Interpretation of 'He is not one of our Shia who does not pray the night prayer'

Question

The question discusses the significance of the night prayer in Islam and why Imam Al-Sadiq said that those who do not pray it are not considered true followers. [AR_ID:4765]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Sheikh Al-Mufid provided an explanation for this after presenting several Quranic verses and noble hadiths that highlight the virtue of the night prayer. Here is a summary of his statement:

[When the first half of the night has passed, one should rise for prayer and not neglect it, for God Almighty commanded His Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, to perform it and encouraged him to do so.

He said, 'And in the night, pray a voluntary prayer for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station.'

And He said, 'O you who wraps himself [in clothing], arise during the night, except for a little - half of it or subtract from it a little or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.'

And the Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family, advised Amir al-Mu'minin, peace be upon him, in his explicit will, saying: 'And you, O Ali, should perform the night prayer, and you, O Ali, should perform the night prayer, and you, O Ali, should perform the night prayer.'

Imam Al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: 'He is not one of our Shia who does not pray the night prayer.'

This means that he is not among their sincere followers, nor is he among those who do not believe in the virtue of the night prayer, considering it a confirmed Sunnah. It is not stated that one who neglects it due to a valid excuse or out of laziness is not one of them, as it is a voluntary prayer and not an obligatory one, although it carries great merit.

It has been narrated that it brings sustenance, enhances one's appearance, pleases the Lord, and removes sins.

The Messenger of God, peace be upon him and his family, said: 'When a servant rises from the comfort of his bed, with sleep in his eyes, to please his Lord with the night prayer, God boasts about him to the angels, saying: 'Do you not see My servant who has risen from the comfort of his bed for a prayer that I did not make obligatory upon him? Bear witness that I have granted him.'

And he, peace be upon him, said: 'He is a liar who claims to pray at night while he is hungry during the day.'

May you be successful in all good.

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Source:

Al-Muqni'a by Sheikh Al-Mufid, p. 119 and beyond.