﴿ نِّصْفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا ﴾

“of one-half thereof - or make it a little less than that,”

He explained further, saying: (A half thereof) i.e. pray during half of the night, (or abate a little thereof) less than half and up to a third of the night,