The Merit of Night Prayer when others Sleep

It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Masʿūd said:

Allāh the Mighty and Sublime laughs at two men [being pleased with them]: a man who stands in the middle of the night while his family sleeps; he purifies himself and stands in prayer, so Allāh laughs at him. And a man who meets the enemy [in battle] and his comrades are defeated; but he stands his ground until Allāh the Mighty and Sublime gives him martyrdom. Abū Bakr Al-Ājurrī, Faḍl Qiyām Al-Layl, article 9. Note: A longer version of this narration is reported from Allāh’s Messenger himself – praise and peace be upon him – in the Musnad of Aḥmad and other collections. Shaykh Al-Albānī grades it good based on other corroboratory reports (hasan lighayrihi). See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Targhīb wa Al-Tarhīb article 630.

Note: A longer version of this narration is reported from Allāh’s Messenger himself – praise and peace be upon him – in the Musnad of Aḥmad and other collections. Shaykh Al-Albānī grades it good based on other corroboratory reports (hasan lighayrihi). See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Targhīb wa Al-Tarhīb article 630.