O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu Alaihe WaSallam)!
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little.
Half of it, or a little less than that,
Or a little more; and recite the Qur'ân (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. (Surah Al-Muzzammil 1-4)
Allaah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has written down ample reward for the one who stands up in prayer in the middle of the night. And He has hidden it from them as a surprise.
Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says in the Quran:
Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (charity in Allâh's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. (Surah As-Sajdah 16)
His slaves leave the comfort of their beds and call upon Him at a time when all those around them are enjoying their deep slumbers.
Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala then mentions in the verse following the previous one that..
No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do. (Surah As-Sajdah 17)
Ibn Al-Qayyim comments on this verse saying that look at how these people hid their prayers and glorification of their Lord from the mankind in the darkness of the night. So Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala hid from them their rewards in a similar fashion, and will reveal His bounties for His slaves on the Day of Judgement. None of us can imagine what that could be now hmm..
Just a short reminder for myself and others, and now back to work!
