Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little

Allah gives a direct command: ‎قُمِ ٱلَّيۡلَ‎—stand the night. The instruction is to stand in prayer during most of the night, ‎إِلَّا قَلِيلًا‎—except for a little portion.

This is the establishment of Qiyam al-Layl, the night prayer.

The night, by calling to mind winter, the grave, and the barzakh, the realm of the grave, teaches a person how deeply the human soul is in need of Allah’s mercy. The tahajjud prayer offered at night shows how necessary a light it is in the night of the grave and the darkness of the barzakh, and it warns him of this. And through all these changes, it calls to mind the endless blessings of the true Giver of blessings, and proclaims how fully He deserves praise and thanks.