THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SUNNAH SOLAH

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SUNNAH SOLAH

Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: 

"The first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is his Solat. If they are complete, it will be written for him that they are complete, but if there is a deficiency in them, Allah would say: "See if My Slave has any supererogatory prayers." Allah would also say: "Make up the deficiency in My Slave's obligatory prayers from the supererogatory prayers;" and then other actions will be accounted for accordingly."

 This is recorded by An-Nasa’ie and others.

So, these supererogatory prayers will be an endorsement for any deficiency in the obligatory prayers.

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:  

“[Voluntary] Solāh is the best thing that one can do, so perform as many as you possibly can” This is recorded by At-Tabarāni.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“Prostrate as much as you can, because whenever you prostrate, Allāh elevates your rank by a degree and wipes out a sin from your record” This is recorded by Muslim.

Rasūllullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said:

“Two light raka‘at which you may think as insignificant to add to you deeds, it is better for you than possessing the whole world”

 This is related by Ibn Al-Mubarak.

1. Tahiyatul Masjid.

If anyone enters a masjid, he should offer two raka’āt before sitting. Abu Qatādah (radiyallahu‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“If any one of you enters a masjid, he should observe solāt two raka’āt before sitting.” This is narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim.

2. Sunnat al-Wudhū’.

Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu‘anhu) narrated that Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Bilal ibn Rabab (radiyallāhu‘anhu):

“Tell me about the most hopeful act (i.e one which you deem the most rewarding with Allāh) you have done since your acceptance of Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in paradise.”

 Bilal ibn Rabab (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said :

 “I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make wudhū  (ablution) at any time of night or day, I offer solāh (Sunnat al-Wudhū’) for as long as was destined for me to offer.” This is related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

3. One Should Make Al-Witir As The Last Solāh (At Night).

The Witr Solātis described by most jurists as being Sunnah mu‘akkadah. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Make Witir as your last solāh (prayer) at night.” This is related by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim.

The Witr solāt is a solāh that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never left off, regardless of whether he was at home or on a journey. Moreover, he (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) enjoined this solāt upon his followers and encouraged them to perform it, going so far as to warn them against leaving it.

For this reason, the Hanafî school of thought considers it an obligatory solāt. They declare it wâjib and make a distinction between wâjib (obligatory) and fardhu (emphatically obligatory) which others scholars do not do.

A number of early scholars considered it to be obligatory only upon those who have committed the Qur’ān to memory. They derive this ruling from the hadîth:

 “Perform the Witr solāh, O people of the Qur’ān!” This is related by Ibn Majah; al-Nasa‘ie; Abu Dawud.

4. Qiyam al-Layl (Late Night Prayers).

Qiyam al-Layl(Late Night Prayers) is categorised as being Sunnah Mu‘akkadah, the emphasized sunnah by Rasulullah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“The best Solāh after the obligatory Solāt is the Qiyam al-Layl (Night Prayer).”This is recorded by Muslim.

In another narration The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The most beloved solah to Allah is the Solah of Dawud (‘alaihissalam), and the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud (‘alaihissalam). He used to sleep half the night, stand in Solah for one-third of the night, and sleep for one-sixth, and he used to fast alternate days.”. 

This is recorded Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

One of the characteristics of servants of the Most Merciful is that they get up at night and perform late Qiyām al-Layl (Night Prayers). Night vigil is a source of great spiritual energy.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said:

“Keep up your Night Prayers. It was the way of the virtuous who came before you; it draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and protects the body from sickness.” This is recorded by At-Tirmidzi.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: 

"When a man wakes up his wife at night and they observe two raka‘at (units) together, they are written down among the men and women who remember Allāh." This is related by Abu Dawud.

The Qur’ān also commends the one, who utilizes the early hours of each day to engage in remembrance of Allāh:

“Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of the night prostrating himself or standing [in adoration] and who places his hope in the mercy of His Lord [like one who does not]? Say are those equal: those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition.”  [Az-Zumar 39:9]

5. The Merit of Sunnah Al-Fajar.

Aishah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The two raka‘āt before Solāt al-Fajar are better than the world and all that it contains.” This is related by Muslim.

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated:

“The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was never more regular and strict in offering any Nāwafil than the two raka‘āt sunnah before Solāt Fajar.” This is related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.                                                                                                                  

6. Sunnat Al-Rawatib

 “Allah Promise Jannah for Those Who Make Sunnat Al-Rawatib a Practice”.

It is described as Sunnah or Sunnah Mu‘akkadah(Emphasized Sunnah); regularly observed by the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) along with the five obligatory and he particularly encouraged it.

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said: 

 "Whoever is regular with twelve raka‘at of sunnah (solāt) Allāh will build a house in Paradise: Four raka'āt before Dzuhur (Midday Prayer), two after it, two after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), two after  ‘Ishā’ (Evening Prayer) and two before the Solāt al-Fajar (Dawn Prayer)."  This is related by At-Tirmidzi: Hādīth Hasan Gharib.

Imam Muslim recorded that Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) the Mother of the Believers reported:I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) saying, 

"A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Raka'ah of optional Solat other than the obligatory Solat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah)." This is related by Muslim.

The Hadith tells us the merits of optional prayers and holds promise of (Jannah) for those who make it a practice.

In another version ‘Anbasah ibn Abi Sufyan narrated from the mother of the Faithfull Umm Habibah Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that she heard the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying:  

"Whoever prays twelve raka’at in a day  and a night a  house will be built for him in Paradise:  Four raka'āt before Dzuhur (Midday Prayer), two after it, two after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), two after  ‘Ishā’ (Evening Prayer) and two before the Solāt al-Fajar (Dawn Prayer)." This is related by at-Tirmidzi: sahīh.

These extra twelve raka’āt of Optional Solāt, according to Imām Nasā‘ie and Tirmidzi are Sunnan Al-Rawatib:

two rak’āt before the obligatory solāt of Early morning (Fajar), and four raka’at before mid day (Dzuhur) and two raka’āt after it, and two raka’āt after the obligatory of early evening solāh (Maghrib) and two rak’āt after the obligatory solāh of night (‘Ishā’).

Ibn 'Umar  (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported:“

I performed along with the Messenger of Allah  (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) two Raka'ah of optional prayers before Zuhur and two after the Zuhur (noon prayer), and two after the Friday prayer, and two after the Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two after the 'Isha' (night) prayer.” This is related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.