The Night Prayer – Part 1: The difference between tarawīh, tahajjud, qiyām al-layl

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The night prayer or salāt al-layl refers to the voluntary night prayer whose time extends from after ‘ishā prayer until fajr (dawn).

Other names of the night prayer include:

• Qiyām al-layl (standing at night)
• Tahajjud (remaining awake)
• Tarawīh (resting)
• Witr (odd-numbered)

(Lisān al-‘Arab, taken from Qiyām and Tarawīh of Al-Albānī, prepared by Muhammad Jibaly, pg. 7)

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Shaykh Ibn Bāz (may Allāh have mercy on him) was asked:

What is the difference between Tarawīh, Qiyām and Tahajjud? Please advise us, may you be rewarded.

He replied:

“Prayer at night is called tahajjud or qiyām al-layl, as Allāh says:

﴿وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَاماً مَّحْمُودًا ﴾

“And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salāh (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qurān in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawāfil) for you” [al-Isrā’ 17:79]

﴿يأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ – قُمِ الَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً﴾

“O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad)! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little” [al-Muzzammil 73:1-2]

﴿كَانُواْ قَلِيلاً مِّن الَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالاٌّسْحَـرِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ﴾

“They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allāh) and praying, with fear and hope]” [al-Dhāriyāt 51:17]

With regard to tarawīh, the scholars use this word to refer to qiyām al-layl in Ramadān at the beginning of the night, which should be made light and not lengthy. It may also be called tahajjud or qiyam al-layl. (Fatāwas of Shaykh ibn Bāz volume 11/317)

Link: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/4259/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AD-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AC%D8%AF

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Shaykh Ibn Bāz was also asked:

Is the Witr prayer different from salāt al-layl (the night prayer)?

He said:

The Witr (prayer) is part of the night prayer, which is its conclusion; one rak’ah, with which he concludes the night prayer at the end of the night, or in the middle of the night, or at the beginning of the night. After the ‘Ishā prayer, he prays what he can, then he concludes with one rak’ah in which he recites: Al-Hamd [Sūrah Al-Fatihah] and Qul huwa-Allāhul Ahad [Sūrah Al-Ikhlās], this is the Witr (prayer).*

Link:

https://binbaz.org.sa/categories/fiqhi/393#:~:text=%D9%87%D9%84%20%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B1%20%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%81%20%D8%B9%D9%86,%3A1%5D%D8%8C%20%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B1.

* The prophet (ﷺ) said:

صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى فَإِذَا خَشِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ الصُّبْحَ صَلَّى رَكْعَةً وَاحِدَةً تُوتِرُ لَهُ مَا قَدْ صَلَّى

The night prayer is performed two by two (rak’ah). If you fear that morning is near, pray one rak’ah as that will be your witr prayer. (Sahīh al-Bukhārī 990)