Excellence and Secrets Of The Night Vigil Volume I Picture Oil lamp ...

Allah S.W.T had commanded the Prophet s.a.w to get up in verses 1-4
of Surah 73 al-Muzzammil:
Â…Ú∞ÊvÍ√
(٣)
.ı›ŒÍºÚ≥ ˙‹Ḡ ‰ΩÊŒ˙ºªA ¯¡Û≥
(٢)
ı›ÊŒÍMÊj‰M ‰∆EÊjÛ¥ÙªA ¯ΩM‰i‰À ͅʌں‰ß Êe¯k ÊÀÚC
.ÂΩøÏl¿٪A B‰»ÌÕÚC B‰Õ
(١)
(٤) .ı›ŒÍºÚ≥ …ʃÍø ÊwÛ¥Ê√A¯ÀÚC
(1) O you wrapped up in garments! (2) Keep vigil at night, but not all
night. (3) Half of it or a little less, (4) Or a little more; and recite the
Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
It was compulsory [Fardu]!
In a very long hadith related by Sa`id ibn Hisham ibn Amir r.a., who
asked Ibn Abbas r.a. about the witr prayers. Ibn Abbas directed him to
go and asked Aisha r.a.. Sa`id then seek the help of Hikam ibn Aflah r.a
to bring him to meet Aisha r.a to asked about the witr of Rasulullah
s.a.w.
When they met, Sa`id said: “Mother of the Faithful, [ummul mukminin]
inform me about the observance (of the night prayer) of the Messenger
of Allah s.a.w.”
She r.a said: “Did you not recite ‘O thou wrapped up’?” (Surah al
Muzzammil) He said: “Yes”. She said: “Allah, the Exalted and the
Glorious, made the observance of the night prayer at the beginning of
this Surah obligatory. So the Prophet s.a.w and his companions around
him observed this for one year.
Allah S.W.T held back the concluding portion of this Surah for
twelve months in Heaven. Then Allah revealed the concluding verses of
this Surah, which lightened (its burden), and the night prayer became a
supererogatory prayer after being an obligatory one.” (Sahih Muslim)
LR 14 - Chapter I