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[quote]Apparently these directions about reciting in a 'medium pitch' or 'middle course' have been used to mention the prayer in the solitude of night.(Tahajjud) In the Solitude of Night Besides the five prayers during the day and night times, there was another prayer which was obligatory for the Prophet (sws). It is called "the night prayer" or the tahajjud prayer. In the seventy ninth verse of Surah Bani Isra'il, this obligatory nature of the prayer for the Prophet (sws) is mentioned by the words نَافِلَةً لَكَ . Then in Surah Muzzammil it is further stated that when the Prophet (sws) was asked to deliver open warning to his people, he was specially directed to be diligent in this prayer. The Qur'an says: يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْءًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا إِنَّ لَكَ فِي اَلنَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا (٧٣: ١-٨) O you enfolded in your shawl! stand [in prayer] by night, but not all night. Half the night, or even less or a little more and [in this prayer of yours] recite the Qur'an in a slow measured tone. Because soon We shall lay on you the burden of a heavy word [the burden of open warning]. Verily, this rising by night is very suitable for the mind's peace and the heart's resolve and for the speech's correctness. Because during the daytime you will be hard-pressed with [this task; so pray at this time], and remember the name of your Lord, and [in this loneliness of the night] devote yourself entirely to Him. (73:1-8) For common Muslims, this is an optional prayer and it is a great blessing for them if in following the Prophet (sws) they offer this prayer. It has been narrated that he would at most offer eleven rak'at in this prayer and would stand, kneel and prostrate for great lengths of time in it. Indeed some narratives do mention thirteen rak'at but two of them are the optional rak'at. Since the tahajjud prayer was obligatory on the Prophet (sws), he prayed two optional rak'at before them much like the optional rak'at Muslims pray before or after the obligatory part of their prayer. This status of the optional rak'at was not properly understood by people and they counted it among the rak'at of the tahajjud prayer.138 In this regard, the narrative which holds primary importance is the following: عن أبي سلمة بن عبد الرحمن أنه سأل عائشة رضي الله عنها كيف كانت صلاة رسول الله في رمضان فقالت ما كان يزيد في رمضان ولا في غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعة Abu Salamah, the son of 'Abd al-Rahman narrated that he asked 'A'ishah: "Describe the Prophet's prayer in the Ramadan?" She replied: "Never did the Prophet pray more than eleven rak'at either in ramadan or in any other month."139 As per the verbal or practical corroboration of the Prophet (sws), the various ways in which this prayer was offered are the following: 1. After offering two rak'at, the prayer should be ended with the salam and then one more rak'at should be offered as witr.140 2. After praying two, four or six rak'at in groups of two rak'at the prayer should be ended with the salam, and then five rak'at should be offered in a manner that one does qa'dah in the last rak'at only.141 3. After praying four rak'at or eight rak'at in groups of four rak'at, three rak'at should be offered in a manner that one does qa'dah only in the last rak'at.142 4. After praying two, four, six or eight rak'at in groups of two without the qa'dah, which should be done in the last rak'at, one rak'at should be offered standing up after the qa'dah without saying the salam and then after the qa'dah the salam should be said.143 It is evident from the narratives that initially in this prayer, the Qur'an was at times recited loudly and at times silently. Later, the Almighty directed the Prophet (sws) to recite it in a medium pitch: وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً (١١٠:١٧) And pray neither with too loud a voice nor in a soft one, but, between these extremes, seek a middle course. (17:110) Consequently, the Prophet (sws) also directed his Companions (rta) to recite in this way. Abu Qatadah narrates that the Prophet told Abu Bakr (rta): "When I passed by you, you were reciting the Qur'an in a low pitch [in the night prayer]." He replied: "I recite it to Him Who hears [even my] whispers." The Prophet continued: "Raise your pitch a little." Then he told 'Umar (rta): "When I passed by you, you were reciting the Qur'an in a very loud pitch." He replied: "I awake those who sleep, and make Satan run away." The Prophet said: "Lower your pitch a little."144 It is evident from Surah Bani Isra'il and Surah Muzzammil, the real time of this prayer is when one gets up at night, and for this reason it is called tahajjud. The Qur'an says that this is the time when one is in the presence of the Almighty. The Prophet (sws) has said: "Every night, the Almighty directs His attention upon our world. When one-third night remains, He says: 'Who is there at this moment to call me so that I can respond to his call; who is it that can ask from Me so that I give him; who is it that seeks mercy that I forgive him.'"145 However, if a person is not able to reap the blessings of this prayer, he can offer this prayer before going to sleep. This inference is also evident from the verses of Surah Muzzammil which mention a reduction of the amount of the prayer in the following words: ....... For details check: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=5[/quote]
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