The Practising Muslim · Voluntary Worship

Insights into Night Prayers and Worship Acts

Explore key aspects of Qiyam Al-Layl, Laylat al-Qadr, and Tarawih practices.

6 questions · Medium · about 4 minutes

Test yourself properly, with scoring and instant feedback.

6 questions, about 4 minutes.

Take the quiz
Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 6 questions.

1. What is one virtue of qiyam al-layl mentioned in the source?

  • It is a means of drawing closer to Allah and preventing sins. (correct answer)
  • It exempts a person from obligatory prayers.
  • It guarantees freedom from every worldly trial.
  • It is valid only if one recites the entire Qur’an every night.

Why

Qiyam al-layl is a confirmed Sunnah with great reward. The source mentions Qur’anic praise for those who spend part of the night in worship, and it describes qiyam as a means of attaining Paradise, drawing closer to Allah, expiating sins, preventing misdeeds, and earning great reward. Reciting ten, one hundred, or one thousand verses in qiyam is also mentioned with different levels of virtue.

View source on IslamQA →

2. Why should Muslims single out Laylat al-Qadr for worship and seeking closeness to Allah?

  • Because Allah prescribed striving in worship on Laylat al-Qadr. (correct answer)
  • Because the exact date of the night of Isra’ is known and fixed.
  • Because Muslims were instructed to celebrate the night of Isra’ every year.
  • Because Laylat al-Qadr is outside Ramadan.

Why

Laylat al-Qadr has great virtues: the Qur’an was sent down during it, it is better than a thousand months, and it occurs in Ramadan, most likely in the last ten nights. Allah prescribed striving in worship, du‘a, dhikr, and seeking closeness to Him on Laylat al-Qadr. By contrast, the night of Isra’ was not prescribed as a night to seek, celebrate, or single out for worship.

View source on IslamQA →

3. Can Laylat al-Qadr correspond to an even-numbered night of Ramadan?

  • Yes, because a night may be odd when counted backwards from the end of the month. (correct answer)
  • No, it must always be one fixed calendar date every year.
  • Yes, but only outside the last ten nights.
  • No, because moon sighting differences never affect night numbering.

Why

Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten nights of Ramadan and is sought especially on the odd-numbered nights. But oddness may be counted by what has already passed or by what remains of the month. If Ramadan is thirty days, then counting backwards from the end can make some even-numbered dates correspond to odd-numbered nights from the end. Because of this, a believer should seek Laylat al-Qadr on all of the last ten nights.

View source on IslamQA →

4. What should a worshipper do after reciting al-Fatihah behind an imam who is reciting aloud?

  • Listen attentively to the imam’s recitation. (correct answer)
  • Recite a different surah from the Mushaf.
  • Continue reading extra verses from memory.
  • Ignore the imam’s recitation to complete a personal Qur’an portion.

Why

In a prayer where the imam recites aloud, the follower should recite al-Fatihah, then listen attentively to the imam. The exception is al-Fatihah only. It is not permissible for the follower to read extra Qur’an after al-Fatihah, whether from memory or from the Mushaf, especially when that means reading something different from what the imam is reciting.

View source on IslamQA →

5. When is it prescribed to say “Subhan al-Malik al-Quddoos” three times?

  • After completing Witr prayer. (correct answer)
  • Regularly between every two rak‘ahs of Tarawih.
  • Only on Laylat al-Qadr.
  • Before beginning every voluntary night prayer.

Why

The Sunnah is to say “Subhan al-Malik al-Quddoos” after Witr prayer. It is not prescribed to make it a regular dhikr between the rak‘ahs of Tarawih or qiyam al-layl, because that is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions. Individual istighfar or tasbih is permissible, but fixed group dhikr between Tarawih rak‘ahs should not be treated as Sunnah.

View source on IslamQA →

6. What was the usual Tarawih practice at the time of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه according to the source?

  • Twenty rak‘ahs, with Witr counted separately in some reports. (correct answer)
  • Exactly four rak‘ahs every night.
  • No congregational Tarawih at all.
  • Thirty-nine rak‘ahs as the only valid number.

Why

Reports from the time of ‘Umar رضي الله عنه mention twenty rak‘ahs, with some narrations mentioning twenty-one or twenty-three because they include Witr. The source concludes that twenty rak‘ahs was the usual practice at that time. It also states that night prayer is broad in scope and that there is no fixed number that cannot be exceeded.

View source on IslamQA →

A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

More in Voluntary Worship

Browse all 281 quizzes or explore guidance topics.