My mom tells me to pray sunnah also with the farz prayerz
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
brother,
my mom tells me to pray sunnah also with the farz prayerz.. like.. along with 4
rakahz of farz in da zohr she tells it is also obligatory to pray atleast 2
rakahz of sunnah but sum of my friends tell me dat only da farz prayer is enf.
whoz correct?
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Answer:
Pray sunnah with farz
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Firstly, please allow us to clarify the difference
between Fard, Sunnah and Nafl prayers.
Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at
their appointed times of the day. If one
prays them, he will earn a huge reward
from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not
pray them, it is a grave sin and there
will be a severe accounting and punishment.
Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or supererogatory
extra prayers. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah
Subhanah; and if one does not pray
them, there is no sin.
Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers
which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his
(saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays
them, he will earn a huge reward from
Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray
them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does
not pray the Sunnah prayers is that he lost a great opportunity to earn huge
rewards from Allah Subhanah.
Your
Question: she tells it is also obligatory to pray atleast 2 rakahz of sunnah
but sum of my friends tell me dat only da farz prayer is enf. whoz
correct?
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on
the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers.
Our Lord will say to the Angels, although He knows better: 'Look into
the Salah of My servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in
it.’ So if he observed it perfectly it
will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way,
Allah would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (Sunnah and Nafl)
prayers.’ Then if he has any
supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: ‘Make up the deficiency in My
servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all
his actions will be examined in like manner"
Related by Abu Dawud.
Although it is not considered obligatory in Shariah to
offer the Sunnah or Nafl prayers, it is highly recommended, encouraged, and
would be prudent and wise for one to offer as many Sunnah or Nafl voluntary
prayers as one can or is easy for them…..for in light of the above quoted
authentic narration, these supererogatory extra prayers will help make up any
deficiency one might have committed during the obligatory prayers.
But if for any reason one chooses or decides to offer only
the obligatory fard prayers, and offers them perfectly with sincerity and
humility at their proper appointed times, it is expected that they would Insha
Allah suffice to fulfill his obligation of prayers in the Court of the Allah
Subhanah.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.480 Narrated by Abu Huraira
A Bedouin (desert Arab) came to the Prophet
(saws) and said, "Tell me of such a deed as will make me enter
Beloved brother, we reiterate again, that it would be
extremely prudent and wise for one who believes in Allah and the Last Day to
offer, in addition to the five obligatory prayers, as many Sunnah and Nawafil
prayers as one can or is easy for them….for Allah is our witness, they will
help in making up any deficiency one may have made during his obligatory
prayers in the Majestic Presence and Accounting of the Lord Most High. Besides, it should be considered an absolute
honor and privilege for a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last
Day to be able to stand in audience with his Lord Most High as often as he can
in his prayers.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister