Is the intended meaning of "reciting the Qur'an in the standing (qiyam)" here the recitation in a single rak'ah, or the total recitation across the number of rak'ahs throughout the entire night, as in the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever prays (qam) with ten verses will not be recorded among the heedless; whoever prays with a hundred verses will be recorded among the devout; and whoever prays with a thousand verses will be recorded among the muqantireen (those given immense reward)?"

The meaning of "whoever prays with ten verses" is achieved by reciting ten verses in prayer. Some scholars interpreted it as acting upon them, memorizing them, and pondering their meanings. Al-Tibi and Ibn Hajar said that it means reciting them in two or more rak'ahs. The more apparent meaning is that it refers to the minimum level of prayer, and this is achieved by reciting Surat al-Fatiha (seven verses) and three verses after it. Ibn Hajar was of the opinion that what is meant is other than al-Fatiha. Recitation in prayer at night is the apparent meaning, as it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah: "Whoever prays at night with a hundred verses will not be recorded among the heedless."