May I say Tehillim at night?

May I say Tehillim at night?

The Arizal taught that Mikra, Torah She’bichsav (the Written Torah) should not be read at night. However, translating the Chumash into any other language, and especially learning Chumash with the commentary of Rashi—which is Torah She’be’al Peh (the Oral Torah)—is permissible at night. Ideally, however, studying Chumash in any manner should preferably be done in the daytime.

Tehillim, according to many opinions, is also included in the Arizal’s enjoinment against Mikra at night, and therefore shouldn’t be recited in the nighttime either. It is the custom that even reciting Tehillim in the form of a techinah and bakashah (supplication)—according to some opinions, even for someone who is unwell— as opposed to studying it, should also be avoided at night. 

Many poskim rule that all of the above does not apply after chatzos (midnight), particularly with regard to Tehillim. Certainly in a case of a choleh she’yesh bo sakanah (someone who is critically ill), G-d forbid, one may be lenient and say Tehillim at night, especially if it’s after chatzos.  #498?1

 

https://halacha2go.com?number=498

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.