What is the difference between the reference to qiyam at the beginning of surat al-Muzamil and its reference at the end? At the beginning of the surah, Allah Almighty says: “O you who wraps himself [in clothing], stand [to pray] at night, except for a little — half of it, or subtract from it a little” (Quran, 73: 1–3). Later, in the twentieth verse, Allah Almighty says, “Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two-thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you.”

The difference between qiyam al-layl (standing for prayer at night) as mentioned at the beginning of the surah and at its end is that it was initially obligatory, whether the obligation was specific to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) alone or for him and his Ummah. However, at the end of the surah, qiyam al-layl was made voluntary as a facilitation from Allah Almighty upon the Ummah of our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

And Allah Almighty knows best.