Whether the optional late night Prayer should be recited out loud or not

Q 1: Are the night Salahs (prayers) performed as Salahs recited out loud or as Salahs with subvocal recitation? How many Rak`ahs are they? What are the supplications recited in such Salahs? What is the best time to offer such Salahs? A: The night prayer is fundamentally offered as prayer recited out loud. It is desirable for a person who wants to offer optional prayer to offer it as a prayer recited out loud unless such loud recitation harms others. If any person is harmed by loud recitation; for example, another person offering Prayer next to him, etc., he has to recite with a low voice. The number of Rak`ahs of optional prayer is not specified, as one can offer however many Rak`ahs he likes. This is because it was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The night prayer is offered as two Rak`ahs followed by two Rak`ahs and so on, and if anyone is afraid of the approaching of the Fajr Prayer he should pray one Rak`ah (Part No. 6; Page No. 100

A: The night prayer is fundamentally offered as prayer recited out loud. It is desirable for a person who wants to offer optional prayer to offer it as a prayer recited out loud unless such loud recitation harms others. If any person is harmed by loud recitation; for example, another person offering Prayer next to him, etc., he has to recite with a low voice. The number of Rak`ahs of optional prayer is not specified, as one can offer however many Rak`ahs he likes. This is because it was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The night prayer is offered as two Rak`ahs followed by two Rak`ahs and so on, and if anyone is afraid of the approaching of the Fajr Prayer he should pray one Rak`ah (Part No. 6; Page No. 100) and this will be a Witr for all the Rak`ahs which he has prayed before. (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them)). Also, it was authentically reported about the Prophet (peace be upon him) from the Hadith reported by `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to offer ten Rak`ahs (at night), saluting after every two Rak`ahs and then observing the Witr with a single Rak`ah. (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). This is what was often done by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Moreover, it was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sometimes offered more than the number mentioned above and sometimes less than it, but he did not offer more than thirteen Rak`ahs. However, he did not say a specific number of Rak`ahs to be performed in the night prayer. As for the time of night prayer, it is the whole night, as one can offer the night prayer at any time of the night. The night ends with the rising of the real dawn. On the other hand, the time of the Witr Prayer is due only after a Muslim offers the `Isha' (evening) Prayer. Its time lasts till the rising of the real dawn. As for the Tahajjud and the Witr Prayers, they are better to be performed in the third part of the night if possible. If a person fears missing such Prayers due to sleep or any other reason, he can offer whatever Rak`ahs of optional prayer he likes and then offer the Witr Prayer in the first half of the night before going to sleep. Also, he can make whatever supplications he likes while prostrating himself to Allah, asking Allah for the best in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. A Muslim has to be humble and persistent while making supplications so that Allah may accept his Prayers and respond to his supplications.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.