The length of time one should offer the Qiyaam-ul-Layl
Dr Zakir Naik: There are various Hadith talking about it and the length can vary but the Sunnah of the Prophet was that he used to pray usually for long hours
And there's a Hadith of Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 2 Book of Tahajjud Hadith no. 1135 that
"A Sahaba says that I joined the Prophet one night while he was offering the Qiyaam ul Layl and it was so long that an evil thought came to me. So then he was asked that what was the evil thought he said like sitting down and keeping the Prophet standing"
That means it was so long. There's another Hadith in
Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 1 in the Book of Salaah Hadith no. 1697 where it says that
"Once a Sahaba, he prays the Qiyaam ul Layl alone with Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) and the Prophet started reciting Surah Baqarah and the Sahaba says that when we finished about 100 verses he thought that the Prophet would bow down but the Prophet continued. Then later on he thought that after some verses he would bow down but he continued. Then he thought that may be after Surah Baqarah ends the Prophet would bow down but after Surah Baqarah ends he continues reciting, he recites Surah Nisa and that again is 176 verses and after that ends he recites Surah Ale-Imran and he continues leisurely, that means Prophet used to pray for hours. Imagine, Surah Baqarah, Surah Nisa, Surah Ale Imran, it is about all put together at least 5 Juz, imagine only in that one Rakat!
