The Supererogatory Prayers in Islam: A Pathway to Divine Rewards
In the practice of Islam, believers have the opportunity to perform additional prayers, known as supererogatory prayers, in addition to their obligatory prayers. These supplementary prayers offer an extra chance to draw closer to Allah and strengthen one’s spiritual relationship.
To clarify, prayers in Islam can be divided into three main categories:
- Obligatory Prayers (Fard): These prayers are the cornerstone of religious practice and must be performed by every Muslim.
2. Supererogatory Prayers: They are divided into two distinct types:
- Rawatib: These prayers complement the obligatory prayers. Each obligatory prayer is accompanied by specific additional prayers, called Rawatib. They are highly recommended, and their importance is emphasized in religious texts.
- Nawafil/Nafl: These are voluntary prayers that allow the believer to earn additional rewards, both in this world and in the Hereafter.
In this article, we will focus on the Rawatib prayers, which promise significant rewards from Allah.
Rawatib Prayers
Benefits
These supererogatory prayers are performed before, after, or sometimes both before and after the obligatory prayers. Although they are not obligatory, their regular practice is highly recommended as it helps perfect the believer’s prayer and merit greater rewards.
“The Rawatib entail immense benefits, including the increase in good deeds, forgiveness of sins, elevation in ranks, rectification of deficiencies, and compensation for the imperfections of obligatory prayers. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to them and perform them diligently.”
“Boulough Al Marâm” by Al Hâfidh Ibn Hajar Al Asqalânî
Allah states: “My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.”
Hadith Qudsi
Division of Rawatib Prayers: Understanding Their Distribution
The Rawatib prayers are specifically related to each obligatory prayer:
- Two Rak’ahs are recommended before Fajr.
- Four Rak’ahs are recommended before Dhuhr, followed by two Rak’ahs after the prayer.
- Four Rak’ahs are recommended before Asr.
- Two Rak’ahs are recommended after Maghrib.
- Two Rak’ahs are recommended after Isha, followed possibly by the Witr prayer (that is composed by one raka’ahs)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever persists in performing twelve Rak’ah from the Sunnah, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before the Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, two Rak’ah after the ‘Isha’ and two Rak’ah before Fajr.’
Sunan Ibn Majah 1140
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “May Allah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak’ah before the ‘Asr prayer.”
Riyad as-Salihin 1120
How to perform the Rawatib prayers
Wait until the call to obligatory prayer (Adhan) is heard. For example, if you intend to perform the Rawatib of Dhuhr, then wait for the call to prayer for Dhuhr, then perform the four Sunnah Rak’ahs, followed by the Dhuhr prayer, and then the remaining two Sunnah Rak’ahs.
Do not pray the Rawatib before the Adhan, as it will not be counted as valid.
Click here to learn the supplication (dua) to be recited when the call to prayer (Adhan) is heard and to learn how to structure a Rak’ah : https://medium.com/@theseera/the-importance-of-prayer-in-a-muslims-life-and-how-to-pray-19d2f889587e
Supererogatory prayers, Rawatib, can be performed standing or sitting. Yes, Rawatib can be performed sitting if you are unable to stand. However, you will only earn half of the reward.
Can Supererogatory Prayers Be Made Up?
Sometimes, we may miss our prayers due to being out of time, for instance, the Maghrib prayer, in which case it is obligatory to make up the missed Maghrib prayer as soon as possible (for example, after performing the Isha prayer).
What some Muslims may not know is that it is also possible to make up missed supererogatory prayers according to Imam Ahmed.
In the aforementioned scenario, if you make up the Maghrib prayer during Isha, you can also pray the two rak’ahs of supererogatory prayers after performing the Maghrib prayer.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), however, does not advise making up supererogatory prayers except for the two rak’ahs performed before the Fajr prayer. These two rak’ahs are made up after the sun has risen, thus after Dhuhr.
As for Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him), he considers that the Sunnah of Fajr prayer should only be made up if the obligatory Fajr prayer itself was not performed on time.
Times and Manner of Performing Rawatib Prayers
It is also important to note that there are specific times when it is prohibited to pray.
There are three times :
- At the time of Shurouq, you should not pray during the 15 minutes following Shurouq. This restriction only applies to the Rawatib prayers. Of course, if you have not prayed Fajr and you wake up after Shurouq, you must make up the Fajr prayer.
- When the sun is at its zenith, typically 10 minutes before Dhuhr.
- From Asr until Maghrib.
There were three times at which Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to pray, or bury our dead: “When the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes over the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting till it sets.”
Sahih Muslim 831
Rulings and Exceptions Regarding Rawatib Prayers
The Friday congregational prayer, known as Jumua/Dhuhr prayer at the mosque, is not the same as the daily Dhuhr prayer.
When attending the Jumua prayer at the mosque, Dhuhr is performed in two rak’ahs instead of the usual four.
So, what about the supererogatory prayers associated with Dhuhr?
It is recommended to perform two supererogatory rak’ahs after the Jumua prayer, but directly at home. This means that if you pray the two rak’ahs of Dhuhr at the mosque and you wish to perform the Rawatib, it is Sunna to return home and perform two rak’ahs there.
However, if you truly wish to perform the Rawatib at the mosque, then perform two rak’ahs after Jumua.
We advise you to consult your school of thought as each scholar may have their own opinion on this matter.
To conclude
It is essential to follow these recommendations with devotion and sincere intention as they constitute a pathway to increased closeness with Allah and abundant spiritual rewards.
Sources :
Les prières surérogatoires (Rawatib) by Nader Abou Anas : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wOLLUD2IYw
3 prières surérogatoires à ne surtout pas prier by Comprendre ton Dine : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhWe7eB49yY
When do we pray the sunnah prayers of dhuhr on a Friday? by Assim Al Hakeem : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzM9mBBF_aI
What are the sunnah al Rawatib Prayers by Assim Al Hakeem : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsDopRznl2U
Les prières surérogatoires : https://maktaba-tawhid.fr/blog/les-prieres-surerogatoires-rawatib/
