Is it permissible to pray Qiyam al-Layl immediately after Isha, instead of during the last third of the night, to satisfy a mother who fears exhaustion and dark circles under her son's eyes?

May Allah reward the honorable sister for her eagerness to obey her Lord and be dutiful to her mother. We ask Allah to grant her steadfastness. We advise her to explain to her mother the virtue of night vigil (Qiyam al-Layl). If her mother is convinced, then that is good. Otherwise, she should deal with her mother gently, perhaps by performing the prayer without her mother's knowledge if possible, or by performing it sometimes and omitting it at other times. If she misses performing the night vigil at the end of the night on a certain day, she should pray it at the beginning of the night. It is mentioned in Ibn Muflih's "Al-Adab al-Shar'iyyah" regarding Imam Ahmad that it is disliked to begin voluntary fasting if the parents forbid it, and it is recommended to break it if they command one to break the fast. As for prayer, one should deal with them gently and perform it. There is no sin upon her if she disobeys them and performs the night vigil, for their obedience in this matter is not obligatory. What we first advised—to try to convince her and then to deal with her gently—is preferable, in order to combine both interests. And Allah knows best.