The night worship of the Rashidite Caliphs

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself praying in the night and exhorting the Companions to do the same obviates its excellence and importance.  For this reason, the Companions would spend the night standing before Allah and worshipping Him.

 

The night worship of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

The Commander of the Faithful, the first caliph of Islam, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would offer supererogatory Salaat in units of 2 (i.e. 2 Raka’at).  As mentioned in this Hadith of Kanz Ul ‘Ummal:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Yahya bin Sa’eed (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would offer Salaat Ul Witr in the early part of the night and when he would stand for Salaat, he would offer it as units of 2 Raka’at.  (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No. 23389)

 

The night worship of Hadhrat ‘Umar Al Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

It was the custom of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that he himself would enliven his nights with worship and would awaken his family members and order them to do the same.  As reported in this Hadith of Muwatta Imam Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation: Hadhrat Zaid bin Aslam narrates on the authority of his father that Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) would offer Salaat as much as Allah wished him to and in the last part of the night, he would awaken his family members with the words, “As Salaah, As Salaah..” and would recite this verse of the Holy Quran:……….(Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith No. 259)

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr and Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) would spend all the nights of the year in prayer and worship and would encourage their family members also to do the same.  Obviously, believing that they abandoned their year-round habit especially on the night of Meraj and would spend the whole night in bed is totally illogical and there is no Tradition that the Companions didn’t spend the night of Meraj in prayer and rested.  Then how can anyone claim that the Companions didn’t spend the night of Meraj in prayer and worship?

 

The night worship of Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

Similarly, Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) would complete one full recitation of the Holy Quran every night.  As reported in Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Muhammad bin Sireen (May Allah shower His mercy on him), he says that the wife of Hadhrat ‘Uthman told those people who had come with the intention of martyring Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him):  Whether you martyr him or leave him, his greatness is that he recites Holy Quran completely every night in 1 Raka’at.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 28; Al Ist’iyaab, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 320)

 

The night worship of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

It was the custom of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) that he would spend the night in worship and prayer:

 

Translation:  Once Hadhrat Ashtar Nakha’ee (May Allah shower His mercy on him) called upon the Commander of the Faithful, Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him).  At that time, he was engaged in Salaat.  He said:  O Commander of the Faithful!  You fast in the day and stand in worship in the night.  Between these 2, you are taxing yourself.  After Salaat, when Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) heard this, he said:  The journey of the hereafter is very long.  To traverse it, worship of the night is highly essential for a human being.  (Seerah Ameer Ul Momineen ‘Ali bin Abi Talib Razi Allahu Anhu, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 344)