There are numerous Quranic āyāts and Hadiths from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) which highly recommend that believers perform the Late Night prayers (Tahajjud or Qiyamul-layl) regularly.
1. In verse 78 of Surah Al-Isra' (No. 17) Allah instructs the Holy Prophet (s) to establish prayers during the day time. But, Allah didn't stop there, He mentions in the following Āyat saying:
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
And keep vigil for a part of the night, as a superogaroty prayer (additional acts of devotion) for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station. (Q 17:79)
This is the verse which gives the late night prayer its name by the word layl meaning, “the midnight prayer or Tahajjud,” and it also clarifies that this prayer is Nāwafil, i.e. a prayers which are beyond the call of duty. The verse also states that performing Tahajjud can raise a person to an exalted spiritual position known as maqam mahmūd – a status achieved by selected servants of Allah.
2. In verses 15 and 16 of Sūratul Dhāriyāt (No. 51) Allah (swt) promises that the Muttaqīn (pious) will be amid gardens and springs, receiving what their Lord has given them. Then, in the next ayats that follows, Allah further mentions some of their qualities, among them being:
كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ، وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
They used to sleep a little during the night, and at dawns they would plead for forgiveness. (Q 51: 17 & 18)
Sleeping is one of the necessities for good health and performance of a human being. Despite this, the devout and pious servants of Allah deprive themselves of sleep during this hours of night to be in intimate communion with their Lord. This devotion of servants is greatly liked by Allah (The All-Provider and Cherisher).
3. In Sūratus Sajdah (No. 32:16-17) below, Allah promises special reward for those who discard the comfort of their beds to say the Prayer of Tahajjud. He states:
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Their sides abandon their beds to supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and spend out of what We have given them.
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا اُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
None knows what has been hidden for them of comfort as a reward for what they used to do. (Q 32:16 & 17)
Commenting on verse 32:17, the Holy Prophet (s) says: There is no good deed which it's reward has not been mentioned in the Quran, except the Night Prayer. Almighty Allah did not specify the reward of Qiyamul-layl due to its greatness with Him.
The Quranic verses above instructs us that the Prayer should be said with fear and hope and one should be generous in spending from the wealth given to him by his Lord. As for the reward that follows the performer of Tahajjud, it is such that none besides Allah really knows its worth and greatness!
4. A number of verses (e.g. Q 52:49, 76:26) emphasize glorifying Allah for a long time in the late part of the night. For example:
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ
And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars. (Q 52:49)
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا
And during the part of the night, prostrate to Him and glorify Him through the long night. (Q 76:26)
Thus, we all know that many long supplications and glorifications have been recommended for recitation during Tahajjud Salāt, some of which different scholars encourages.
5. In Sūratul Muzzammil (No. 73 verse 6), which was reveled in the early period of Islamic era in Makkah, Allah explains the reason for importance of Qiyamul-layl (late night prayers) and supplications. He says:
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْءًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
Indeed the hours of night are strongest of tread and most upright in speech. (Q 73:6)
This could mean that acts of devotion late at night are most impressive on the mind. In the daytime numerous affairs occupy our time and minds. It is difficult at that time to have peace of mind for devoted and intimate worship. But at night when it is dark and silent, when the demands of the material world are at rest, a human being can acquire a tranquil state which allows him/her to get attuned with the Creator. It is at this time that the human being acquires a special state of mind and energy which is very conducive to increasing spirituality and strengthening connection with the Creator. That is why the friends (awliya’) of Allah, and those who seek nearness to Him always make the most use of the last part of the night. They purify their souls, enliven their hearts, strengthen their will, and perfect their sincerity, through worship at this special time.
Transcendent are You, O Allah, and praise be to You as You praise Yourself. I bear witness that there is no deity to be worshiped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
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