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Salat al-Layl (the Night Prayer) is a highly regarded voluntary prayer in Islam, with numerous references in both the Qur’an and hadith emphasising the immeasurable ajr (reward) that a believe can get if they pray. In an attempt to obtain this ajr, and with the holy months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan approaching, Kalima Institute would like to invite you to participate in the Salat al-Layl challenge!
What is the Salat al-Layl Challenge?
This year, the Salat al-Layl Challenge extends over the three holy months of Rajab, Sha’ban and of course Ramadan, and simply requires you to:
- Pray Salat al-Layl every Thursday night for the months of Rajab and Sha’ban
- Pray Salat al-Layl every night during the month of Ramadan (for example between suhur and fajr prayer)
The purpose of this challenge is to act as a motivation to reap the rewards of this blessed prayer, since it is very common that Muslims want to pray Salat al-Layl but get distracted by their daily life and struggle to fit it in. If that sounds like you, than this challenge is exactly what you need!
To make it easy for you and to maintain the motivation, we have created a checklist that you can print out or download on your phone to tick off every time you pray Salat al-Layl. You can download it by clicking here or scroll down to the very end of the article and click on the link.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we will check in with you regularly throughout the challenge to give you motivation and also to give you a chance to share with us your progress and any reflections you may have.
How to Pray Salat al-Layl?
Salat al-Layl is much easier than most may think, it simply consists of 11 rak’ahs:
- The first 8 rak’ahs are prayed like Salat al-Fajr, so 4 x 2 rak’ahs
- Then 2 rak’ahs called Salat al-Shifi’
- in the 1st rak’ah Surah al-Fatiha is recited, followed by Surah al-Nas
- in the 2nd rak’ah Surah al-Fatiha is recited, followed by Surah al-Falaq
- Finally, 1 rak’ah known as Salat al-Witr which is prayed as follows:
- Surah al-Fatiha
- Surah al-Ikhlaas 3 times
- Surah al-Falaq
- Surah al-Nas
- Then a qunut is recited; it is recommended to repent and pray for forgiveness from Allah (swt) and to pray for the forgiveness of 40 other mu’mins by name. This is a very meaningful gesture as it puts you in the mindset that you want not only yourself, but all your brothers and sisters in Islam to attain paradise as well. Most importantly, don’t forget to pray for you parents! Challenge yourself by specifically mentioning the names of those who you feel have wronged you, or those who you have not spoken to in a while. In this there is a powerful purification of the heart.
This is a brief overview of how Salat al-Layl is performed. After the completion of the Salat, try to maintain your spiritual connection with Allah (swt) by having a prolonged sujud, doing tasbih, and praying to Allah (swt) for His forgiveness. Some supplications/dua’s that are recommended to be recited are dua al-Hazin and the dua in Sahifa Sajadiyya in Salat al-Layl , among many other dua’s. Or, you can speak to Allah (swt) straight from your heart and pray to Him about whatever you would like.
If you would like more information about Salat al-Layl, this is a useful link you can follow to find out more.
InshaAllah this will mark the beginning of a lifetime of beautiful, peaceful nights filled with the remembrance of Allah (swt). We wish you all the best of tawfiq inshaAllah!
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