Fatwa ID: 04763

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

When the Prophet s.a.w prayed nawafil Prayers those became either Suunah Mukadah for us or Sunnah Ghair Mukadah I would like to know when we pray the Nafil after Zuhar or Maghrib or Isha what are they bcoz if the prophet s.a.w prayed these they would be called Sunnah prayers? Jazak-Allah

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

Answer

The sunnah prayers are divided into Sunnah Muakkadah and Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah.  Sunnah Muakkadah relates to a prayer that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam would always do.

Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah are prayers that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam would not do all the time and would sometime omit without any reason.   (See Raddul Muhtar p.451 v.2)

The optional prayers such as the two rakats after the Sunnah Muakkadah of the Isha Fardh prayer was a practice of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam hence it is correct to call it Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah.

Saaiduna Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates: ‘I spent the night with my aunt, Maimunah Radiallahu Anha.  The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam prayed Isha and then returned to his home and prayed four rakaats.’   (Sahih Bukhari)

Saaiduna Aaisha Radiallahu Anha narrates ‘The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam never prayed Isha and then entered my house except that he prayed after it four or six rakaats.’  (Sunan Abi Dawud p.192 v.1)

Ibn Human (RA) has said that the one who reads the four rakaats after Isha with one salaam or in units of two it will count as both the confirmed and non-confirmed sunnahs that are due upon him after the Isha prayer.   (Raddul Muhtar p.453 v.2)

The terms Nafl and Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah are very similar.  The difference being that Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah are proven or established from the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam whereas the nafl prayers are not. They are something extra similar to optional charity (Nafli Sadqah).  (Aapke Masaail p.70 v.3)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.