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:

Assalamualaikum wrwb,

In one of your recently answered questions, u said the following:

"Any ‘Nafl’ or voluntary prayer offered by the Prophet (saws) are known as Sunnah prayers. The Prophet (saws) offered these ‘nafl’ prayers on a regular basis:

Two rakahs before the obligatory Fajr prayers

Four rakahs before the obligatory Dhuhr prayers

Two rakahs after the obligatory Dhuhr prayers

Two rakahs after the obligatory Magrib prayers

Two rakahs after the obligatory Isha prayers

The tahajjud or late night prayers ending with the ‘witr’ prayer.

The ‘Ishraaq’ prayers after the sun has risen completely.

The ‘Duha’ prayers which are prayed an hour or two after the ‘Ishraaq’ prayers"

Now, my question is, if u classify these sunnah prayers as non-obligatory, then what is the one that we (indians) call the sunnath-e-moakhida? Like something that is next to obligatory prayer? I offer 2 rakah of sunnah prayer before the obligatory Fajr prayers and the witr prayer after the obligatory Ishaan prayer coz these two non-obligatory prayers have been mentioned in ahadeeth again and again and these two non-obligatory prayers have been given more importance than any other non-obligatory prayers. (And very rarely I offer the other non-obligatory prayers)Please let me know if what I perceive about the sunnah prayers is correct or not.

Jazak Allah 

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Answer:

What is sunnah Mukkedah

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, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or non-obligatory 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.

Amongst the Sunnah prayers offered by the Prophet (saws), the scholars of Jurisprudence have divided them into two categories:

1. Sunnah Muaqqeda
2. Sunnah Ghayr-Muaqqeda

Ref: Sunnah Muaqqeda: The term ‘Muaqqeda’ itself means something which is stressed or emphasized. The non-obligatory prayers which were constantly stressed and emphasized by the Messenger of Allah (saws) by his acts or his words like the two rakahs before Fajr, four rakahs before and two rakahs after Dhuhr, two rakahs after Magrib, two rakahs after Isha, the witr prayers, etc. are known as Sunnah Muaqqeda or non-obligatory prayers which were almost always offered by the Prophet (saws).

Ref: Sunnah Ghayr-Muaqqeda: The non-obligatory prayers which were sometimes offered by the Prophet (saws) like two rakahs before Asr, or two rakahs before Magrib, etc. are termed as Sunnah Ghayr-Muaqqeda.

Your Question: Please let me know if what I perceive about the sunnah prayers is correct or not.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 863 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

He heard that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: ‘The first thing about which the people will be called to account out of their actions on the Day of Judgment is Prayer. Our Lord, the Exalted, will say to the Angels - though He knows better: “Look into the prayer of My servant and see whether he has offered it perfectly or imperfectly.” If it is perfect, that will be recorded as perfect. If it is defective, He will say: “See if there are some optional (Sunnah or Nafl) prayers offered by My servant.” If there are optional prayer to his credit, He will say: “Compensate the obligatory prayer by the optional prayer for My servant.” Then all the actions will be considered similarly.’

Beloved brother, in light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), it would be prudent for the believers to in addition to the five obligatory prayers offer as many Nafl and Sunnah prayers as possible or is easy for them. If one is unable for any reason to offer many non-obligatory prayers, one should at least strive to fulfill the Sunnah Muaqqeda prayers which were constantly emphasized by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

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