(Regular Sunnah Prayers and Optional Prayers (Nawaafil

Regular Sunnah Prayers

Note:

①Difference between schools concerning the number of prayer units of regular Sunnah prayers is possible.

②Performing regular Sunnah prayers does not substitute for making up for missed obligatory prayers.

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¨Regular Sunnah prayers are totally seventeen prayer units (Rakᶦaat):

*The two “Fajr” prayer units before morning prayer.

*Four prayer units before noon prayer and two units after it.

*Four units before afternoon prayer.                             

*Two units after sunset prayer.

*Three units after night prayer (one of them is performed as an odd prayer ‘Witr’).

●Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) the Mother of the Believers reported:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) saying: “If any servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of God twelve prayer units (Rakᶦahs) of voluntary (Sunnah) prayers every day, other than the obligatory prayers, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 126

●It was narrated from Umm Habibah that the Messenger of Allah said, “Twelve prayer units, whoever performs them Allah will build for him a house in Paradise: 

four units (Rakᶦaat) before noon prayer (Dhuhr) and two units after it, two units before afternoon prayer (Asr), two units after sunset prayer (Maghrib), and two units before morning prayer (Subh).” 

Reference: Sunan AL-Nasaᶦi     Book 20, Hadith 204

●It was narrated from ᶦAᶦishah that the Prophet said, “The two (Sunnah) prayer units (before) the morning (the dawn) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 118

¨There is a prayer of two prayer units between the call to prayer (Adhan) and the second call to prayer (Iqamah).

●It was narrated from Abd Allah ibn Mughaffal that the Messenger of Allah said, “Between every two calls (Adhan and Iqamah) there is a prayer.” He said it three times, and on the third time he said, “For those who wish.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 368

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said, “The invocation made between AL-Adhan and AL-Iqamah is never rejected.”   

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. The Book of Virtues. Hadith 1043

¨It is better to perform Sunnah Prayers at home.

●It was narrated from Ibn ᶦUmar that the Prophet said, “Offer some of your (Sunnah) prayers at home, and do not take your houses as graves.”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari.  Book 8, Hadith 82

●It was narrated from Saᶦd ibn Ishaaq from his father that his grandfather said, 

“The Messenger of Allah performed sunset prayer (Maghrib) in the mosque of Banu Abd AL-Ashhal, and when he finished praying some people stood up to offer optional prayer. So the Prophet said, ‘You should offer this prayer in your houses.’”

Reference: Sunan AL-Nasaᶦi      Book 20, Hadith 3

●Zaid ibn Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “O people! Perform your (voluntary) prayer at your homes because the best prayer of a man is the one he performs at home, except the obligatory prayer.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. The Book of Vitues [AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

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What is the regular Sunnah prayer that follows Friday prayer?

It is known that Friday prayer is obligatory. It is of two prayer units which substitute for noon prayer (Dhuhr).

Shafii sees that Friday prayer to be valid, not less than forty men in addition to the leader must perform it. 

Ibn Hanbal and Abu-Hanifah see that three men in addition to the leader must perform it. 

Imam Malik sees that twelve men in addition to the leader must perform it.

As for the Sunnah of Friday prayer:

In Abi-Hanifah School, it is four prayer units and are performed after AL-Adhan and before the leader (Imam) ascends the pulpit.

In Shafii School, the Sunnah is four prayer units performed after Friday prayer. And this is according to tradition:

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Whoever among you is to pray after the Friday prayer, then let him pray four.”

Reference: Jamiᶦ AL-Tirmidhi    Book 4, Hadith 36

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Optional Prayers= Voluntary Prayers= Nawaafil

Naafilah in Arabic Language means excess.

Nawaafil are legislated to compensate for under performance of obligatory prayers, as a praying person may get distracted or forget humbleness in his prayer. As a result, his prayer’s reward decreases.

 Notes about Nawaafil

1) In travel, it is permissible to pray without facing AL-Qiblah (Ka'bah direction) during the movement of the train, the ship, or the plane.

2) You can pray Naafilah while sitting when you get tired of standing up.

●Imran ibn Husain reported: “I had piles, so I asked the Prophet about the prayer. He said, ‘Pray while standing and if you cannot, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.’”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari.  Book 18, Hadith 37

3) Obligations and Nawaafil are specified, i.e., no one can innovate an obligatory or a Sunnah prayer.

As for this world transactions, you can innovate a good deed. 

For example: you can devote a day or a week for helping the poor, for a gathering of knowledge, or for studying the Holy Qur'an.

4) When you pray a Naafilah individually, you can prolong reciting the Qur'an, after reciting Chapter of the Opening, as you like.

But if you lead praying persons, you should commit to lightening.

●Jabir ibn Samurah reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to recite ﴾By the sky containing great stars﴿ , ﴾By the sky and the night comer﴿ , and similar Chapters in noon (Dhuhr) and afternoon ('Asr) prayers.

Reference: Sunan An-Nasa'i.  Book 11, Hadith 104

●Umm AL-Fadl reported: Allah’s Messenger came out to us with his head bandaged from his illness. He performed sunset prayer (Maghrib) reciting Chapter of Those Sent Forth (AL-Mursalaat).

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi.  Book 2, Hadith 160

●AL-Bara' ibn 'Aazib reported: 

The Prophet recited ﴾By the fig and the olive﴿ for the night prayer ('Isha').

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi.  Book 2, Hadith 162

◊ In optional night prayer (Tahajjud), the Prophet sometimes used to recite Chapter of the Heifer, and at other times he used to recite many Chapters.

Types of Nawaafil:

*Permanent Nawaafil.                           

*Nawaafil that performed in certain occasions.

*Specific Nawaafil (that a person performs individually, i.e., not in a group).

[1] Permanent Nawaafil:

□The mosque greeting prayer.              

□Ablution prayer.                   

□Forenoon prayer.

□Optional night prayer (Tahajjud).

□Odd prayer (Witr).

[2] Nawaafil that are performed in certain occasions:

□The prayer of circumambulation of AL-Kaᶦbah.

□The prayer of returning from travel.

□Rest prayer.                                                            

□The two festivals prayers.

□Rain invoking prayer.                                            

□Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse prayer.

□Funeral prayer.

[3] Specific Nawaafil (That a person performs individually, i.e., not in a group)

□Praises Prayer (Salat At-Tasaabeeh)             

□Guidance Prayer (Salat Al-Istikhaarah)

□Repentance Prayer (Salat At-Tawbah)

Read also
Permanent Nawaafil
Nawaafil performed in certain occasions
Specific Nawaafil

Selections from Islamic Jurisprudence-Part 2 (Preface)

Selections from Islamic Jurisprudence-Part 2 (Preface)

The Aim of Translating This Book

﴾Praise be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and in no way we could have been guided, unless Allah had guided us﴿           

Chapter of the Heights. Verse NO 43

I’d like to indicate that I have translated this book “Selections from Islamic Jurisprudence- Part 2” for the sake of God, hoping that it helps to clarify and simplify Islamic Sunnah practices “Sunan” and optional acts of worship “Nawaafil” for non-Arabic speakers.

In The Name of Beneficent, Merciful God

Preface

Praise be to Allah alone. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent, the Exalted and the Pardoner, the One and the Subduer, and the Guardian over His sovereignty night and day.

He is the One and the Only, the Unique and the Eternal Refuge, Who is neither begets nor is born, and nor is there to Him any equivalent.

Exalted are You. We have neither worshipped You truly, nor remembered You properly. We have not thanked You adequately. Your mercy is more comprehensive for us than Your torment, and Your forgiveness is nearer than Your punishment.

Blessings and peace be upon the truthful, the honest, Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah. He is Allah’s Prophet and the one chosen by Him. He is the first of Allah’s worshippers, the leader of strivers, and the seal of the Prophets and Messengers.

He is our intercessor when the contents of the graves are scattered, that within the breasts is obtained, and the hidden and obscure becomes visible on the Day of Resurrection.

From where can a fluent person speak throughout the course of his mission in three ways of expression?!

Every way of them has its own properties:

The Holy Qurᶦan, the Sacred Tradition, and the Prophetic Tradition.

How can anyone of the skilled poets in any age speak in these ways without confusion between them?!

It is a clear evidence that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah and Allah protects him.

God says ﴾And Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has the favor of Allah upon you been great﴿ Chapter of Women. Verse NO 113

I have previously produced the first part of “Selections from Islamic Jurisprudence” which includes obligations and pillars of Islam.

The Prophet has conveyed their rules according to inspiration from Allah.

This is the second part of “Selections from Islamic Jurisprudence” which includes Sunnah practices “Sunan” and optional acts of worship “Nawaafil”.

They are transmitted from the Prophet throughout the course of his biography which has extended for twenty three years. These years are the period of his mission.

We will notice their diversity. The Prophet has cared about this diversity in order to make a Muslim able to choose from them the most suitable to his nature and life. Most of them are optional; that is for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude.

I have ended this part with some of Islamic manners of daily life concerning eating, drinking, clothing, and sleeping.

All of them are related to this world, but a Muslim can transform them to a great source of merits if he does them for the sake of God

God says ﴾Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds﴿ Chapter of the Cattle. Verse NO 162

And if we, every minute, are used to saying ﴾Praise to Allah, Who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us﴿ (Chapter of the Heights), we also say: “May Allah bless you and grant you peace, Messenger of Allah, as you and also the Mothers of believers have presented a detailed map of male and female Muslims’ lives from the beginning of their discretion at the age puberty till they meet God.

The Holy Qurᶦan recommended us follow the Prophet, his family, and his companions in all they have done.

God says ﴾There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often﴿

Chapter of the Confederates. Verse NO 21

I have done this according to the instructions of the Prophet who has said, “Convey from me even a verse (an Ayah) of the Qurᶦan.”

And said, “May Allah brighten a man who hears a tradition from me, gets it by heart, and passes it on to others.” [Zayd ibn Thabit]. 

●It was narrated from AL-Miqdaam ibn Maᶦdikarib that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said: “Soon a tradition from me will be conveyed to a man, while he is reclining on his couch, and he says: ‘Between us and you is Allah’s Book. So whatever we find in it that is lawful, we consider it lawful, and whatever we find in it that is unlawful, we consider it unlawful.’ 

Indeed whatever the Messenger of Allah made unlawful, it is the same as what Allah made unlawful.”

Reference: Jamiᶦ AL-Tirmidhi- Chapters on Knowledge. Book 41, Hadith 20

●ᶦIrbaad ibn Sariyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah said: “Verily he among you who lives long will see great discord, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Rightly- Guided Caliphs (AL-Khulafaa Ar-Rashideen), those who guide to the right way. 

Hold fast to it [literally: cling to it with your molar teeth]. Beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for verily every innovation (Bidᶦah) is a misguidance.” 

Reference: 40 Hadith Nawawi 28

God says about those who discriminate between the Holy Qurᶦan and the Sunnah ﴾Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and disbelieve in others.”, and wish to adopt a way in between (150) Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment ﴿(151) Chapter of Women.

So, every male and female Muslim must pay attention to all thoughts told to him/her and compare these thoughts with the Holy Qurᶦan and the Sunnah. They must note that there is no excuse for neglecting this.

God says ﴾Rather, man, against himself, will be a witness (14) Even if he presents his excuses ﴿(15) 

Chapter of Resurrection (Surat AL-Qiyamah).

But a Muslim who spends his life without knowing anything about his religion and says what other people say, indeed he wastes his religion and world.

Haven’t I conveyed it? O Allah! Bear witness to this.

I ask Almighty God, Generous Lord of the Throne, to make this book devoted to His Honored Face, to accept it well, and to remove the veil that is over the eyes of those who have gone astray. Excellent is the Protector, and Excellent is the Helper.

     .                       EL-Sayed Muhammad AL-Jameel Sarseeq