(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

Islam is A Global Religion

Islam is A Global Religion

Allah has sent His Prophet Muhammad to address humanity at all times and everywhere. He fits multiple human races and energies.

As the Prophet has been a magnet for all his significant contemporaries: the genius of war, the genius of management, the genius of youth, the genius of wisdom, and the genius of Sufism, also Islam has been the same. It is still a magnet for those of action with different abilities and tendencies.

Some of them can only perform obligations perfectly, some others exceed performing obligatory prayers to perform also regular Sunnah prayers, and others accept nothing but being from those of high rank.

And out of God’s mercy that He does not refuse any of them; instead, He accepts all their deeds regardless their values, on two conditions:

¨The doer is a Muslim.                                  

¨His deed is only for the sake of God.

This is according to God’s saying ﴾Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty﴿ 

Chapter of Iron (Surat AL-Hadeed) Verse NO 21

Allah has put His servants into ranks according to their deeds; i.e., some of them are Muslims, some are believers, and others are doers of good and pious.

This has been provided in the tradition, in which the Prophet has defined Belief, Islam, and the doing of good:   https://sunnah.com/urn/181120

God says ﴾They are [varying] degrees in the sight of Allah, and Allah is Seeing whatever they do﴿ Chapter of Family of Imran. Verse NO 163

An example of the least active persons:

●Abu-Suhail narrated from his father: That he heard Talha ibn ᶦUbaidallah say: 

“A man from Najd with dishevelled hair came to the Messenger of Allah asking about Islam. 

The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Five prayers every day and night.’ 

He said: ‘Do I have to do any more than that?’ 

He said: ‘No, but whatever you do out of your own free will.’ 

The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fasting the month of Ramadan.’ 

He said: ‘Do I have to do any more than that?’ 

He said: ‘No, but whatever you do out of your own free will.’ 

Then the Messenger of Allah told him about charity (Zakah). 

He said: ‘Do I have to do any more than that?’ 

He said: ‘No, but whatever you do out of your own free will.’ 

The man left saying, ‘I will not do any more than that or any less.’ 

The Messenger of Allah said: ‘He will succeed if he is telling the truth.’”

Reference: Sunan AL-Nasaᶦi 5028    Book 47, Hadith 44

Note that: The Prophet did not mention pilgrimage in the previous tradition as it has not been made obligatory at that time yet. It has been made obligatory in the ninth year of Hijrah.

An example of the most active persons:

●It was narrated from Abi- Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said, “Who amongst you is fasting today?” Abu-Bakr said: “I am.” 

He said: “Who amongst you followed a funeral procession today?” Abu-Bakr said: “I did.” 

He said, “Who amongst you fed a needy today?” Abu-Bakr said: “I did.”

He said, “Who amongst you visited a sick man today?” Abu Bakr said, “I did.” 

Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger said: “Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter Paradise.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim 1028b      Book 44, Hadith 13

●Abu-Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Some of the poor Emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah and said to him, “The wealthy have obtained all high ranks and everlasting bliss.” 

He asked, “How is that?” 

They replied: “They perform prayer as we do, and fast as we do, but they give alms (Sadaqah) and we do not, and they free the slaves but we cannot.”

 He said, “Shall I not teach you something with which you will catch up with those who have preceded you and will get ahead of those who follow you, and no one will surpass you unless he does the same as you do?”

They said, “Surely, O Messenger of Allah.” 

He said: “Say: ‘Subhan Allah, Allahu Akbar and AL-Hamdu Lillah’ thirty three times at the end of every prayer.” 

They returned to him and said: “Our brothers, the possessors of wealth, having heard what we are doing, have started doing the same.” 

The Messenger said, “This is Grace of Allah which He gives to whom He wishes.”

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

¨Thus, Islam has offered grades in Paradise and opened doors for those who want to do more good deeds. This is by volunteering or optional worship beside performing obligations.

For example:

*Beside five obligatory prayers, we can perform the regular Sunnah prayers.

*Beside fasting the month of Ramadan, we can perform voluntary fasting.

*Beside obligatory charity (Zakah), we can give alms (Sadaqah).

*Beside pilgrimage, we can perform ᶦUmrah.

*Beside inheritance, we can make a bequest.

●Abu-Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Allah, the Exalted, has said:

‘The most beloved thing with which My servant comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him, and My servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing optional worship (Nawaafil) till I love him. 

When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him.’”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen.   The Book of Miscellany [AL-Bukhari].

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Women compete with men

Even women in the days of the Prophet were not distracted, with childbirth and raising this large number of strivers, from looking for means of reaching high levels in Paradise, as they believed in justice of Allah Who says ﴾Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another﴿ 

Chapter of Family of Imraan. Verse NO 195

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●Mujahid reported: Umm Salamah said, “Men fight and women do not fight, and we only get half the inheritance.” So, Allah revealed ﴾And wish not for things in which Allah has made some of you excel over others…﴿ Chapter of Women. Verse NO 32

Mujahid said: “And the following was revealed about that: ﴾Verily the Muslim men and the Muslim women….﴿ Chapter of the Confederates. Verse NO 35 

And Umm Salamah was the first camel-borne woman to arrive in AL-Madinah as an emigrant.”

Reference: Jamiᶦ AL-Tirmidhi.  Book 47, Hadith 3295

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●ᶦAᶦishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I said: “O Messenger of Allah! We consider striving (Jihaad) as the best deed, should we not then go for Jihaad? 

The Messenger said: “The best Jihaad for you women is accepted pilgrimage (Hajj Mabrur).”  

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. The Book of Hajj [AL-Bukhari].

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●Abu Saᶦid AL-Khudri reported: Some women requested the Prophet to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. 

On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. Once during such a lesson the Prophet said, “A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire.”

On that a woman asked, “If only two die?”

He replied, “Even two (will shield her from the Hell fire).”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari    Book 3, Hadith 43

The Four Schools of Jurisprudence

The Four Schools of Jurisprudence

Introduction:

Muslims gathered around the Prophet, were sincere in their religion for Allah, and succeeded in forming a new society that is ruled by the Book and the Sunnah.

Then, they went on to spread the light of Allah everywhere and could remove the two largest corrupt states at that time: the Persians and the Romans. Also they could remove the despots in the north of the Arabian Peninsula who follow them like AL-Manaadhirah and AL-Ghasaasenah.

Muslim armies were accompanied by jurists from the Prophet’s Companions who studied under him and went on to teach people provisions of Islam and regulate their lives in which ways of living differed from one region to another.

This was followed by the appearance of schools of giving legal opinions (Iftaaᶦ):

❶Imam Abu-Hanifah School.

❷Imam Malik ibn Anas School.

❸Imam Shafii School.

❹Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal School.

 

These schools were not the only ones that appeared in the early times, but there were more than eighty independent famous jurists, such as AL-Layth ibn Saᶦd in Egypt, Imam ibn Taymiyah in Damascus and his student ibn AL-Qayeem, also ibn Hazm AL-Andalusi.

¨The Prophet’s message has spread to the world by two groups of the Companions:

①A group stayed in AL-Madinah, to whom people went and asked for legal opinions.

②And a group went off with the conqueror Muslim armies to teach people provisions of the religion.

Causes of emergence of these schools:

1) The death of the Prophet, i.e., he was no longer alive to answer Muslims’ questions and give them legal opinions.

2) The death of the Prophet’s Companions who lived with the Prophet and gave people legal opinions.

3) Appearance of new issues due to Muslims’ new life.

4) The presence of a number of the Companions in AL-Madinah made it difficult for people to travel to them.

Some of the most important famous scholars

❶Imam Abu Hanifah

He is AL-Nuᶦmaan ibn Thabit. He was born in Kufa, in 80 A.H.

He lived for fifty years under the Umayyad Caliphate and for twenty years under the Abbasid Caliphate. 

He was famous for wisdom and self-esteem and was fond of debates and thought. He had followers and students who disseminated his opinions in many Muslim countries.

He established his school in Kufa.

He tends to juristic deduction and depends to a lesser extent on the Prophetic tradition. The Shariᶦah Judiciary and educational books in Egypt depend on his school.

He died in 150 A.H., under the Caliph Abu-Gaᶦfar AL Mansour.

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❷Imam Malik ibn Anas

He was born in AL-Madinah AL-Munawwarah in 93 A.H.

He learned in it among the Companions and the Successors of the Companions.

He became the leader of the jurisprudents of AL-Hejaz so that it was said: “NO one is asked to give a verdict while Malik is in AL-Madinah.”

He was called “Imam of Dar AL-Hijrah (AL Madinah).”

His school combines between tradition, jurisprudence, interpretation, and history.

He disagreed with Abi Jaᶦfar AL-Mansour who ordered to flog him. But the Caliph AL Mahdi got close to him and narrated his book “AL-Muwatta”.

Malik ibn Anas School spread in Morocco and Andalusia. His book “AL-Muwatta” has gained a great fame. He wrote it in forty years. He has combined between jurisprudence and tradition in it.

The Abbasid Caliphs suggested to publish his book and commit people to it, but he refused this suggestion. Imam Shafii is one of his students.

Malik ibn Anas died in AL Madinah in 179 A.H. under the Caliph Haroun AL Rasheed.

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❸Imam Shafii

He is Muhammad ibn Idrees. 

He was born in Shafiᶦ in Ghazah in 150 A.H. ,i.e., in the same year of Abi Hanifah’s death.

His descent is the same as that of the Prophet in Hashem ibn Abd Manaaf.

He learned language and literature in Makkah.

He memorized the Qurᶦan at the age of seven, and studied under Imam Malik so that he memorized “AL-Muwatta” at the age of ten.

He became a jurisconsult at the age of fifteen. Then he went to Iraq where he met Abu-Hanifah’s friends, thus he combined between acquaintance of the scholars of tradition (Imam Malik), and the scholars of juristic deduction (Abu-Hanifah).

He took over some administrative acts in the Yemen under Haroun AL-Rasheed.

His school spread in Egypt, Damascus, and Iraq.

Imam Shafii is famous for his fluency and intelligence. He has set a good example for that. He has composed many poems in wisdom and preachment.

 He has established two schools. The first of them is in Iraq. 

On his last days, he moved to Egypt in 199 A.H. and lived in AL-Fustat (ancient Cairo). Then he started to teach people in Amr ibn EL-ᶦAas Mosque. As he realized that the living conditions of people in Egypt differed from that of people in Iraq, he established his new school.

He wrote 113 books and established the science of jurisprudence principles.

He died in Egypt in the month of Rajab in 204 A.H. He was buried in Egypt near his mosque in the time of the Caliph AL-Mamoun.

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❹Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

He was born in Baghdad in 164 A.H.

He met Imam Shafii and studied under him, then he moved to Damascus and AL-Hejaz.

He is one of the most adherent people to the Holy Qurᶦan and the Prophetic Tradition. 

Bukhari and Muslim are of his students. 

He has written his book “AL-Musnad AL-Kabeer” which includes 40000 traditions.

He died in 241 A.H. under the Caliph AL-Mutawakkil.

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A comment on the Schools

Diversity of schools is a mercy for people and not a contradiction as the stupid claim.

Some of those scholars have taken the prudent opinion, and the others have taken the easiest opinion. 

This diversity does not affect the principles of the faith or the worship. There are red lines that any independent jurist cannot cross.

For example: NO one can give a legal opinion that makes sunset prayer of two prayer units instead of three, makes morning prayer of three units instead of two, or omits any verse or Chapter of the Holy Qurᶦan.

This diversity is due to that the Holy Qurᶦan and traditions are in Arabic Language. And Arabic Language vocabularies allow deduction in some of its expressions.

  

Rejected Legal Opinions

Rejected Legal Opinions

Some people break into the field of juristic deduction and legal opinions, that results in destroying themselves and leading others to Hell.

¨Some of them say, “A legal thing (Halal) is the thing that is suitable to society’s values and traditions, and the prohibited thing (Haraam) is the thing that is unsuitable to society’s values and traditions.”

¨And others advise you and say, “Do not be confused. The Messenger has said, ‘Consult your heart. Piety is that about which the soul feels at ease and the heart feels tranquil. And sin is that which wavers in the soul and causes uneasiness in the breast.’”

In reply to that God says:

﴾And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying﴿ Chapter of the Cattle. Verse NO 116

﴾Then is one to whom the evil of his deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly guided]?﴿ 

Chapter of the Orginator (Surat Faatir).

﴾Or have they other deities who have ordained for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?﴿ 

Chapter of Consultation (Surat Ash-Shuraa).

﴾Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allah? Then will you not be reminded?﴿ 

Chapter of Bowing the Knee (Surat AL-Jathiyah). Verse NO 23

●And the Prophet says, “Both legal and illegal things are obvious.”

Reference: Sahih AL Bukhari 2051   the Book of Sales and Trade. Hadith 5

*When we reply to that according to mindfulness, we say:

It is impossible for the society’s values and traditions to be a source of legislation; they change from time to time and differ from one place to another, and Islam does not accept changing its provisions and acts of worship.