The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’”
***[Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
***I have a slight confusion .. when its said one third of the night remains .. what does it mean? like if Fajr is at 4:00 when would the last part of the night start?
Islamically the night starts after maghrib … so should we consider the night in the following proportions:
First part of the night: 9:00pm ( maghrib time in the UK ) onwards until 11:30
Second part of the night : 11:30pm -1:30am
Third part of the night: 1:30 - 4:00
The time you mentioned above i.e. “Third part of the night: 1:30 - 4:00” is correct. For example, if the difference between Magrib and Fajr is 9 hours, when you divide it by 3, you will get 3 hours in each part. So count 6 hours from Magrib (first 2 parts) and it starts from there.
**More example, **click on the image below:
Maghrib is at 6:10 and Fajer is at 3:52.
From Maghrib to Fajer total hours are 7 hours 52 min approx.
7 hours 52 min divided by 3 is equal to 2 hours 51 approx.
So the third part of the night starts at around 12 hours 51 min approx.
**Hadith:
**
Book ‘To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)’ of Sahih Bukhari Hadith No. 468,
Narrated Masruq: I asked ‘Aisha R.A. “What deed was the most beloved to the Prophet ?” She said, “The regular constant one.” I said, "At what time did he use to get up at night (for the Tahajjud night prayer)?’ She said, “He used to get up on hearing (the crowing of) the cock (the last third of the night).”
?” She said, “The regular constant one.” I said, "At what time did he use to get up at night (for the Tahajjud night prayer)?’ She said, “He