Is it permissible to perform the Qiyam prayer as four continuous rak'ahs with a tashahhud after every two rak'ahs and a taslim after the fourth?
The Sunnah regarding night prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) is to pray two rak'ahs at a time, then two rak'ahs, as this was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in both his sayings and actions. This is also the view of the majority of scholars. However, some scholars differed, holding the view that praying four continuous rak'ahs is a sunnah practice, citing the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "He (the Prophet) would pray four rak'ahs, and do not ask about their beauty and length. Then he would pray four rak'ahs, and do not ask about their beauty and length. Then he would pray three."
The majority of scholars responded to this hadith by stating that it is better to say the salām after every two rak'ahs, and that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would separate the four and the four with sleep. For those who follow the opinion that it is permissible to pray four continuous rak'ahs, they may sit after the second rak'ah and recite the tashahhud according to their view. However, the clear and explicit manner that the Prophet (peace be upon him) guided to, both in word and deed, is to pray two by two. Therefore, the preferred and more cautious approach is not to pray four continuous rak'ahs.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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