Prayer at midnight

GenuineSeeker · 10-24-2012, 04:36 AM

I have read in several places that it is best to pray at midnight. My question is:

Does this refer to midnight by the clock or is it a general time period to denote the range of time when everyone is asleep, usually.

I assume this is because it is a time "freed from daily cares," but I would also find it hard to 1)focus and 2)stay awake.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Thanks for helping my understanding.

dwlehning · 10-24-2012, 03:28 PM

Greetings GenuineSeeker,

I presume that you are speaking about the following prayer:

O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty.

Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

I have used this prayer literally in the very early hours of the morning after midnight, but I could also see it as symbolic of a time when one is experiencing a time of spiritual darkness or testing, and thus, is seeking the be spiritually refreshed in the light of God love. "O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night" (spiritual dark night?), "and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age." I have had times when I seem to be in the "dark night of the soul" and have used this and other prayers at that time also. So, as I see it, it could be both literal, and metaphorical.

armin · 10-24-2012, 10:36 PM

Providing the specific quotation will help but generally speaking, as it is my understanding, nights refer to times when the Manifestation of God, the Sun of Truth, is not present among us. Similarly the times in which He is present are considered days.

GenuineSeeker · 10-25-2012, 02:30 AM

This is one of them:
O seeker of Truth! If thou desirest that God my open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight, saying:

O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 60)

Rani · 10-25-2012, 03:47 AM

Just going on common sense alone, I would think that a prayer like this might be used now and then on special occasions, unless a person is accustomed to staying up late habitually.

The Faith is about being moderate and safe-guarding your health too. I would not cope well at all if I stayed up at midnight very often.

Now I thought I heard that Abdu'l-Baha praised going to bed early, but that might be Kitabi-heresay, -I can't find a quote at the moment.

I would suggest that you should not feel obliged to stay up 'til midnight if it is deleterious to your health. The Faith encourages prayer at dawn as well, and also getting enough sleep, so we can't achieve it at both ends if you are like most people who need about 8 hrs of sleep for good health. I think, relax.. God knows your heart.

990. Protect your Health by Sleeping Enough

"Regarding your question: There are very few people who can get along without eight hours sleep. If you are not one of those, you should protect your health by sleeping enough. The Guardian himself finds that it impairs his working capacity if he does not try and get a minimum of seven or eight hours."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers, September 15, 1952)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 291)

1013. The Body is Like a Horse That Carries the Personality and Spirit

"...you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve. It -- the body -- is like a horse which carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer meditation, but for real rest and relaxation. We don't have to pray and meditate for hours in order to be spiritual."

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 242)
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 3, 1947)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 297)

GenuineSeeker · 10-26-2012, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rani

Just going on common sense alone, I would think that a prayer like this might be used now and then on special occasions, unless a person is accustomed to staying up late habitually.

The Faith is about being moderate and safe-guarding your health too. I would not cope well at all if I stayed up at midnight very often.

Now I thought I heard that Abdu'l-Baha praised going to bed early, but that might be Kitabi-heresay, -I can't find a quote at the moment.

I would suggest that you should not feel obliged to stay up 'til midnight if it is deleterious to your health. The Faith encourages prayer at dawn as well, and also getting enough sleep, so we can't achieve it at both ends if you are like most people who need about 8 hrs of sleep for good health. I think, relax.. God knows your heart.

990. Protect your Health by Sleeping Enough

"Regarding your question: There are very few people who can get along without eight hours sleep. If you are not one of those, you should protect your health by sleeping enough. The Guardian himself finds that it impairs his working capacity if he does not try and get a minimum of seven or eight hours."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers, September 15, 1952)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 291)

1013. The Body is Like a Horse That Carries the Personality and Spirit

"...you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve. It -- the body -- is like a horse which carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer meditation, but for real rest and relaxation. We don't have to pray and meditate for hours in order to be spiritual."

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 242)
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 3, 1947)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 297)

I LOVE the horse/body analogy. That is GREAT!!!!!!

Actually, I was wondering if I'd be able to do it even once, lol. But, the verse I posted sounds like the midnight prayers might have some sort of special potency, so for example, if I need a better job, which I do, would it help me to pray at midnight about that?

Emilia · 10-26-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenuineSeeker

But, the verse I posted sounds like the midnight prayers might have some sort of special potency, so for example, if I need a better job, which I do, would it help me to pray at midnight about that?

If your schedule has you up earlier, maybe Dawn Prayers might work better?

When in doubt I usually haul out the "big guns" of prayer anyway: the Tablet of Ahmad and the Fire Tablet. Those can be said anytime.

Ali · 10-26-2012, 08:12 PM

As a former Twelver (Muslims who believe in the 12 divinely-appointed and consecutive successors after Prophet Mohammad), we had a midnight prayer called "salaatul-liel" which literally translates as "prayer of the night". It is a recommendatory prayer that The Bab and Bahuallah probably performed as they were devout Twelvers. I believe that this prayer has been replaced by the one that you are referring to. In regards to the timing, "midnight" in Twelver terminology means 12:30 am until fajr (about two hours before sunrise).

GenuineSeeker · 10-27-2012, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armin

Providing the specific quotation will help but generally speaking, as it is my understanding, nights refer to times when the Manifestation of God, the Sun of Truth, is not present among us. Similarly the times in which He is present are considered days.

I think it refers to midnight, literally.

GenuineSeeker · 10-27-2012, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali

As a former Twelver (Muslims who believe in the 12 divinely-appointed and consecutive successors after Prophet Mohammad), we had a midnight prayer called "salaatul-liel" which literally translates as "prayer of the night". It is a recommendatory prayer that The Bab and Bahuallah probably performed as they were devout Twelvers. I believe that this prayer has been replaced by the one that you are referring to. In regards to the timing, "midnight" in Twelver terminology means 12:30 am until fajr (about two hours before sunrise).

Thanks, Ali. 12:30am until two hrs. before sun rise is the timeframe, then. That is good to know.

rreini · 10-27-2012, 04:19 AM

Here's a thought: The benefits of prayer at midnight may be tied to a phenomenon called segmented sleep (Segmented sleep - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), thought to be the natural pattern of human sleep prior to the Industrial Revolution. There would be two periods of sleep at night, separated by a time of wakefulness, which could be used for, among other things, prayer and contemplation.

10-24-2012, 04:36 AM	#1
GenuineSeeker Member Joined: Sep 2012 From: USA Posts: 94	Prayer at midnight I have read in several places that it is best to pray at midnight. My question is: Does this refer to midnight by the clock or is it a general time period to denote the range of time when everyone is asleep, usually. I assume this is because it is a time "freed from daily cares," but I would also find it hard to 1)focus and 2)stay awake. Is there something I'm missing here? Thanks for helping my understanding.

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10-24-2012, 03:28 PM	#2
dwlehning Member Joined: Sep 2010 From: Boalsburg, PA, USA Posts: 48	Greetings GenuineSeeker, I presume that you are speaking about the following prayer: O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá I have used this prayer literally in the very early hours of the morning after midnight, but I could also see it as symbolic of a time when one is experiencing a time of spiritual darkness or testing, and thus, is seeking the be spiritually refreshed in the light of God love. "O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night" (spiritual dark night?), "and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age." I have had times when I seem to be in the "dark night of the soul" and have used this and other prayers at that time also. So, as I see it, it could be both literal, and metaphorical.

10-24-2012, 10:36 PM	#3
armin Cloaked Star Joined: Mar 2011 From: san diego Posts: 210	Providing the specific quotation will help but generally speaking, as it is my understanding, nights refer to times when the Manifestation of God, the Sun of Truth, is not present among us. Similarly the times in which He is present are considered days.

10-25-2012, 02:30 AM	#4
GenuineSeeker Member Joined: Sep 2012 From: USA Posts: 94	This is one of them: O seeker of Truth! If thou desirest that God my open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight, saying: O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers, p. 60)

10-25-2012, 03:47 AM	#5
Rani Senior Member Joined: May 2011 From: Australia Posts: 444	Just going on common sense alone, I would think that a prayer like this might be used now and then on special occasions, unless a person is accustomed to staying up late habitually. The Faith is about being moderate and safe-guarding your health too. I would not cope well at all if I stayed up at midnight very often. Now I thought I heard that Abdu'l-Baha praised going to bed early, but that might be Kitabi-heresay, -I can't find a quote at the moment. I would suggest that you should not feel obliged to stay up 'til midnight if it is deleterious to your health. The Faith encourages prayer at dawn as well, and also getting enough sleep, so we can't achieve it at both ends if you are like most people who need about 8 hrs of sleep for good health. I think, relax.. God knows your heart. 990. Protect your Health by Sleeping Enough "Regarding your question: There are very few people who can get along without eight hours sleep. If you are not one of those, you should protect your health by sleeping enough. The Guardian himself finds that it impairs his working capacity if he does not try and get a minimum of seven or eight hours." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers, September 15, 1952) (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 291) 1013. The Body is Like a Horse That Carries the Personality and Spirit "...you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve. It -- the body -- is like a horse which carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer meditation, but for real rest and relaxation. We don't have to pray and meditate for hours in order to be spiritual." (Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 242) (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 3, 1947) (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 297)

10-26-2012, 08:12 PM	#8
Ali Member Joined: Dec 2011 From: Brampton Posts: 62	As a former Twelver (Muslims who believe in the 12 divinely-appointed and consecutive successors after Prophet Mohammad), we had a midnight prayer called "salaatul-liel" which literally translates as "prayer of the night". It is a recommendatory prayer that The Bab and Bahuallah probably performed as they were devout Twelvers. I believe that this prayer has been replaced by the one that you are referring to. In regards to the timing, "midnight" in Twelver terminology means 12:30 am until fajr (about two hours before sunrise).

10-27-2012, 04:19 AM	#11
rreini Member Joined: Dec 2010 From: Westland, MI, USA Posts: 30	Here's a thought: The benefits of prayer at midnight may be tied to a phenomenon called segmented sleep (Segmented sleep - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), thought to be the natural pattern of human sleep prior to the Industrial Revolution. There would be two periods of sleep at night, separated by a time of wakefulness, which could be used for, among other things, prayer and contemplation.