An Exploration into the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)'s Midnight Prayer

This article addresses the ordinance of midnight prayer (ṣalāt al-layl) upon the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). Given the verses of the Qur’an and the traditions related from the Shī‘as and the Sunnīs as well as the sayings of the Shī‘a and Sunnī interpreters and jurists about the Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.)’s midnight prayer, the following three hypotheses can be proposed:First hypothesis: Midnight prayer has, from the beginning, been preferable to the Prophet (S.A.W.), for which four reasons are given, which are weak. Second hypothesis: Midnight prayer has, in the beginning, been obligatory to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions, but later its obligation has been abrogated and remained as preferable. Four reasons have also been presented for this hypothesis, which are not strong enough. Third hypothesis: Since the beginning it had been obligatory upon His Holiness and remained obligatory to the end; the details of the reasons for this view are dealt with in this article.