Satan strives to divert people from remembering Allah (4g). He places a strong spell upon each person's head when he goes to sleep. Getting up during the night to extoll and worship Allah dispels Satan's magic. Abu Hurayrah (4) reported that the Prophet (Hg) said:

"When a person goes to sleep, Satan ties three knots over the back of his head, blowing into each knot while saying, "You have a long night, so sleep on." If this person wakes up and extolls Allah, one knot loosens. If he performs wudü', another knot loosens. And if he prays, the third knot loosens, so that he becomes lively, good-natured, and successful; otherwise, he gets up in the morning ill-natured, lazy, and unsuccessful."

"Satan has urinated in this man's ears.>' When a person wakes up for night worship, he should start off by brushing his teeth. Ibn 'Umar (4) reported: " Allah's Messenger (4) would not sleep without the siwak next to him. When he woke up, he would start off by using the siwak." 2 Huthayfah (4) reported: " When Allah's Messenger (I9) would get up at night (for prayer), he would clean his mouth with the siwak." 3 'A'ishah (tes) reported: " The Prophet's (E) wudu water and siwak used to be prepared for him (before he slept). When he got up at Recorded by al-Bukhart (1144, 3270), Muslim (774), and others. Recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Nasr. Verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih ul- Jami no. 4872 and as-Sahthah no. 2111). 3 Recorded by al-Bukhari (245, 889, 1136), Muslim (255), and others. night, he would relieve himself, then use the siwak." 1 When a Muslim brushes his teeth, he gives his mouth a fresh and nice smell, encouraging the angels to approach him and join in his worship and thikr. 'AlI (4t) reported that the Prophet (8) said:"

Whether a person wakes up for night worship or for the moming prayer, he should wash his hands prior to performing wudü. Abu Hurayrah (4d) reported that the Prophet () said:

"When one of you wakes up from sleep, let him wash his hands before immersing them in his wudu' Recorded by Muslim (746), Abu Dawud, and others. Recorded by al-Bayhaqi, ad-Diya', and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 1213 and Sahih ut-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 215). water ', because he does not know where his hands were during his sleep."

We saw above that wudü' is an important step for dispelling Satan's spells. It is also a necessary step preceding any prayer. Of particular importance is rinsing the nose thoroughly during wudü. Abu Hurayrah () reported that the Prophet (i) said:

"When one of you wakes up and performs wudü', he should rinse his nose and blow it three times, because the Devil sleeps upon his nose."

"There is not a Muslim who, having gone to sleep in a state of taharah and while extolling Allah, wakes up during the night and asks Allah for any good from this life or the hereafter, but that Allah grants it to him.> 4 1 In the past, water for wudu was taken by the hands from a container, because it was not common for people to have running water. Recorded by al-Bukhar, Muslim, and others. Recorded by al-Bukhari (3295), Muslim (238), and others. 4 Recorded by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others. Verified to be authentic by al- Albani (Sahih ut-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 598 and as-Sahihah no. 3288). Extollments When Waking up at Night While the following athkar are normally to be said by a person who wakes up for the night prayer, a person who wakes up accidentally at night may also say some of them to attain the rewards incurred by them. Ibn 'Abbas (4) reported that one night, while sleeping at the Prophet's (E4) house ', he witnessed the Prophet (i) sit up from his sleep in the last one-third of the night, look up at the sky, and then recite the last eleven ayat of Surat Al 'Imran: ( Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and in the alternation of the night and day, are signs for those of understanding ..."

'Ubadah Bin as-Samit (t) reported that the Prophet (i) instructed his companions (il) to say when waking up at night:

"This was also the house of Ibn 'Abbas's maternal aunt, Maymünah ( Al 'Imran 3:190-200. Recorded by al-Bukhart (1120) and Muslim (763)."

"La ilaha illa-lah-ul-wahid-ul-qahhar. Rabb-us- samawati wal-ardi wama baynahum-al-'aziz-ul- ghaffar - There is no (true) god except Allah, the One, the Overpowering, Lord of the heavens and earth and what is between them, the Honorable, the Recorded by al-Bukhari (1154), Ahmad, and others. Recorded by Ibn Hibban, al-Hakim, and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 2066). Ibn 'Abbas (t) reported that the Prophet (g) would say in supplication (during his night worship):"

Abu Hurayrah (4) reported that when the Prophet (5) was on a journey, he would say at the approach of dawn:

"KSamia sámiun bi-hamd-illahi wa-husni bala'iht 'alayna. Rabbana, sahibna, wa-afdil 'alayna. 'A'ithan billahi minan-nar — Let listeners hear our praise to Recorded by al-Bukhart (1120) and Muslim (763). Allah and His great favor toward us. Our Lord, keep our company and continue showing us Your favors. We seek refuge with Allah from the Fire."

"Our Lord (05) descends every night to the lowest heaven when only one third of the night has remained. He says, "Who is there invoking Me, so that I may answer him? Who is there asking Me, so that I may give him? Who is there seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?> 2 Abu Umamah (4t) reported that the Prophet (3) said: ("

'Amr Bin 'Abasah (4) reported that Allah's Messenger (ia) said:

"The closest a (believing) servant is to his Lord is in the last part of the night. If you can be among those who extoll Allah during that hour, do so."

"There is an hour of the night during which no Muslim person would happen to be asking Allah for a favor from this life or the hereafter, but that Allah grants it to him. And this is true every night.> 3 Because of this, the Prophet (S) was consistent in rising to worship Allah (dé) during the last part of the night. 'A'ishah ( reported: " Allah's Messenger (4) used to sleep in the early part of the night, and wake up (for worship) during its last Recorded by at-Tirmithi. Verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Hidayat ur-Ruwah no. 1188). 2 Recorded by at-Tirmithi, an-Nasa1, and al-Hakim. Verified to be authentic by al- Albáni (Sahih ul-Jami no. 1173 and Hidayat ur-Ruwah no. 1186). 3 Recorded by Muslim (757) and Abmad. 4 Recorded by al-Bukhart (1146), Muslim (739), and others. And 'A'ishah (te) reported: " Allah's Messenger (i) used to rise (for the night prayer) when he heard the rooster crowing." ' When a Muslim wakes up during the night, even accidentally, he should be keen to pray two or more rak'at. This voluntary night prayer is called "giyam" (standing), because it normally involves a long standing for Qur'anic recitation. Qiyam entails for a Muslim countless virtues and benefits — as we outline in this section. A great quality of true believers is that they allocate a good portion of their night for worshiping Allah and supplicating to Him. Allah (dg) Says. ( Their (the believers') sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope; and they spend out of what We bestowed on them."

Abu Umamah () reported that the Prophet (B) said:

"I urge you to perform. qiyam at night, because it was the consistent way of the righteous people who preceded you, it is a means of coming closer to Your ord, it is a means of expiating your wrongdoings nd it is a restraint against sinning."