Verse 79 of Surah Bani Israeel

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an has said, “And during the night, wake up for salah, an additional prayer for you. It is very likely that your Lord places you at a praised station.” (Surah Bani Israeel v.79)

The word “Tahajud” has been derived from Hujud. It means in this context ‘being awake with the Qur’an;” which indicates to a nightly salah called the prayer of tahajud. Speaking generally, the prayer said after waking up from a short sleep is called tahajud. But, according to Tafsir Mazhari, the sense of the verse is no more than sacrificing sleep to make salah during some part of the night. Very similarly, it is also good if one begins by postponing the sleep for tahajud and makes the salah. The condition that one has to sleep before doing the prayer of tahajud is not found in the words used by the Qur’an.

Hasan Basri (RA) says; “the prayer of tahajud holds good for every prayer that is said after Isha and, it will be applied to that which is said after some sleep.

The next issue is with regards to the tahajud prayer is whether it was fardh or optional on the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam. In this verse, by looking at the words “Nafilata Lak” (an additional prayer for you) with the prayer of tahajud, it is summarily understood that the prayer of tahajud was optional for the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam as nafl for him. Some respected commentators have taken “nafilata” in this place as an attribute of fardh or duty. The meaning given by them is that the Muslim community at large is obligated with five daily prayers only, but tahajud has also been made an additional obligation on the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam

Also in this verse, the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has been promised Maqam Mahmud (the praised station). This station is the station of the Grand Intercession (Shaafah Kubrah) this will come pass on the Plain of Resurrection when all the children of Adam  will be there requesting every Prophet and Messenger of Allah to intercede with him on their behalf. All the Prophets will offer their excuse. Only the Prophet f Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam shall be blessed with the honourable station of interceding on behalf of the entire progeny of Adam. (Extracted from Maariful Qur’an p.533 –p.538 v.5)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham