Sholat 101 (Part Two): Sunnah Prayers are to cover the deficiency of Fard Prayers

Beside compulsory prayers (Sholatul waajib), there are sholat Rawatib (Sunnah Mu’akkadah). These kinds of prayers (sholat) are really suggested to do sometime before or / and after doing the compulsory ones.

Illustration by AA Sumadri
Illustration by AA Sumadri

Rawatib prayer (certain supererogatory exercises of optional prayers) is recommended that is to pray 12 Rakaat of supererogatory prayers every day: four of these Rakaat (units of prayers) are before noon prayer (sholatul zuhr), two after it, two after Maghrib prayer, two after Isha (night) prayer and two before morning prayer (subuh). The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to practice these consistently while he stayed in his house.

What about travelers? For traveler, it is only prescribed to pray Sunnah prayers of Fajr and Witr. During travel a person only prays Witr and Tahajjud prayers during the night, and Sunnah prayers of Fajr.

Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I performed along with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) two Raka’at of optional prayers before Zuhr and two after Zuhr (noon prayer), and two after Friday prayer, and two after Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two after the `Isha’ (night) prayer.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, said (which means): “Whoever prays optionally twelve Raka’at every one day and night, Allah will reward him by an established dwelling in paradise.”

In addition to five compulsory prayers and sunnah Rawatib, there are Nawafi (voluntary/optional prayer). Some of these are;

Sholat al-Dhuha: can be prayed from 20 minutes after fajr until about 20 minutes before dhuhr. As such it is such a simple prayer because we have the choice of performing it in such a wide margin of time. We can pray 2, 4, 6 or 8 separate raka’at for dhuha.

Sholat al-Qiyaam/Tahajjud

Allah (swt) said in the Quran:

“O you [Prophet], enfolded in a cloak! Stay up throughout the night, all but a small part of it., half or a little less, or a little more.; recite the Quran slowly and distinctly: We shall momentous message down to you. Night Prayer makes a deeper impression and sharpens words – you are kept busy for long periods of the day – so celebrate the name of Your Lord and devote yourself wholeheartedly to Him.” [Surat Al-Muzzammil, 73:1-8]

Praying tahajjud at night is one of the most beautiful prayers because you are waking up when most people are sleeping, to talk to and ask of Allah.

Sholat Witr; The witr prayer is considered a sunnah mu’akkada (a confirmed sunnah), which means the Prophet (pbuh) never left it. Could be 3 raka’at or one raka’at.

Sholat Taraweeh: During Ramadan, special evening prayers (after Isha prayers) are conducted during which long portions of the Qur’an are recited. Night prayers in Ramadan are a blessing, and one should not argue about this fine point.

Abu Huraira RadiyAllahu `anhu narrates, “We heard the Prophet Sallallahu `alaihi wasallam saying, ‘The first deed of a person to be reckoned for on the Day of Judgment will be his sholat. A person will succeed and attain his goal if his sholat is accepted. He will fail and lose badly if it is rejected. If any deficiency is found in his Fard sholat (compulsory prayers), Allah will say (to the angels): “Look for any Nafl sholat (voluntary/optional prayers) in his account”. Then the deficiency in his Fard sholat will be made good by Nafl sholat. The rest of the religious practices (Fast, Zakat etc.) will then be reckoned for in the same manner.”

Other Sunnah sholat are: sholat Tawbah (repetance pray), sholat Hajaat (asking something specifically from Allah pray), sholat Istikharah (asking Allah to choose between things pray), etc.

Muslim also have sholat Eid al Fitri (at the first day of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan) and sholat Eid al Adha which  marks the completion of the hajj (pilgrimage), and also observed by Muslims throughout the world to commemorate the faith of Ibrahim (Abraham) at 10 dzulhijjah.

O Allah guide us to the straight path and give us istiqamah. O Allah bless us with strong Imaan, taqwa, piety, pure heart and good manners.

Allahumma Aamiin

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