Namaz e Shab (Short)
The Holy Infallibles (a.s.) are reported to have said innumerable words about the merits of offering the Night Prayer; they have therefore described it as
Open Namaz e Shab (Short) in Shia Companion
Merits
The Holy Infallibles (a.s.) are reported to have said innumerable words about the merits of offering the Night Prayer; they have therefore described it as the honor of the true faithful believers. It brings about good health, erases the sins committed in days, saves from the loneliness in graves, beautifies the face, perfumes the body smell, and produces sustenance. Wealth and sons are the ornament of this worldly life, and to offer eight units of prayer at the last hours of night, in addition to a one-unit prayer, is the ornament of the Hereafter. These two ornaments may be granted together by Almighty Allah to some people. Other traditions have it that one who claims that he offers prayers regularly at night and still he suffers hunger is liar, because the night prayer guarantees the sustenance of the next day.
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) has reported that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to Imam Ali (a.s.), “O Ali! I shall give you some moralities that you should observe... Abide by the night prayer. Abide by the night prayer. Abide by the night prayer. Abide by the midday prayer. Abide by the midday prayer. Abide by the midday prayer.”
It is apparently understood from this tradition that the night prayer stands for the thirteen units of prayer while the midday prayer is the eight units of the supererogatory noon prayer.
Anas ibn Malik has reported that he heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) saying, “To offer two units of prayer in the midst of night is more favorable to me than possessing this world and whatever therein.”
When he was asked why those who practice the night worship had shining faces, Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zaynul Aabedin (a.s.) answered, “As they withdrew themselves with their Lord, He granted them of His Light.”
In conclusion, traditions about the merits of offering the night prayer are very numerous. It is thus discommended to avoid the night acts of worship.
Shaykh has reported through an authentic chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “All servants (of Allah) wake up once, twice, or even more times at night. If a servant does not go for the night worship, Satan will open his legs and urinate in his ear. This is why those who do not do the night worship wake up in the morning heavy and lazy.”
Al-Barqi has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “There is a devil called al-Raha appointed for the night. When a servant (of Allah) intends to get up for the night prayer, this devil inspires to him that the time of prayer has not yet come. When the servant tries to get up again, the devil repeats the same evil inspiration and prevents the servant from offering the prayer until the day dawns. When it dawns, the devil urinates in the ear of that servant and goes back moving its tail in joy.”
Text and Translation
Ibn Abi Jumhur reported the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying to his companions, “When you go to sleep, Satan ties three knots at your head. Each knot inspires to you that the night is still long; therefore, you would better sleep. When you wake up and mention Almighty Allah, one knot is untied. When you do the ritual ablution, another knot is untied. When you perform the prayer, the third knot is untied. Hence, you will find yourselves active and positive in the morning; lest, you find yourselves inactive and frowning.”
This tradition is reported in Ahle Tasannun books of hadees, too.
Al-Qutb al-Rawandi reported Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (a.s.) as saying, “Do not expect three matters as long as you have been engaged in three: Do not expect ability to do night worship as long as you overeat. Do not expect bright-facedness as long as you spend the whole night sleeping. Do not expect security in your life as long as you accompany sinful people.”
Al-Qutb al-Rawandi has also reported that Prophet Eesaa (a.s.) called his mother (a.s.) after her death and asked, “Mother, do you wish to return to life?” His mother answered, “Yes, I do, so that I will offer prayers to Almighty Allah in the midst of night and observe fasting in the extremely hot days. O son, this path is horrifying.”
THE NIGHT PRAYER
The time of the Night Prayer begins after midnight; yet, it is recommended to perform it as near as possible to dawn.
The Night Prayer consists of eight units of prayer; each two alone. Tasleem should be said at the end of each two units with the intention of offering the Night Prayer. It is advisable to recite Surah Ikhlas after Surah al-Faatehah in 1st rak’at at least once and at most thirty times (if there is time). In the 2nd rak’at recite Surah al-Kafirun after Surah al-Faatehah.
In the other six units of the prayer, one may recite any Surah he chooses. However, it is sufficiently acceptable to recite Surah al-Faatehah and Surah Ikhlas in each unit of the Night Prayer. It is also permissible to recite Surah al-Faatehah alone.
NAMAZ-E-SHAF’
When you accomplish the eight-unit Night Prayer, you may then offer the two-unit Shafa Prayer. It has two rakats. Recite it after finish Namaz e tahajjud. In the first rakat, after Surah Fatehah recite Surah al-Ikhlaas or Surah al-Falaq. In the second rakat, recite only Surah Fatehah and Surah al-Nas and finish the namaz. Qunoot is not recited in this namaz. After finishing the namaz, recite Tasbeeh-e-Janab-e-Fatemah (s.a.) and supplicate to Allah. The supplication will be surely granted for this is the right time for the grants of prayers. Then after performing Sajdah e Shukr recite Namaz-e-Watr.
NAMAZ-E-WATR
This namaz has one rakat. In this prayer recite Surah Fatehah the Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq, Surah al-Nas three times each. Then raise your hands and recite the following Qunoot.
لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ
LAA ELAAHA ILAL LAAHUL HALEEMUL KAREEM
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous
لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَلِىُّ الْعَظِيْمُ
LAA ELAAHA ILAL LAAHUL A’LIYYUL A’ZEEM
There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ السَّمٰوَاتِ السَّبْعِ
SUBHAANAL LAAHE RABBIS SAMAAWAATIS SAB-E’
Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens
وَ رَبِّ الْاَرَضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ
WA RABBUL ARZEENAS SAB-E’
and of the seven earth
وَ مَا فِيْهِنَّ وَ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ
WA MAA FEEHINNA WA MAA BAYNAHUNNA
in them, and between them,
وَ مَا فَوْقَهُنَّ وَ مَا تَحْتَهُنَّ
WA MAA FAWQAHUNNA WA MAA TAHTAHUNNA
above them, beneath them
وَ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ
WA HOWA RABBUL A’RSHIL A’ZEEM
And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)
وَ سَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ
WA SALAAMUN A’LAL MURSALEEN
And peace be on the apostles.
وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
WAL HAMDO LILLAAHE RABBIL A’ALAMEEN
And all praise for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
يَا اَللهُ الَّذِيْ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهٖ شَيْءٌ
YAA ALLAAHUL LAZEE LAYSA KAMISLEHI SHAYUN
O Allah! The One nothing is like Him
وَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ
WA HOWAS SAMEE-U’L BASEER
and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
وَصَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.
WA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMAD.
And blessings be upon Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad.
It is also recommended, during Qunut, to weep, or even try to weep, out of fear of Almighty Allah and fear of His chastisement. It is also desirable to pray Almighty Allah for the good of one’s brethren-in-faith, whether dead or alive, in the following words:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهٰذَا.....
It is also highly advisable to repeat the following imploration seventy times and, meanwhile, raise the left hand for supplicating and count with the right hand:
اَسْتَغْفِرُاللهَ رَبِّىْ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
ALLAAHUMMAGH FIR LE-HAAZAA...
O Allah, forgive (Name)…
It is also narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to implore for Almighty Allah’s forgiveness seventy times during the Watr Prayer and then say the following statement:
هٰذَا مَقامُ الْعَاۤئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
It is also narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) used to repeat the following word three hundred times during the Watr Prayer:
اَلْعَفْوَ اَلْعَفْوَ
AL-AFWA
(I ask for) forgiveness
After that, the Imam (a.s.) would say the following supplicatory prayer:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِىْ وَ ارْحَمْنِىْ وَ تُبْ عَلىَّ
RABBIGH FIR LEE WAR HAMNEE WA TUB A’LAYYAO
my Lord, (please) forgive me, have mercy upon me, and accept my repentance,
اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
INNAKA ANTAT TAWWABUL GHAFOORUR RAHEEMO
for You are surely the Oft-Returning, the All-forgiving, and the All-merciful.
You may then prostrate yourself and accomplish the prayer. After the accomplishment, you may say Tasbih al-Zahra’. After that, you may say the following:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِرَبِّ الصَّبَاحِ
ALHAMDO LE-RABBIS SABAAHE
All praise belongs to the Lord of the dawn.
اَلْحَمْدُ لِفَالِقِ الْاِصْبَاحِ
ALHAMDO LE-FAALEQIL ISBAAHE
All praise belongs to the Splitter (or Cleaver) of the dawn.
It is also highly advisable to say the following supplicatory prayer, which is called Dua-e-Hazeen (The Supplication of the Sad).
اُنَاجِیْكَ یَا مَوْجُوْدً فِی كُلِّ مَكَانٍ
ONAAJEEKA YAA MAWJOODAN FEE KULLE MAKAANIN
I whisper unto You O One Who is present in every place
لَعَلَّكَ تَسْمَعُ نِدَاۤئِی
LA-A’LLAKA TASMA-O NEDAAA-EE
