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:

Earlier i had written a question about Salaah and Alhamdulillaah u have given very good replies to those Qs, but what my query was related to the Sunnaah/Nafil Prayers.

I wanted to know is a 4 Rakah Sunnah prayer the same as a 4 Rakaah Fardh Prayer.

What i mean is in the 3rd n 4th Rakahs do we have to recite some Surah after Surah Fatiha or like 4 Rakah Fard prayers we only recite Surah Fatiha.

My thinking is as Fardh Salaah is the most important so there cant be anything else or any other Salaah greater than it.

So the 4 Rakah Sunnah Salaah also must b prayed the same way as the 4 Rakah Fardh Salaah.

Kindly reflect upon my query in ur very convincing and simple way of explanation.

JazhaaKallaah

AllaahHafeez

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Four rakah Sunnah

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I wanted to know is a 4 Rakah Sunnah prayer the same as a 4 Rakaah Fardh Prayer.

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, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or non-obligatory prayers. If one prays them, one 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, one 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.

The ‘fard’ and the ‘sunnah’ prayers are distinct from each other, and the difference in their rewards is incomparable.

Your Question: ….What i mean is in the 3rd n 4th Rakahs do we have to recite some Surah after Surah Fatiha or like 4 Rakah Fard prayers we only recite Surah Fatiha.

Although there is evidence that at times the Messenger of Allah (saws) did offer some ‘qiyam ul-layl’ prayers in a combination of more than two-rakahs, the absolute majority of the ‘nafl’ prayers offered by the Prophet (saws) were in a set of two-rakah combinations.

The absolute majority of the scholars are of the opinion that it would be best for the believers who wish to offer their voluntary ‘nafl’ and/or ‘sunnah’ prayers, they should follow the sustained practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and offer them in a set of two-rakah combinations.

If one for any reason wishes to offer their ‘nafl’ or ‘sunnah’ prayers in a four (or more) rakah combination, the scholars are of the opinion that it would be best to recite another Surah after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in each rakah. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

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