InshaAllah, can somebody please clarify Salatul Layl, Tahajjud, Sobh, Sunnah Fajr Prayer...?

Question

As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmat Allah.

I'm very confused. I thought Salatul-Layl and Tahajjud were the same thing. I know Salatul Layl is made up of 11 Rakaat, but I know people who pray 2 rakaat of Tahajjud right before Fajr. It's sunnah to pray 2 rakaat before Fajr, is that with the niyya of Tahajjud? And what about Sobh, after Fajr, is that a sunnah prayer? If somebody can please clear that up for me, may Allah reward you.

Answer 1

Salathul Thahajjud and Qiyamu Layl are both the same thing. The best time of this prayer is the last 1/3rd of the night. Better to recite more of Holy Quran and lengthen Rukoo and Sujood than praying more of short Rakaas. Also better to pray what you can afford on daily basis. Like you can start with 2 and then four and on and finally end up with witr. (Single Rakaah). If you prayed Witr after Isha, you don't  pray it again.

The two Rakaat before Fajr is another Sunnah Muakkada. It is very important Sunnah which Prophet (pbuh) never misses even in a journey.

After Salathul Fajr there are no Sunnah prayer. But one can makeup the Sunnah of Fajr after if the Jamaah in Masjid already has started and couldn't perform that Sunnah.

There is very important Sunnah prayer after 15 minutes of Sunrise. This is called Ishraq (Dhuha by some other scholars).  

Answer 2

2 raka sunnah fajr and all is great all day long with the 2 fajr fard together!

Layl is night prayers 2 each also nafi prayers they are called

do what is easy for you, its all bonus

Wa alaikum Salam sorry about that didn't see that goes to prove how fast we read and or don't read.

Allah has already rewarded all of us. Al hamdoulah

Answer 3

salam sis

salatulayil and Tahajjud R same it is 2-2 rakat till 13 rakats

it is  nafl  and recommended by the prophet (s) it should be end by wetr   odd # of rekat 1 or 3

it's time after midnight till fajr

and 2 rakat of Fajar it is Sunnah of fajar al Muakkadah (strongly & highly recommended ) it will not consider as a tahajjud b cuz sunnat al fajar shuold be prayed after fajar azan and tahajjud must be done b4 that

there is no salah after fajar till sunrise. After 15 minutes of sunrise there is a salah called al duha (Ishraq) 2-4 rakat

wallahu aalam  

Answer 4

Qiyâm al-Layl means “The night prayer”. It is also known as the Tahajjud prayer. It is the most virtuous and recommended of all the voluntary prayers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed it every night and encouraged his followers to do so as well.

Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to offer this prayer.

He says in the Qur’ân: “And as for the night, keep awake a part of it as an additional prayer for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a station of praise and glory.” [Sûrah al-Isrâ’: 79]

He also says: “O thou folded in garments, stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, half of it, or a little less. Or a little more; and recite the Qur'ân in a slow, measured tone.” [Sûrah al-Muzzammil: 1-4].

Although these verses were addressed to the Prophet (peace be upon him), they were not confined to him. They are an encouragement for all of us.

Observing this prayer is one of the reasons for attaining Paradise by Allah’s grace. Allah says: “They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night, and in the hours of early dawn they (were found) praying for forgiveness” [Sûrah al-Dhâriyât: 17-18]

It is confirmed in the authentic hadîth that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray Qiyâm al-Layl for many long hours at a time, until his feet would become swollen.

Qiyâm al-Layl can be prayed at any time at night before the time of the Fajr prayer. Preferably, it should be offered in the last third of the night. It is also preferable to sleep before praying it, but it is not obligatory to do so.

You can pray as few or as many units of prayer as you want to. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The night prayer is performed as two units of prayers at a time. When you anticipating the arrival of dawn, then perform one unit of prayer as witr.”

It is preferable to offer eleven units of prayer, including witr, since the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do this. However, there is no harm in praying more or less.

Answer 5

i think salat al lyl =tahajjud.

never heard of what you said salat al lyl having 11 raka' and tahajjud only 2.

you can pray as much as you want in tahajjud or salat al lyl (as you call it) with 3 raka' witr.

the sobh salah, are you talking of salat al ishraaq?

if yes then the no of raka' varies from 2-12 raka'. it depends upon you.

Answer 6

Tahajjud is a type of Qiyaam al Layal and is performed in the latter part of the night.

The Manner in which the Night Prayer is performed By Imam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee(Rahimahullaah)

I spoke in detail about this subject in my book Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh (pg. 101-115), so I felt that I should abridge that discussion here in order to make it easy for the reader and to remind him:

The First Manner: consists of thirteen rak'aat, which is commenced with two short rak'aat. According to the most correct opinion, these are the two rak'aat of Sunnah prayer offered after `Ishaa, or they are two specific rak'aat by which one begins the Night Prayer, as has been stated previously. Then one prays two very long rak'aat (after that). Then two more rak'aat are prayed, and then another two rak'aat are prayed. Then two more rak'aat are prayed and another set of two rak'aat are prayed. Then witr is made with one rak'ah.

The Second Manner: consists of thirteen rak'aat. There are eight rak'aat within them, in which one makes tasleem after every two rak'aat. Then witr is made with five rak'aat and one does not sit nor make the tasleem except in the fifth rak'ah.

The Third Manner: consists of eleven rak'aat, in which one makes tasleem after every two rak'aat and then prays witr at the end with one rak'ah.

The Fourth Manner: consists of eleven rak'aat, in which one prays four rak'aat and makes one tasleem after the four. The he prays another four in a similar manner and ends it with three rak'aat (for witr).

Would the Prophet remain in the sitting position after every two rak'aat, when praying a unit of four rak'aat or a unit of three rak'aat? We do not find a clear answer for this, but remaining in the sitting position (for tashahhud) while doing a unit of three rak'aat is not legislated (in the Religion)!

The Fifth Manner: consists of eleven rak'aat, in which one prays eight rak'aat and does not sit in any of them except for the eighth rak'ah. While sitting (in the eighth rak'ah), he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet and then stands up again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with one rak'ah and when finished, he makes the tasleem. This consists of nine rak'aat. Then he prays two rak'aat after that while in the sitting position.

The Sixth Manner: One prays nine rak'aat, in which he does not sit except after the sixth rak'ah. Then he makes the tashahhud and sends Salaat on the Prophet and then stands again without making the tasleem. Then he makes witr with three rak'aat and when finished, he makes the tasleem, etc. (the rest is the same as the previous manner)

These are the manners in which it is reported that the Prophet performed the Night Prayer. It is possible to add other types of manners to it, by subtracting what one wishes from each set of rak'aat until he cuts it down to one rak'ah, acting on the previously mentioned hadeeth of Allaah's Messenger SAWS: "So whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with five rak'aat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with three rak'aat, and whoever wishes, then let him pray witr with one rak'ah."

So if one wants, he can pray these five rak'aat or three rak'aat with one sitting and one tasleem, as is stated in the Second Manner. And if he wants, he can make tasleem after every two rak'aat, as is stated in the Third Manner, and this is preferred.

As for praying the set of five rak'aat or three rak'aat by sitting after every two rak'aat and not making the tasleem, then we did not find any authentic report that the Prophet used to do this. The asl (foundation) is that it is permissible, but since the Prophet forbade us from praying witr with three rak'aat indicating the reason for that by saying: "And do not liken it to the Maghrib prayer." [1] So then anyone that prays the witr in three rak'aat must not liken it to the Maghrib prayer. This can be done in two ways:

1. Making the tasleem between the even and odd number rak'ah (i.e. between the second and the third rak'ah). This is what is more strong and preferred.

2. One does not sit between the even and odd number (i.e. he prays three rak'aat straight with one tasleem), and Allaah knows best.

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by At-Tahawee, Ad-Daraqutnee and others. See At-Taraaweeh (pg. 99 & 110)

The Manner in which the Night Prayer is performed

By Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Albaanee (rahimahullaah)

Source: Qiyaam Ramadaan (pgs. 28-30)

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