibn Amir Haaj in his Halba.
[Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
8. It is disliked to leave the night vigil prayer for one who has made it their habit, unless there is an excuse, because the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him), "O Abd Allah! Do not be like so-and-so. He used to pray at night and then left it".
[Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, one should take on an amount of works one can sustain, for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, "The most beloved of actions to Allah are the most constant, even if little."
[Bukhari and Muslim] [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, from Ibn Amir Haajj�s Halba]
9. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]
10. Supplications in the depths of the night are answered, as the hadiths have mentioned.
Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."
We should pray as many nafil prayers as we can in these last few days of Ramadan as EVERY nafil gains the reward of a Fard! Subhanallah that cannot be gained in any other part of the year! So let us not waste a second more!!!