Whilst the People Sleep - Al-Hafidh Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali

Praying at night necessitates Jannah as was previously mentioned. Allaah said: 

“Verily, the pious will be in the midst of gardens and springs, taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun. They used to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness, and from their properties was [given] the right of the beggar, and the deprived.”

(Adh-Dhariyat 15-19)

Thus He described them as being awake at night, seeking forgiveness in the early hours of the morning, and spending from their wealth. Some of the Salaf would be asleep and something would come to them saying: Stand and pray. Don’t you know that the keys to Jannah lie with those who stand at night? They are its treasurers.

The Types Of Actions That Will Be As Scattered Dust - Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali

 

The First: One having deeds from which he hopes good but they end up scattered dust and are altered to evil deeds. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says,

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاء حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

“As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are as a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water till he comes to it and finds it naught, and finds, in the place thereof, Allaah Who will pay him his due; and Allaah is swift at reckoning.¹

(An-Nur 24:39)

وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاء مَّنثُورً

“And We shall turn unto the work they did and make it scattered motes.²

Fudayl said concerning this verse, ”And there will appear unto them from their Lord, that wherewith they never reckoned,” ‘They worked deeds thinking them to be good when in reality they were evil.’

The Second: Close to the above: a servant commits an evil deed to which he pays no regard, thinking it insignificant, and that sin will be the cause of his perdition as Allaah says,

"…you counted it a trifle but in the sight of Allaah it is very great." ³

One of the Companions said, ‘You are doing deeds that are, in your eyes, more insignificant than a hair, whereas at the time of the Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم we would consider them to be destructive sins!.’⁴