For offering Qiyamullail, it could be happened at times you woke up much before Fajr but due to any reason, you may unable to concentrate while standing for prayer at midnight due to drowsiness, what would be the Islamic rulings and teachings guides us in this regard. Let’s get this answer.

If one has prepared for Qiyamul lail and is unable to focus or night prayer due to sleepiness or drowsiness, he/she is allowed and advised to offer one or few short Raka’ahs instead of offering many Raka’ahs with long surah recited in it such as Surah-Bakara or Surah-Nisah etc.

It is recommended that in this case, one can shorten the prayer to one, three or five Raka’ahs with reciting shortest Surah in it such as Surah-Ikhlas, or Surah-Fe’il etc. and then have a rest. This is to prevent them from confusing between the verses of the Qur’an as well as their prayers.

However, you can woke up again to offer Tahajjud prayer. Prophet Muhammad SAWW said in a Hadith narrated by Sayyidatuna Aishah R.A, authenticated by Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
 

“When one of you dozes off while performing Qiyamullail, he should lie down till his drowsiness has gone away from him. When one of you performs Solat while dozing, he may abuse himself instead of seeking pardon (as a result of drowsiness).

Another hadith verify this act to be allowed narrated by Abu Hurairah R.A, reported by Imam Muslim in which Prophet Muhammad SAWW said,

“When anyone of you stands up for Qiyamullail at night and finds it difficult to recite the Qur’an accurately and he is unaware of what he is reciting, he should go back to sleep.”
 

Thus, Qyam al layl as some may assume is an act of optional ibadah that requires lots of effort and energy, where one is expected to recite the whole of Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah-Aal-e-Imran in two Raka’ahs.

Last Updated: 21/7/2015