Fatwa ID: 07987

Answered by: Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad

Question:

I work at school and I have two breaks (10 minutes). During the first break, I perform four Rakāts of Sunnah Rātiba of Zuhr and four Rakāts of Fard. But I can’t offer 2 Rakāts of Sunnah Rātibah after the Zuhr because of my lessons and I have to offer it in an hour during the second break. Will the reward diminish for the delayed two Rakāts of Sunnah Mu’akkadah after the Zuhr according to late Hanafi scholars?

Can I take the second opinion of early Hanafi scholars, for example, Al Halwani who stated that one can recite Adhkars after Fard immediately and delay offering Sunnah. Hence, according to his opinion, the reward for the delayed Sunnah is not diminished. Am I right?

Does the reward for Sunnah after Fard diminish according to early Hanafi scholars if one engages in some talking or any worldly actions?

I know that late Hanafi scholars stated. I would like the Fatwa of early Hanafi authoritative scholars on this issue.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

First and foremost, reward is determined by Allah SWT and may vary depending on the individual and their circumstances. Allah SWT looks at a person’s challenges and struggles and rewards them however He wishes. Since you work at school and teach classes, it would be necessary for you to resume your work on time after the break and honor the time commitments mentioned in the contract. That is more important than worrying about the time Sunnah prayers are offered.

What is meant by the reference you mentioned is that it is virtuous to pray Sunnah after the Fard Salaat with a very short delay, wherein you do the Masnoon Adhkar. If you delay the Sunnah prayer longer than that, then it would become somewhat disliked (Makrooh Tanzīhī).

It is disliked to delay the Sunnah except for the amount of “Allahumma Antas Salam Wa Minkas Salam …” Al-Halwani said: There is nothing wrong with separating [the Fard and the Sunnah prayers] by the Awrad, and Al-Kamal chose this. Al-Halabi said: If what is meant by dislike is somewhat [disliked], then the disagreement is resolved. I said: In my opinion, it is interpreted as a small amount; It is recommended that he does Istighfār three times, recite Ayat al-Kursi and the Mu’awwidhat, Tasbeeh, Tahmeed, and Takbeer thirty-three times, say La Ilaha Illa Allah … to complete the 100, make Dua, and conclude with Subhan Rabbika …

If you can finish your Adhkār a bit earlier and pray your Sunnahs without being late to class, that would ideal. If not, then perhaps it would be better to follow the multiple Ahadith regarding the Masnoon Adhkār and get rewarded for them. Additionally, when you pray without the pressure of time, your Salāt improves in quality and Khushoo’. Insha Allah, Allah SWT will reward you based on your intention to prayer Sunnah earlier and for following multiple Ahadith.

Only Allah (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) knows best.

Written by Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

وَيُكْرَهُ تَأْخِيرُ السُّنَّةِ إلَّا بِقَدْرِ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ إلَخْ. قَالَ الْحَلْوَانِيُّ: لَا بَأْسَ بِالْفَصْلِ بِالْأَوْرَادِ وَاخْتَارَهُ الْكَمَالُ. قَالَ الْحَلَبِيُّ: إنْ أُرِيدَ بِالْكَرَاهَةِ التَّنْزِيهِيَّةُ ارْتَفَعَ الْخِلَافُ قُلْت: وَفِي حِفْظِي حَمَلَهُ عَلَى الْقَلِيلَةِ؛ وَيُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرَ ثَلَاثًا وَيَقْرَأُ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَالْمُعَوِّذَاتِ وَيُسَبِّحُ وَيَحْمَدُ وَيُكَبِّرُ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ؛ وَيُهَلِّلُ تَمَامَ الْمِائَةِ وَيَدْعُو وَيَخْتِمُ بِسُبْحَانَ رَبِّك.

(Radd Al-Muhtār, vol. 1, pg. 530, Darul Fikr Beirut)