Qiyam ul Layl - Dr Israr Ahmad

Dr. Israr Ahmad discusses the practice of Qiyam ul Layl (night prayer) as observed in Islamic tradition. He clarifies that the current widespread practice of lengthy night prayers after Isha is not historically rooted in the Prophet’s era or the time of the earliest Caliphs. He explains that during the Prophet’s life and the era of Abu Bakr and Umar, individuals performed voluntary night prayers individually, varying in length from one-third to one-half or two-thirds of the night. The current practice originated during Umar’s Caliphate when he observed people gathering to listen to a Quran reciter and decided to establish a congregation led by an Imam, initially consisting of twenty rak'at after Isha. Dr. Ahmad emphasizes that while striving for perfection in religious practices is commendable, it’s also important to be realistic and adaptable, especially when a practice is not historically substantiated. He highlights the wisdom of Umar’s approach, which was to implement what was achievable rather than abandoning voluntary worship altogether. He clarifies that if the practice had been established as obligatory during the Prophet’s time, it would have become a mandatory duty for all Muslims.

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