A reflection on Surah Al-Isra 17:79 - the night prayer Allah (SWT) singled out for His Prophet (SAW), and the reward promised for consistent voluntary prayer.
Our Hifz students are already disciplined in returning to the Qur'an daily; we often encourage them to pair that discipline with the extra prayers the Prophet (SAW) loved most.
A Prayer Reserved for the Night
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
"And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation of the Qur’ān] as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station." (Surah Al-Isra 17:79)
Allah (SWT) instructs the Prophet (SAW) to rise in the later part of the night and pray, as additional worship for him, in the hope that his Lord would raise him to a praiseworthy station. The night prayer holds a place the Qur'an gives to no other voluntary act quite so directly.
A House Built for Consistency
The Prophet (SAW) said: "The most beloved prayer to Allah after the obligatory ones is the night prayer." (Sahih Muslim 1163) He also said: "Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs during the day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise." (Sahih Muslim 728) Small, consistent additions to the five daily prayers carry rewards that outlast this life entirely.
We encourage our students and their families to try even two rak'ahs of night prayer when they can, not as a burden, but as a quiet addition that Allah (SWT) loves. May Allah (SWT) build a house in Paradise for every student and family who holds onto this sunnah. Ameen.