The Excellence of Sunnah Solāt
In the Name of Allāh, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks is due to
Allāh, the Lord of al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship
except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.
The terms Sunnah,
Mustahabb (Encouraged), Nawafil
(Optional), Tatawwu’ (Voluntary), and Mandûb (Recommended) are legal rulings that refer
to acts that are enjoined upon us by Islamic Law without being obligatory.
They are interchangeably. They all refer to the same legal ruling. This
is the approach of Fakhr al-Dîn al-Razî. Al-Subkî declares: “This is the
approach of most Shâfî‘îe scholars and the vast majority of the scholars of
Islamic jurisprudence.” [Al-Ibhâj (1/257)] The particularly encouraged
activities is termed as being Sunnah Mu‘akkadah (Emphasized Sunnah).
The Sunnah Solāh has virtues
and excellence. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that whoever is
regular with twelve raka‘at of Solāt Sunnah Allāh will build him a house in
Paradise. A two light raka’at of which you may feel as insignificant to add to
you deeds, but it is better for you than possessing the whole world.
The Excellence
of the Sunnah Solah
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu)
narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "The first thing a person will be held accountable
for on the Day of Judgment is his Solat. If they are complete, it will be
written for him that they are complete, but if there is a deficiency in them,
Allah would say: "See if My Slave has any supererogatory prayers."
Allah would also say: "Make up the deficiency in My Slave's obligatory
prayers from the supererogatory prayers;" and then other actions will be
accounted for accordingly." This is recorded by An-Nasa’ie and
others.
So, these supererogatory prayers will
be an endorsement for any deficiency in the obligatory prayers.
Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu‘anhu)
narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “[Voluntary] Solāh
is the best thing that one can do, so perform as many as you possibly can” This
is recorded by At-Tabarāni.
The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) said: “Prostrate as much as you can,
because whenever you prostrate, Allāh elevates your rank by a degree and wipes
out a sin from your record” This
is recorded by Muslim.
Rasūllullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) also said: “Two light raka‘at which
you may think as insignificant to add to you deeds, it is better for you than
possessing the whole world” This is related by Ibn Al-Mubarak.
Two Kinds of Nawafil Which Are Performed Before or After the
Obligatory Prayer
There are two kinds of Nawafil which
are performed before or after the obligatory prayer. Firstly, the one which
were observed regularly by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) According
to the present Hadith, their total comes to ten Raka'ah while in other Ahadith
their total is twelve or fourteen Raka'ah. They are called Sunnah Mu'akkadah or As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib That
is, the Raka'ah which are proved from the saying and practice of the Prophet
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and which were performed by him usually. These
are said to be Compulsory prayers.
Secondly, the Nawafil that were not
performed regularly by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). These are
called Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah and
are said to be Optional prayers. In any case, Nawafil have great importance in
creating a special link between the worshipper and Allah, and for this reason
the believers do not neglect them. But their status in Shari'ah is of Nawafil
the performing of which is rewarding and omission of which is not sinful. One
thing that should be borne in mind in respect of As-Sunnan
Ar-Rawatib or Mu'akkadah is that it is better to perform them at
home. This was the usual practice of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa
sallam), and this is what he ordained the Muslims.
1. Sunnat
Al-Rawatib
1.1. Allah Promise Jannah for
Those Who Make Sunnat Al-Rawatib a Practice.
It is described as Sunnah or Sunnah
Mu‘akkadah (Emphasized Sunnah); regularly observed by the Prophet
(Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) along with the five obligatory and he
particularly encouraged it.
‘Aishah
(radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has
said: "Whoever is regular with twelve
raka‘at of sunnah (solāt) Allāh will build a house in Paradise: Four raka'āt
before Dzuhur (Midday Prayer), two after it, two after the Maghrib (Sunset
Prayer), two after ‘Ishā’ (Evening Prayer) and two before the Solāt
al-Fajar (Dawn Prayer)." This is related by At-Tirmidzi: Hādīth
Hasan Gharib.
Imam Muslim
recorded that Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) the Mother of the Believers
reported: I
heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) saying, "A house will be built in Jannah for
every Muslim who offers twelve Raka'ah of optional Solat other than the
obligatory Solat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah)."
This is related by Muslim.
The Hadith tells us the merits of
optional prayers and holds promise of (Jannah) for those who make it a
practice.
In another version ‘Anbasah ibn Abi
Sufyan narrated from the mother of the Faithfull Umm Habibah Ramlah bint
Abu Sufyan (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that she heard the Prophet
(Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: "Whoever
prays twelve raka’at in a day and a night a house will be built for
him in Paradise: Four raka'āt before Dzuhur (Midday Prayer), two after
it, two after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), two after ‘Ishā’ (Evening
Prayer) and two before the Solāt al-Fajar (Dawn Prayer)." This
is related by at-Tirmidzi: sahīh.
These extra twelve raka’āt of Optional
Solāt, according to Imām Nasā‘ie and Tirmidzi are Sunnan Al-Rawatib: two rak’āt
before the obligatory solāt of Early morning (Fajar), and four raka’at before
mid day (Dzuhur) and two raka’āt after it, and two raka’āt after the obligatory
of early evening solāh (Maghrib) and two rak’āt after the obligatory solāh of
night (‘Ishā’).
Ibn 'Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu)
reported: “I
performed along with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam)
two Raka'ah of optional prayers before Zuhur and two after the Zuhur (noon
prayer), and two after the Friday prayer, and two after the Maghrib (evening)
prayer, and two after the 'Isha' (night) prayer.” This is related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
1.2. The Merit of Sunnah
Al-Fajar.
Aishah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that
the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The two raka‘āt before Solāt al-Fajar are better than
the world and all that it contains.” This is related by by Muslim.
‘Aishah
(radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated: “The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was never more regular and
strict in offering any Nāwafil than the two raka‘āt sunnah before Solāt Fajar.” This
is related by by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
1.3. Sunnat Before And After
Solāt Dzuhur Is A Shield Against The Fire Of Hell.
Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever observes the practice of offering
four raka‘ahs before Solāt Dzuhur and four raka‘āt after it will shield him
against the fire of hell.” This is related by Abu Dawud and
At-Tirmidzi.
1.4.
Qiyam al-Layl (Late Night
Prayers).
Qiyam
al-Layl (Late Night Prayers) is
categorised as being Sunnah Mu‘akkadah, the emphasized
sunnah by Rasulullah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) said: “The best Solāh after the obligatory Solāt is the
Qiyam al-Layl (Night Prayer).” This is recorded by Muslim.
In another narration The Prophet (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The
most beloved solah to Allah is the Solah of Dawud (‘alaihissalam), and the most
beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud (‘alaihissalam). He used to sleep half the night, stand in
Solah for one-third of the night, and sleep for one-sixth, and he used
to fast alternate days.”.This is
recorded Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
One of the characteristics of servants
of the Most Merciful is that they get up at night and perform late Qiyām
al-Layl (Night Prayers). Night vigil is a source of great spiritual energy.
The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) also said: “Keep
up your Night Prayers. It was the way of the virtuous who came before you; it
draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and
protects the body from sickness.” This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi.
The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) also said:"When a man wakes up his
wife at night and they observe two raka‘at (units) together, they are written
down among the men and women who remember Allāh." This is related by
Abu Dawud.
The Qur’ān also commends the one, who
utilizes the early hours of each day to engage in remembrance of Allāh: “Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of the
night prostrating himself or standing [in adoration] and who places his hope in
the mercy of His Lord [like one who does not]? Say are those equal: those who
know and those who do not know? It is those who are endowed with understanding
that receive admonition.” [Az-Zumar 39:9]
1.5 -
One Should Make Al-Witir As The Last Solāh (At Night).
The Witr
Solāt is described by most jurists as being Sunnah mu‘akkadah. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu‘anhu)
narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Make Witir as your last solāh (prayer) at night.”
This is related by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim.
The Witr
solāt is a solāh that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never
left off, regardless of whether he was at home or on a journey. Moreover, he
enjoined this solāt upon his followers and encouraged them to perform it, going
so far as to warn them against leaving it.
For this reason, the Hanafî school of thought considers it an
obligatory solāt. They declare it wâjib and
make a distinction between wâjib (obligatory)
and fardhu (emphatically obligatory) which
others scholars do not do.
A number of early scholars considered
it to be obligatory only upon those who have committed the Qur’ān to memory.
They derive this ruling from the hadîth: “Perform the Witr solāh, O people of the Qur’ān!”
This is related by Ibn Majah; al-Nasa‘ie; Abu Dawud.
2 - The Non Stressed Sunnah Prayers (As-Sunan Ghair
Al-Mu'akkadah)
The Sunnah Prayers which were stressed
by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and which he was careful not to
miss. There are some other Sunnah Prayers or As-Sunan Ghair Al-Mu'akkadah or
Al-Sunan Ar-Ratibah which are commendable, but are not “stressed.”
2.1 - There is Two raka’at nawafil Between Every Adzan and
Iqamah
‘Abdullah
bin Mughaffal (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported: The
Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is a Solat between every Adzan and
Iqamah; there is a Solat between every Adzan and Iqamah.” (After saying the
same for the) third time, Rasulullah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) added, “It
is for him who desires (to perform it)." This is related by
Al-Bukhari, Muslim and the group.
Ibn Hibban recorded from Ibn Az-Zubair (radiyallāhu`anhu) that
the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “There
exists no obligatory solah without there being immediately preceding it two
raka’at nawafil.”
Imam An-Nawawi (rahimahullāh)
elucidated it by saying: The offering of a two raka’at between the Adzan and
Iqamah is considered as Mustahabb (desirable). It comes in the category of
Ghair Ratiba or Ghair Mu'akkadah Nawafil. It can be performed after the Adzan
of every Solat and before the [Iqamah, preceding] the congregation stands for
the obligatory Solat. Thus, this includes Solah al-Juma’ah as well.
Many hadiths have been related about
this Sunnah Prayer and they all support each other. Such hadith include
the following:
Ibn 'Umar (radiyallāhu`anhu) reports
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “May Allah have mercy on a person who prays
four raka'at before 'Asar prayer.” This was related by Ahmad, Abu
Dawud, at-Tirmidzi (who calls it hasan), Ibn Hibban, and Ibn Khuzaimah. The
latter two hold it as sahih. ‘Ali reports that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi
wa sallam) prayed four raka’at before ‘Asar while separating every two sets of
raka’at with salutations to the angels close to Allah, to the prophets, and to
those who followed them - the believers and Muslims. This is related by Ahmad,
an-Nasa'ie, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmidzi who grades it hasan.
As for praying only two raka’at at this
time, this would fall under the generality of the Prophet's statement: “Between
every adzan and iqamah there is a prayer.”
Al-Bukhari recorded from ‘Abdullah Ibn
Mughaffal (radiyallāhu`anhu), that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam)
said: “Pray
before maghrib, pray before maghrib,” and after saying it a third time, he
(Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “For whoever wishes to do so,”
wanting the people to take it as an optional Sunnah. Ibn Hibban
records that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) prayed two raka'at
before Maghrib prayer.
Muslim records that Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “We would pray two
raka'at before maghrib, and the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) would
see us but he would not order us to do so, nor would he prohibit us.”
Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (rahimahullāh)
says in Fathul-Bari: “All of the evidence points to the fact that it is preferred
to say these two raka’at quickly like the two raka’at before the Salatul
Fajar.”
The two raka’at solah nawafil before
‘Isha is classified as Ghair Mu’akkadah. It is applicable by the generality of
hadith narrated by 'Abdullah bin Mughaffal (radiyallāhu`anhu) on two raka’at
nawafil between every Adzan and Iqamah.
2.5 - Solāt
ad-Duha.
Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said:“My Khalil (friend) (the Prophet Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised
me to observe three things and I shall not leave them till I die: “To observe
Saum (Fasting) three days every (lunar) month; To offer the Solāt ad-Duhā;
To offer Solāt al-Witir before sleeping.” [This is related
by Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Dharr
(radiyallāhu`anhu) reports that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam)
said: “Charity
is required from every part of your body daily. Every saying of ‘Subhānallāh
(Glory be to Allah)’ is charity. Every saying of ‘Alhamdulillāh (Praise be to
Allah)’ is charity. Every saying of ‘La ila haillallah (There is no God but
Allah)’ is charity. Every saying of ‘Allāhuakbar (Allah is the Greatest)’ is
charity. Ordering the good is charity. Eradicating the evil is charity. And
what suffices for that (as a charity) is the two raka’at of Solah Duha.” This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud.
Buraidah (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “In a human (body) there are 360 joints and
man must make a charity for each one.” The people said: “Who can do that, O
Messenger of Allah?” Rasulullah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) responded: “One
may cover the mucus that one finds in the masjid or remove something harmful
from the road. If one could not do that, he could pray two raka’at of The Solah
Duha and that will be sufficient for him.”
This is related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.
2.6.
Sunnat al-Wudhū’.
Abu Hurairah
(radiyallāhu‘anhu) narrated that Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) said to Bilal ibn Rabab (radiyallāhu‘anhu):“Tell me about
the most hopeful act (i.e one which you deem the most rewarding with Allāh) you
have done since your acceptance of Islam because I heard the sound of the steps
of your shoes in front of me in paradise.” Bilal ibn Rabab (radiyallāhu‘anhu)
said : “I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make wudhū
(ablution) at any time of night or day, I offer solāh (Sunnat al-Wudhū’)
for as long as was destined for me to offer.” This is related by Al-Bukhari and
Muslim.
2.7. Tahiyatul Masjid.
If anyone enters a masjid, he should
offer two raka’āt before sitting. Abu Qatādah (radiyallahu‘anhu) narrated
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “If any one of
you enters a masjid, he should observe solāt two raka’āt before sitting.” This is narrated by
Al-Bukhāri and Muslim.
Allāh the Exalted knows best.
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