THE SITUATIONS THAT HINDERS ONE FROM WORSHIPPING AT NIGHT

Our Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “I advise you to continue to worship at night, for it was your pious predecessors’ tradition. And indeed, night prayer draws you closer to Allah, restrains you from sins, expiates for the (past) sins and it is a Shifa (cure) for the bodily ailments.”
Feeling it burdensome to wake up and pray at night are clear proofs of attaining salvation for every faithful who keeps on spending nights in Ibadah. Therefore, Salaf al-Salihin (The Sahaba al-Kiram, Tabi’in, the Imams of the [four] Madhhabs, the Mujtahids [jurists] and Ulama [Islamic scholars] of Ahl al-Sunnah emphasized the importance of observing certain physical and spiritual principles to attain that bliss. One of the principles to continue worshipping at night is to abstain from committing sins during the day. Because sins cause the heart to harden, preventing it from receiving the divine mercy, this is the reason for oversleeping and spiritual deprivation.
A man who could not spend his nights in prayers came to Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) and complained: “Even though I am healthy, I sleep properly, and I have a desire to wake up at nights to pray, I cannot do so. What is the reason for this?” Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) replied: “The sins you commit are hindering you from waking up at night. ”When Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) went to the marketplace at noontime and saw people talk uselessly, he remarked: “How miserable their nights should be! I think they do not take an afternoon nap (to facilitate their night prayers).” By this way, he indicated to mean that sleeping at that time is better for them than sinning and uttering useless words.
Muslims should take care of what they eat as well as what they wear. The heart becomes unmindful of Allah Taala after Haram food is consumed, and restoration of the heart to its previous state will not be easy. This is because committing sins and disobeying Allah’s command causes darkening in the heart and an obstacle .to stand at night for prayers. On the other hand, Halal food cleanses the heart and directs people to do good and perform Ibadah (acts of worship).
Thus, the Awliya (friends) of Allah said, “One morsel of some people hinders them from worshipping at night, and one (evil) gaze bars them from reading the Holy Qur’an.”