We should try not to miss Tahajjud namâz (namâz performed after midnight) unless there is a darûrat. [The namâz which is performed after the two-thirds of the night has elapsed is called the tahajjud; it is performed before dawn. Tahajjud means to forgo one’s sleep. Our Prophet ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam’ would perform tahajjud even during war. He who has omitted prayers of namâz should perform his omitted prayers during the time of tahajjud. Thus he will both pay his debt of omitted prayers and earn the thawâb of tahajjud. If it is difficult to wake up at midnight, order some of your servants to wake you up then. After getting up for a few nights, you will make it a habit and will begin to wake up. He who wants to wake up for tahajjud and morning prayer should go to bed immediately after performing the night prayer, instead or being late for sleep by busying oneself with useless things. At the time of tahajjud, it is necessary to make tawba, to say istighfâr, to trust oneself to Allâhu ta’âlâ, to entreat Him, to think of one’s sins, to remember one’s faults, defects, to fear with the thought of the torment in the next world; and to tremble in anticipation of the bitter torments of Hell. One should beg for afw and maghfirat (forgiveness) very much. At that time and also at any time, it is necessary to say istighfâr (Astaghfirullahal-’azîm-allazî lâ îlâha illâ huwa-l-hayy-al-qayyûma wa atûbu ilayh) a hundred times and to think of its meaning. [‘’Azîm’ means one whose person and attributes are perfect. ‘Kabîr’ means one whose person is perfect. ‘Jalîl’ means one whose attributes are perfect.] One should say it a hundred times after late afternoon prayer [after saying one’s tasbîhs and invoking one’s blessings.] It may be said when one has an ’abdast (ablution) as well as without an ’abdast.
Endless Blıss First Fasicle | Page 185
