| Merits of Qiyam-ul-Layl  Q: I saw my father offering eight Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) at midnight. I asked him about the merit of Qiyam-ul-Layl (optional Prayer at night). He told me that the earth does not consume the body of a person who offers Qiyam-ul-Layl (i.e. Their bodies will not decompose after death). Is this true? Does the soul return to the body after death or to its Creator? A: It is encouraged to offer Qiyam-ul-Layl, for Allah (Exalted be He) describes His pious Slaves, saying:  And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing. He (Glorified be He) describes devout worshippers, saying: They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allâh) and praying, with fear and hope]. | | (Part No. 11; Page No. 302) | |
And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allâh) for forgiveness. Allah (Exalted be He) addressed His Prophet (peace be upon him), saying: O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)!Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -Half of it or a little less than that,Or a little more. And recite the Qur’ân (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allâh’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them.No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.This is in addition to many other Ayahs (Qur’anic verses) that stress the excellence of performing Night Prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to perform Tahajjud (optional late night Prayer) often and urged the Muslims to it, saying:  O People! Spread Salam (Islamic greeting of peace: peace be upon you), give food, join the ties of kinship and pray (at night) while people are asleep (i.e. negligent) you will enter Paradise in peace. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer eleven Rak`ahs in pairs; saying Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer) in the end of each two Rak`ahs and then offer one single Rak`ah as Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units). Sometimes, he (peace be upon him) would offer Witr in the form of nine, seven, or five Rak`ahs. But in general, he (peace be upon him) usually offered eleven Rak`ahs, and sometimes thirteen in which he used to prolong recitation, Ruku` (bowing) and Sujud (prostration).We know of no basis for the saying that the earth does not consume the body of the person who offers Qiyam-ul-Layl. | | (Part No. 11; Page No. 303) | |
There is no Shar`y (Islamic legal) evidence to prove such a thing, except for the prophets, because Allah has prohibited the earth to consume their bodies as authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).As to the soul of a believer, it ascends to Paradise in the form of a bird and eats from its fruits. It was authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The soul of the believer is a bird which hangs from the trees of Paradise. (Related by Imam Ahmad and others through authentic Isnad [chain of narrators]). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the souls of martyrs are inside green birds that roam freely in Paradise, then they return to lanterns which hang beneath `Arsh (Allah’s Throne). However, Allah will send souls back to their bodies once He so wills as when He returns them to be questioned in the grave. Thereafter, the dead person to whom the soul is sent back as such will be able to hear the question, and answer, in the case of a righteous person, or stutter and find no answer, in the case of a Kafir (disbeliever). The souls will also be returned to the bodies on the Day of Resurrection. As for the Kafirs, their souls will be in Hellfire. Allah (Exalted be He) describes the people of Pharaoh, saying: The Fire, they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): "Cause Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!" Scholars held different opinions with regard to the dwelling place of the soul of dead Kafirs in this world. | | (Part No. 11; Page No. 304) | |
Some are of the opinion that it is in the Fire itself, others said in the graves, and others held different opinions. Allah knows best. |
|
|