qiyam

Qiyam (Arabic: قيام) is a term meaning standing and is used in Islam to refer to standing in prayer. It is most commonly associated with the night prayer known as Qiyam al-Layl or Tahajjud, a voluntary act performed after the evening Isha prayer and before dawn or in the later hours of the night.

In Islamic usage, Qiyam describes the act of standing during prayer. The Qur'an encourages believers to establish prayer and to stand in humility, and hadith literature emphasizes the virtues of the night vigil: the Prophet Muhammad is reported to say that the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.

Practices vary by tradition. Qiyam al-Layl is typically performed individually, though it can be done in groups in mosques, especially during Ramadan. Participants recite portions of the Qur'an aloud and may prolong the recitation, with the number of rak'ahs (units) flexible. The Witr prayer is often added at the end of the night vigil.

Legal status: In Sunni and Shia jurisprudence, Qiyam al-Layl is Nafl (voluntary) rather than obligatory, though some communities encourage it for spiritual merit. In everyday practice, the term Qiyam can also refer more generally to standing in any of the five daily prayers.

See also: Tahajjud, Qiyam al-Layl, Salat al-Layl.