1) Voluntary Prayers restricted to a Special Time
E.g. Witr Prayer, Duha Prayer, Qiyam Al-Layl
2) Voluntary Prayers restricted to the Obligatory Prayers
i.e. The Rawatib
3) Voluntary Prayers restricted to a reason
E.g. Tahiyat Al-Masjid
4) Voluntary Prayers which are not restricted to anything
Hadith #280:
Rabi'a رضي الله عنه worked as a helper for the Prophet ﷺ.
"قال لي النبي ﷺ: سل" - The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Ask"
Why did the Prophet ﷺ tell him to ask? Because he had done something for the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ would repay anyone who did anything for him either by giving that person something or invoking for him.
"فقلت: أسألك مرافقتك في الجنة" - I said, "I ask your company in Paradise"
The companions concern was the Hereafter and of matters that would last forever.
"قال: فأعني على نفسك بكثرة السجود" - He ﷺ said, "Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration"
i.e. To perform as much as you can of voluntary prayers. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned the Sujood because it is one of the Pillars of Prayer.
The Author رحمه الله began this chapter with this Hadith to show us that if we pray more voluntary prayers, our rank will be raised, we will increase in rewards, and it will be a means of us being entered into Paradise.
After you study each Hadith - ask yourself if you are acting upon it or not. If you are not, have the intention to perform each one of the voluntary prayers mentioned, and ask Allah to help you.
The Rawatib
The Rawatib are Voluntary Prayers which are attached to the obligatory prayers.
Hadith #281:
There is no voluntary prayer before the Jum'ah prayer. If you pray the voluntary after Jum'ah in the Masjid, you pray four Rak'ahs (2+2). If you pray it at home you pray two Rak'ah.
Hadith #282:
Hadith #283:
The difference between the two Rak'ah before Fajr and the other Rawatib
1) The reward of the two Rak'ah before Fajr is greater than the reward of the other Raatibah
2) You perform the two Rak'ah of Fajr even whilst traveling, while the other Raatibah are omitted
3) It is Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kafiroon in the first Rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second Rak'ah OR [2:136] in the first Rak'ah and [3:64] in the second Rak'ah.
[2:136] - First Rak'ah
"Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and to Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)."
[3:64] - Second Rak'ah
"Say (O Muhammad): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."
Hadith #284:
The Rawatib
| Before | After | |
| 2 | Fajr | |
| 2+2 | Thuhr | 2 |
| Asr | ||
| Maghreb | 2 | |
| Isha | 2 |
The Reward of Praying the Rawatib: A house will be built for you in Paradise.
If they told us that they will build a house for us in the Dunya, we would pray these prayers. Do not leave praying these prayers; if you are tired pray them sitting.
Umm Habiba رضي الله عنها said that she never left praying the Raatibah after she heard it from the Prophet ﷺ. And 'Ansabah who narrated it from her, said that he never left praying the Raatibah after hearing it from Umm Habiba رضي الله عنها. And Amro Ibn Aws who heard it from 'Ansaba said he never left praying it in his entire life after he heard it from him. And Nu'man Ibn Salem said he never left praying it after he heard it from 'Amro Ibn Aws. And this is what knowledge is - when you learn and act upon it for the rest of your life.
If you pray another two Rak'ah after the Rawatib of Thuhr, you will get the reward of the Rawatib in addition to Allah forbidding you from entering the Hellfire. This is something seperate from the Rawatib.
Hadith #285:
This is a weak Hadith but there are other narrations which strengthen it to Hasan.
This is not Rawatib, it is a voluntary prayer.
The Reward of praying four Rak'ah before the 'Asr Prayer: The Prophet ﷺ invoked for the Mercy of Allah for anyone who prays this prayer
Voluntary prayers do not exceed more than 2 Rak'ah. When we say 4, we mean 2+2.
Hadith #286:
There are two Rakah voluntary prayer before Maghreb and Isha. This is not part of the Raatibah; it is a general Sunnah. You can do it sometimes and leave it at other times.
Sunnah is of three types:
1) Sunnah by saying
2) Sunnah by action
3) Sunnah by the tacit approval of the Prophet ﷺ
The most important thing is to act upon what you learn. If you are not praying these voluntary prayers, have the intention to, and ask Allah to help you.
The Sunnah before Fajr
The best of the Raatibah are the two Rak'ahs before Fajr, it is better than the whole world and everything it contains.
Hadith #287:
1) The Sunnah is to make it short.
Hadith #288:
2) The Sunnah is to recite Surah Al-Kaafiroon and Surah Al-Ikhlas
Hadith #289:
Hadith #290:
The first Hadith is the action of the Prophet ﷺ, the second is his command.
3) It is Sunnah to lay down on your right side after you pray it.
If you know that if you lay on your right side you will fall asleep, then do not lie down.
The Fajr prayer should be long. The Prophet ﷺ would recite Surah Al-Isra'a in one Rak'ah. You lay down because you are going to get up to pray for around twenty minutes to half an hour.
Qiyam Al-Layl and Witr
Hadith #291:
"توتر له ما قد صلى"
I.e. He should pray Witr.
The voluntary prayer at night is better than the prayer during day because:
1) It is more void of رياء (Show-Off)
2) You can have more Khushoo'
3) It is the time when Allah descends to the nearest heaven and says:
مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ
"Who will call Me that I might answer him, who will ask of Me that I might give him, who will ask My forgiveness, that I might forgive him?’” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Tawheed, 6940; Muslim, Salaat al-Musaafireen, 1262]
4) It shows that the person is sincere in seeking Allah's pleasure. He leaves his sleep and rest solely for the sake of Allah.
Which Voluntary prayer is the best? The Late Night Prayer
Hadith #292:
Hadith #293:
If you pray the Qiyam Al-Layl you should pray Witr after.
Hadith #294:
This is the saying of Ali رضي الله عنه, not the Prophet ﷺ.
How do we reconcile between the two Hadiths? The Scholars differed regarding the verdict of Witr because of this.
1)The first group said it is obligatory, using Hadith #293 as evidence.
2) The second group said it is a Stressed Sunnah, because when the Prophet ﷺ taught people the Religion, he only mentioned the 5 prayers, not Witr.
Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله said that it is obligatory on the one who is praying at night, and this is the most correct opinion. However it is a stressed Sunnah, which you do not even leave during traveling.
How do I pray Witr?
You either pray 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
1 = This is one Rak'ah and Salaam
3 = This is more preferable to pray than 1. For ordinary days, you should at least pray 3.
There are two ways to perform this:
a) You pray 2, make Tasleem, then pray 1
b) You pray all 3 together with one Tasleem
5, 7, 9, 11 = You pray them all together with one Tashahud and Salaam except for 9 where you pray 8 make a Salam, and pray one Rak'ah to complete the 9.
Pray Witr differently each day so you perform all the Sunnah at least once in your life.
Hadith #295:
This is one of the evidences for those who said it is not obligatory.
Hadith #296:
The Virtue of Witr: It is better for you than red camels. Red camels nowadays are the equivalent of a Lexus, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc.
The Time of Witr: After Isha Prayer until the Athan of Fajr
Hadith #297:
This is one of the evidences for those who said Witr is obligatory.
Hadith #298:
When she said 4 Rak'ah it means 2+2. She said 4 because he would sleep a little after each 2+2.
"إن عيني تنامت و لا ينام قلبي" - My eyes sleep, but my heart does not sleep
This is something Allah gave to all the Prophets. When they sleep, only their eyes sleep, not their hearts, therefore his Wudhu was not nullified when he slept
Sometimes you will hear nine, other times eleven, other times thirteen. How do you reconcile between them all?
Nine if he prayed 8 Rak'ah and 1 for Witr
Eleven if he prayed 2+2 2+2 and 3 for Witr
Thirteen if he added the two Rak'ahs of Fajr to that.
The most correct to pray everyday is to pray at least 8 and then the variants of Witr.
Should you sleep before Witr? This is in accordance to your situation and the time you have.
Aisha رضي الله عنها narrated all these Ahadith because he would pray inside the house, where the companions would not see him.
Hadith #299:
This is one of the ways to perform Witr. He prayed 8 Rak'ah of Qiyam and 5 for Witr.
Hadith #300:
The time of Witr and Qiyam is broad; from Isha until Fajr, but the best time to pray is the last third of the night.
Hadith #301:
If you begin to pray Qiyam, do not give it up. We should be continuous.
"فلان' - "So-and-So"
He did not mention his name in order to conceal him. He wants to give you the meaning, not to talk about people.
عن عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ ". فَقُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ " فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ، صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ ". فَشَدَّدْتُ، فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ، قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً. قَالَ " فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ ". قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ قَالَ " نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ ". فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ بَعْدَ مَا كَبِرَ يَا لَيْتَنِي قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "O `Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night." `Abdullah replied, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have power." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Fast like the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ) David and do not fast more than that." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah, David?" He said, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day). Afterwards when `Abdullah became old, he used to say, "It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month). [Bukhari]*
Even when he got old he did not stop the voluntary worship he was doing. If you miss your late night prayer or Witr, make it up the following day.
Hadith #302:
"فإن الله وتر"
Allah is One in His Self and Attributes. No one resembles Allah.
Allah created everything in odd numbers, but it does not mean it is Sunnah to make everything in your daily life odd. The Sunnah is only to pray the Witr.
This is another of the evidences of those who say that Witr is obligatory.
Hadith #303:
Hadith #304:
There is only one Witr for the night. If you know that you might not wake up for Tahajjud, you can pray Witr and sleep, and if you get up for Tahajjud you can pray it, but without praying Witr again.
Hadith #305:
What is Sunnah to recite in the Witr Prayer?
-> Surah Al-A'la
-> Surah Al-Kaafiroon
-> Surah Al-Ikhlas
-> Al-Mu'awidhatain
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