HE IMPORTANCE OF SUNNATUL MUAKKADAH
OUR DAILY ATTITUDE TO THE DAILY SUNNAT SALAAT AND OUR WEEKLY APPROACH TO THE SUNNATS OF JUMU’AH SALAAT
Hazrat Ayesha Radhiyallahu Anha narrates that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “That person who diligently (punctually and daily) performs twelve Rak’aats Sunnat Salaat, Allah Ta’ala will build a house for him/her in Jannat. (The twelve Rak’aats are): four Rak’aats before Zuhr, two Rak’aats after Zuhr, two Rak’aats after Maghrib, two Rak’aats after Esha and two Rak’aats before Fajr.”
[Tirmizi – Ibn Majah – Sharhus Sunnah – Musnad Abu Ya’laa, etc.]
The above Hadeeth adequately explains the value and virtue of performing the daily Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat. In addition, the very term ‘Sunnat’ should be sufficient for us to execute the Sunnat Salaat. Amongst the Sunnat Salaat are the Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat which are the daily twelve Rak’aats as mentioned above as well as the weekly Sunnatul Muakkadah of Jumu’ah Salaat.
Regarding the above daily Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat, separate articles will Insha Allah be published explaining the virtues of each one individually.
SUNNAT SALAAT OF JUMU’AH
As far as Jumu’ah Salaat is concerned, the Ahaadeeth conclusively prove that there are four Rak’aats Sunnatul Muakkadah before Jumu’ah Salaat and six Rak’aats Sunnatul Muakkadah after the Jumu’ah Salaat. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to perform four Rak’aats Salaat before Jumu’ah. For a detailed discussion, read the following book: Four Rak’aats Sunnat Before Jumu’ah which thoroughly refutes the baseless claims of the deviated Salafis (Anti-Taqleed morons) who despise the Haq (the four Math-habs) and who are academically bankrupt in the sphere of Fiqh.
After the Fardh of Jumu’ah Salaat, one should first perform four Rak’aats Sunnat Salaat and then two Rak’aats Sunnat Salaat. Performing six Rak’aats Salaat after the Fardh of Jumu’ah is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar, Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abu Moosa Ash’ari Radhiyallahu Anhum. This is also the view of the following Fuqaha: Mujaahid, A’taa, Thawri, Shaafi’ee, Tahaawi, Abu Yusuf, etc. Rahimahumullah.
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam stated that four Rak’aats should be performed after Jumu’ah and it is also narrated that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam performed two Rak’aats. Thus, performing six Rak’aats after the Fardh of Jumu’ah is practising according to the command and action of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Hazrat Ibn Umar and Hazrat Ali Radhiyallahu Anhuma performed six Rak’aats after Jumu’ah Salaat. What a beautiful combination practised by the illustrious Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum and which is upheld by the Hanafi Math-hab and all those who practise on this beautiful and excellent Sunnat.
THE SIN OF NOT PERFORMING SUNNATUL MUAKKADAH
The Fuqaha have explained that a person will be sinful for leaving out the Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat. It is practically Waajib to perform the Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat. Allamah Aini has stated that Ihyaaus Sunnat (reviving the Sunnat) is Waajib. (Al-Binaayah). Explaining the importance of Sunnatul Muakkadah, Allamah Shaami quotes from Allamah Taftaazaani’s At-Talweeh the following Hadeeth – ‘Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “He who abstains/leaves out my Sunnat, will not attain my intercession.”
‘Muakkadah’ means emphasized. The very meaning of Sunnatul Muakkadah emphasizes its importance. We all claim to be lovers of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, but this claim will only be valid if we practically uphold the Sunnats in our lives. It is indeed a sign of deprivation and deviation to abstain from performing the Sunnatul Muakkadah Salaat. The one who abstains from the Sunnat Salaat deserves to be condemned as explained in At-Tahreer and other Fiqh Kutub.
TAHAAWUN
Tahaawun literally means to be unconcerned, careless and negligent. Tahaawun with any act of the Deen is a grave danger for the safety of Imaan. In Tuhfatul Muhtaaj it is mentioned: “Tahaawun (in Deeni issues) leads to kufr just as sin desires kufr.”
Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (Rahmatullah Alayh) said: “He who is careless with the aadaab (etiquettes of an ibaadat) will be deprived of the Sunan (Sunnat acts). He who is careless regarding the Sunan will be deprived of the Faraaidh.”
THE SUNNAH IS LIKE A SHIP
In Miftaahul Jannah, Allamah Suyooti narrates that Ibn Wahb said: “We were by Imam Maalik Bin Anas speaking about the Sunnat. So Imaam Maalik (Rahmatullah Alayh) said: “The Sunnah is (like) the ship of Nuh. He who embarks on it is saved while he who remains behind (stranded in the ocean) will drown.”
Thus, those who have adopted the habit of abandoning the Sunnah will soon find themselves drowning in the raging ocean of kufr, immorality and baatil. Diversion from the Deen and abandonment of the Sunnah is an incremental process. It commences with the abandonment of the Aadaab (etiquettes), progressing to the abandonment of Mustahab acts then deteriorating to the abandonment of Sunnatul Muakkadah, then Waajib acts and finally it leads to the neglect of Fardh acts.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NAWAAFIL AND SUNNAT-E-GHAIR MUAKKADAH SALAAT
In a Hadeeth-e-Qudsi, Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said that Allah Ta’ala says: “…My servant continually gains proximity unto me by means of Nawaafil until I love him.” (Bukhari)
There is immense Thawaab (reward) when one performs Nafl Salaat. The virtues of Salaatul Ishraaq, Salaatud Dhuha, Awwaabeen and Tahajjud are great. Similarly, one should gain the maximum rewards by also performing the four Rak’aats Sunnat before Asr and the four Rak’aats Sunnat before Esha.
Regarding the four Sunnats before Asr, Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam made the following Dua: “May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on the one who performs four Rak’aats (Sunnah) before (the Fardh of) Asr Salaat.” This is a Dua which we may earn every day. Regarding the four Sunnats before Esha Salaat, there are at least five Ahaadeeth which mention the virtue of the four Sunnats before the Fardh of Esha Salaat. With every Nafl Salaat we perform, we get closer unto Allah and we will only realize the value of these Nafl and Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah Salaat in the Aakhirat. So let us make a huge investment for our Aakhirat from now.
DAILY RAK’AATS TO PERFORM
The Rak’aats of the five daily Salaat and Jumu’ah Salaat are as follows:
Fajr – 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah and then 2 Fardh. (Total 4 Rak’aats)
Zuhr – 4 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, then 4 Fardh, then two Sunnat-e-Muakkadah and then 2 Nafl. (Total 12 Rak’aats)
Asr – 4 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah and then 4 Fardh. (Total 8 Rak’aats)
Maghrib – 3 Fardh, then 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah and then 2 Nafl. (Total 7 Rak’aats)
Esha – 4 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah, 4 Fardh, 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, 2 Sunnat-e-ghair Muakkadah (Nafl), 3 Witr and then 2 Nafl. (Total 17 Rak’aats)
Jumu’ah – 4 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, then 2 Fardh, then 4 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, then 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah and 2 Nafl. (Total 14 Rak’aats)
LET US NOT RUSH OUT OF THE MASAAJID AFTER THE IMAAM MAKES SALAAM, ESPECIALLY AFTER ZUHR, MAGHRIB, ESHA AND THE AUSPICIOUS DAY OF JUMU’AH.
LET US SHOW OUR LOVE FOR NABI SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM BY PERFORMING OUR SUNNATS, PARTICULARLY THE SIX RAK’AATS SUNNAT SALAAT AFTER THE FARDH OF JUMU’AH. LET US NOT DEPRIVE OURSELVES OF THAWAAB…
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “The very first deed which a person will be accountable for on the Day of Qiyaamah will be Salaat… So if there is any deficiency in His Fardh, Rabb Azza Wa Jal will instruct (the Malaaikah – angels) ‘See if my servant has any Sunnat/Nafl Salaat?’ So the deficiency of the Fardh could be rectified by means of it (Sunnah & Nawaafil). In this way all the A’maal will be accounted for.” (Tirmizi)