Here we will discuss in detail how to perform Qiyamul lail i.e. how to stand for praying at night, after having a deep sleep after Ishah and waking before fajr at midnight to perform several rakahs as Qiyamul lail.
 

How Many Raka’ahs can be Done in One Time?

In Qiyamullail, Prophet SAWW used to have a pair of two Raka’ahs on after another. And he SAWW used to pray as many as pairs of Raka’ahs but end with the odd numbers of pairs, as what Abdullah Ibn Umar R.A narrated, authenticated by Imam Muslim:

“Rasulullah s.a.w. performed the night prayer in pairs (two Raka’ahs after another) and ended it with an odd number by observing one Raka’ah (as witr).”
 

How Many Raka’ahs can be Done at One Night?

Islam has not bound Muslims to the numbers of Raka’ahs to be performed at on night of Qiyamul lail. One can perform as many as wish and like to perform Raka’ahs at one night. So Muslims who are about to perform Qiyamul lail, can perform the number of Raka’ahs in accordance with circumstance and convenience. Thus Islam doesn’t require a specific amount of Raka’ahs in Qiyamul lail.



As for what Prophet SAWW did, or the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAWW, it is reported in some narrations (Ahadiths) that the Prophet SAWW mostly use to pray eleven Raka’ahs in Qiyamul lail. As Sayyidatuna Aishah R.A said in Hadeeth authenticated by Imam Al-Bukhari:

“He (Rasulullah SAWW) used to perform eleven Raka’ahs (of Tahajjud) at night. He would prostrate so long as one of you might recite fifty verses (of the Qur’an).”

It is proven from another Hadeeth, also narrated by Sayyidatuna Aishah R.A, and authenticated by Imam(s) Al-Bukhari and Muslim in which Hazrat Ayesha R.A stated,

“Rasulullah (s.a.w.) did not observe more than eleven Raka’ahs of Qiyamillail, be it in Ramadan or outside Ramadhan. First of all he would perform four Raka’ahs. Ask not about their excellence and their length. He would then perform four more Raka’ahs; and do not ask about their excellence and their length. Then he would perform three Raka’ahs (witr). (Sayyidatuna Aishah added) I submitted: “Yaa Rasulallah! Do you sleep before performing the Witr prayer?” He said, “O Aishah! My eyes sleep but my heart does not.”

What Time can Qiyamullail be Done?

Qiyamullail must be done at midnight. After performing Isha prayer, one must have deep sleep lit midnight, and must wake up much before Fajr time. Between Isha and the fajr, after having a deep sleep is the best time to have Qiyamullail. As Prphet SAWW would sleep in the first part of the night and do his SAWW Qiyamullail in the last part of it. Sayyidatuna Aishah R.A narrated a hadith, authenticated by Imam(s) Al-Bukhari and Muslim:

“Rasulullah s.a.w. would sleep during the early part of night and stand in Qiyamullail during the latter part.

However, if you fear to you might oversleep and hence, miss the Qiyam, you can do your Qiyamul lail immediately after Ishah or in the first part of the night.

Last Updated: 21/7/2015