Nawafil Solah between Every Adzan and Iqamah

Nawafil Solah between Every Adzan and Iqamah

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of Al-'Ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) also encouraged the ummah to perform the nawafil between every Adzan and Iqamah. It is categorised as Ghair Ratiba or Ghair Mu`akkadah Nawafil. Thus One should not avoid the two light rak`at as it is rewarding in the sight of Allah.

‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal (radiyallāhu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu`alayhi wasallam) said:  “There is a Solāh between every Adzan and Iqamah; there is a Solāh between every Adzan and Iqamah.” (After saying the same for the) third time, Rasulullah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) added, “It is for him who desires (to perform it)." [This is related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and the group].

Ibn Az-Zubair (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “There exists no obligatory solah without there being immediately preceding it two rak`at nawafil.” [Ibn Hibban]

Imam An-Nawawi (rahimahullāh) elucidated it by saying: The offering of a two raka’at between the Adzan and Iqamah is considered as Mustahabb (Encouraged, desirable). It comes in the category of Ghair Ratiba or Ghair Mu`akkadah Nawafil. It can be performed after the Adzan of every Solat and before the [Iqamah, preceding] the congregation stands for the obligatory Solat. Thus, this includes Solah al-Juma’ah as well.

Commentary:

The terms Sunnah, Mustahabb (Encouraged, Desirable), Nawafil (Optional), Tatawwu’ (Voluntary), and Mandūb (Recommended) are legal rulings that refer to acts that are enjoined upon us by Islamic Law without being obligatory.  They are interchangeably. They all refer to the same legal ruling. This is the approach of Fakhr al-Dîn al-Razî. Al-Subkî declares: “This is the approach of most Shâfî‘îe scholars and the vast majority of the scholars of Islamic jurisprudence.” [Al-Ibhâj (1/257)] The particularly encouraged Nawafil is termed as being Sunnah Mu‘akkadah (The Emphasized Sunnah) performed before or after the obligatory prayer.

Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu `alayhi wasallam) said:  “The first thing a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is his Solat. If they are complete, it will be written for him that they are complete, but if there is a deficiency in them, Allah would say: "See if My Slave has any supererogatory prayers." Allah would also say: "Make up the deficiency in My Slave's obligatory prayers from the supererogatory prayers;" and then other actions will be accounted for accordingly."  [Recorded by An-Nasa’ie and others]

The supererogatory prayers will be an endorsement for any deficiency in the obligatory prayers.

There are two kinds of Nawafil performed before or after the obligatory prayer which were observed regularly by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). They are known as Sunnah Mu'akkadah or As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib, which is, the rak'at which is proved from the saying and practice of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) and which were performed by him usually; these are said to be the Emphasized Sunnah Prayers.  Secondly, the Nawafil that were not performed regularly by the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam). These are called Sunnah Ghair Mu`akkadah and are also known as Optional Sunnah Prayers. 

‘Aishah (radiyallāhu‘anha) narrated that The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has said:  "Whoever is regular with twelve rak‘at of sunnah (solāt) Allāh will build a house in Paradise: Four rak'āt before Dzuhur (Midday Prayer), two after it, two after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), two after  ‘Ishā’ (Evening Prayer) and two before the Solāt al-Fajar (Dawn Prayer)."  [This is related by At-Tirmidzi: Hādīth Hasan Gharib].

In another narration , Umm Habibah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported:  I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) saying, "A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak'at of Nawafil Solat other than the obligatory Solat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah)." [Imam Muslim]

Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) used to perform the Sunnan Ar-Rawatib or Mu'akkadah at his home rather at the mosque.

Nawafil Prayers have great importance in creating a special link between the worshipper and Allah, and for this reason the believers do not neglect them. But their status in Shari'ah is that performing Nawafil is rewarding and omission of it is not sinful.

There are number of other hadiths emphasised on the virtue of Sunnah prayers. Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:  “[Voluntary] Solāh is the best thing that one can do, so perform as many as you possibly can” [This is recorded by At-Tabarāni].

The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) also said:  “Prostrate as much as you can, because whenever you prostrate, Allāh elevates your rank by a degree and wipes out a sin from your record”. [Recorded by Muslim]

Rasūllullāh (Sallallāhu`alayhi wasallam) also said: “Two light rak`at which you may think as insignificant to add to you deeds, it is better for you than possessing the whole world” [This is related by Ibn Al-Mubarak].

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

Description Of The Prophet’s Solāh

1. The Introduction; 1.6. Clearing the Misconceptions
 2.1. Facing the Ka`abah ;  2.2. Standing in Solah ; 2.3. Intention ; 2.4. Takbīratulihram ;

2.5. To Gaze towards the Place of Sujud and Humility;

2.6. Opening Supplications of Solāh; 2.7. The Recitation;

 2.8. Ruku ;  2.9. Sujud;   2.10. Second Rak`ah ;  2.11. First Tashahhud;
 2.12. Standing up for the Third, and then the Fourth Rak`ah;
 2.13. The Final Tashahhud;  2.14. The Taslim.

3. Appendixes.; 4. Glossary ; 5. Bibliography.

All About The Solah

1. The Purification;2.The Menstruation;3. The Ghusul ;

4. Al-Wudhu’ ;5.Tayammum;

6. The Adzān;

7.The Status and Significance of Solāh; 

8. The Pre-Conditions of Solāh;9.The Pillars of Solāh;

10.The Sunnah Part of the Solāh;11. Adhkar in the Solāh;

12.    Du'ā Al-Qunūt;

13.Places Where Offering Solāh Is Prohibited ;

14.Placing a Sutrah In front of One Who is Performing Solah;

15.What is permissible During the Solāh?;

16. The Acts that Renders Solāh Invalid;

17.Disliked Actions during the Solāh;

18.The Solāh in Times of Fear or Danger;19.The Solāh of a Sick Person ;

20.The Prostrations of Forgetfulness of Solāh;

21.Strengthening the Levels of Worship

22.The Excellence of Nawafil Solāh;

23.Solāh of a Traveler;

24.Solāh Qasar ;25. Solāh Jama’;26.The Solāh Jama’ ;

27.The Masajid;28.The Etiquette at the Masjid;

29. The Excellence of Congregational Solāh ;

30.Solāh al-Jumu`ah;31.The Sanctified Hour of Jumu’ah.

32.The Virtues of Friday;33.The Etiquette for Solāh al-Jumu`ah ;

34.Dzikirullāh after Solāh;35.Du`ā Recited After the Solāh. ;

36.Reasons for doing Sujud Al-Sahwi ;

37.    Solāh al-Hajjat ;38. Solāh al-Tahajjud ;39. Solāh al-Tarawih ;

40.    Solāh al-Dhuha ;41.Solāh al-Hajjat ;42.Solāh al-Istikhārah ;

43.Solāh al-Janāzah;44. Solāh al-Jumu`ah;

45.Solāh al-Kasuf ;46.Solāh al-Khauf ;

47.Solāh al-Marid;48. Solāh al-Tahajjud ;

49.Solāh al-Tahiyyyatul Masjid;

50.Solāh al-Tarawih;51. Solāh al-Tawbah ;52.Solāh al-Witr;

53. Solāh al-Wudhu’ ;54. Solāh Eid ul Fitr