SUNNAH PRAYERS
THEIR VIRTUES
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ
{And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).} (51:56)
The purpose of our creation is to Worship Allah – this is clear, but if we ponder about the obligatory deeds that we need to do, it is just the five obligatory prayers that are to be done daily, apart from that we have no other strict obligations in our daily lives – so how is it that, if we were created to worship our Lord, we can simply get away with the Salah? Every fardh prayer combined does not usally exceed more than an hour of our day; even if one is to include fasting, giving zakah, or doing Hajj, none of those obligations are required to be fulfilled except for once a year or once in a lifetime.
If we break it down, our goals is to Worship Allah, so that we can attain His pleasure and be saved from the Hell fire and by His Mercy be granted Paradise.
His Pleasure
Allah says in Hadith Qudsi: And My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him.” [Bukhari]
Saving oneself from Hell fire by getting Sins forgiven
Every time you make Ruku’ or Sujud, Your Sins Fall Away, The Prophet ﷺ said, “When the worshipper stands up in prayer, all his sins are brought and placed upon his head and shoulders, so whenever he bows and prostrates, they fall from him." [Bahyaqi, Tabaraani, authenticated by Albani]
He ﷺ also said, “Make a lot of sajdah (i.e. make a lot of prayer) because for every time you make a prostration to Allāh, your rank is raised and your sin is forgiven.” [Muslim]
Subhan Allah, in addition to the hadith mentioned above (under saving from hell fire), the Prophet ﷺ specifically singled out the greatest part of prayer, the prostration, as a means by which our sins are forgiven.
And this Hadeeth is amazing where the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever prays four before Dhuhr and four after it, Allah makes him prohibited for the fire.” (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi, An-Nisa’i, Ibn Majah. Classed as Sahih by Albani).
Paradise
Rabee‘ah ibn Ka‘b al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I used to stay overnight with the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and bring him water for wudoo’ and whatever he needed. He ﷺ said to me: “Ask.” I said: I ask to be with you in Paradise. He ﷺ said: “Is there anything else?” I said: That is all. He ﷺ said: “Help me to do that for you by prostrating a great deal.” (Sahih Muslim).
The more we adhere to regularly offering the obligatory prayers on time, and the more we do naafil (supererogatory) prayers by night and day, the greater our chances of being with the Prophet ﷺ, and we will be with him in Paradise for longer. Whoever offers whatever he can of voluntary and naafil prayers will attain the honour of accompanying the Prophet ﷺ, in sha Allah, to a degree commensurate with that. Accompanying the Prophet ﷺ is of varying degrees. Some of the people will accompany him constantly and will be with him all the time in Paradise; some of the people will have the joy of meeting him or seeing him, according to the level of their righteous deeds.
This is what we understand from the hadith that was proven from Mi‘daan ibn Abi Talhah, who said: I met Thawbaan, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Tell me of a deed that I may do, by which Allah may admit me to Paradise – or he said: Tell me of the most beloved of deeds to Allah. He remained silent. I asked him (again) and he remained silent. I asked him a third time and he said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that and he ﷺ said: “You should prostrate to Allah a great deal, for you will not perform one prostration to Allah but Allah will raise you one degree in status thereby and erase one sin for you.” (Sahih Muslim).
Look at how the raising of degrees is commensurate with offering more prayers before Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Do not belittle the optional prayers
Aboo Hurairah said: “Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ passed by a grave in which a person had been newly buried, and he ﷺ said: “Two light rak`ahs, which you would regard as being something slight, and which you pray as something extra; if he- and he pointed to his grave- were able to add them to his deeds it would be more beloved to him than (having) everything in your world.” (Classed as Sahih by Albani)
Difference between Sunnah & Nafil prayers
Sunnah mu’akkadah (confirmed Sunnah or something the Prophet ﷺ did regularly), naafil (supererogatory), voluntary and mandoob (recommended) all share a similar meaning; they are acts of worship that are enjoined and encouraged in Islam, without being obligatory.
Some of the scholars think that these words are similar in meaning, whilst others (Malikis) differentiate between them. In their view “Sunnah” refers to something that the Prophet ﷺ did persistently; naafil refers to things that he did sometimes and not at other times.
Ad-Dasooqi al-Maaliki said: Naafil refers in linguistic terms to something extra or additional; in Islamic terminology it refers to that which the Prophet ﷺ did but did not do persistently, i.e., sometimes he did not do it and sometimes he did do it.… With regard to “Sunnah”, in linguistic terms it refers to a way or path; in Islamic terminology it refers to that which the Prophet ﷺ did openly when he was among a group of people, and he persisted in doing it, but there is no proof to indicate that it is obligatory. Sunnahs that are described as mu’akkadah (confirmed) are those that bring a great deal of reward, such as Witr. End quote from Haashiyat ad-Dasooqi, 1/312
Scholars from Shaafa‘i & Hanbali say it is the same and there is no difference.
The Hanafis differentiate between them and they regard the one who does not offer Sunnah mu’akkadah prayers (confirmed Sunnah, which the Prophet ﷺ did regularly) as having sinned, but they say that his sin is less serious than that of the one who fails to do obligatory actions.
Rewards associated with Sunnah (optional) prayers
Closeness to Allah
Palace in Jannah
Protection from Hell fire
Charity for every joint of the body
Guidance (through Istikhaara)
Reward of a Hajj
Raising of Degrees
Sins are forgiven
Keeps us away from Bidah
We will InShaAllah study about all these with references in the upcoming classes.
HOW MUCH OF OUR PRAYER IS ACCEPTED?
The Prophet ﷺ said: A person may offer a prayer and nothing of it is recorded for him except one tenth of it, one ninth of it, one eighth of it, one seventh of it, one sixth of it, one fifth of it, one quarter of it, one third of it, or half of it.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Classed as Hasan)
The scholars say that this is based on how mindful we are in our prayer and how we fight against the whispers of Shaytaan.
How Sunnah Prayers can help with your levels?
Prophet ﷺ said: The first of his deeds for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is good, then he will have succeeded and prospered, but if it is lacking, then he will have lost and failed.
If anything is lacking from his obligatory prayer, Allah, will say: Look and see, does My slave have any voluntary prayers, which could make up for what is lacking from his obligatory prayer? Then all of his deeds will be dealt with in a similar manner. (at-Tirmidhi, classed as Sahih)
This class is part of the course : SUNNAH PRAYERS please click and register.
D H I K R
ITS EFFECTS ON THE HEART
اذكروا الله ذكرا كثيرا
Remember Allah with much remembrance. (Al-Ahzaab:41)
Ali ibn Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them both) stated regarding this statement of Allah The Most High.
Verily, Allah did not obligate an obligation upon his servants except that he legislated a fixed limit for it (e.g. obligatory prayers are a fixed with set number of raka’aat, obligatory fasts of Ramadhan are one month every calendar year), and then excused its performers when they are in a situation when they are excused (traveller, sick etc), except in the case of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) for indeed Allah did not legislate a limit for it and nor is a person excused for abandoning it, except when compelled. Allah said,
فَٱذۡڪُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَقُعُودً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِڪُمۡ
remember Allah standing, sitting down, and (lying down) on your sides (An-Nisaa:103)
night and day, at land or sea, whilst travelling or resident, when wealthy and in times of poverty, in sickness and in health, in private and public and in all circumstances, He, The Mighty and Majestic said,
و سبحوه بكرة و أصيلا
And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]. (Al-Ahzaab:42)
so if you were to do that (in the manner mentioned by ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them both)) then Allah will send His Blessings upon you, and the Angels will supplicate for you.
Allah, the Exalted, also says:
“And the remembering (praising) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising) of Allah in prayers]” (29:45)
“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you.” (2:152)
“And remember your Rubb by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words, in the mornings and in the afternoons, and be not of those who are neglectful.” (7:205)
“And remember Allah much, that you may be successful.” (62:10)
“Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women… (up to)… And the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Jannah).” (33:35)
“So when you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage, then remember Allaah as you remember your fore-father, or with more intense remembrance.” [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:200].
These verses contain a command to remember Allaah intensely and abundantly, since the worshipper is in dire need of [remembering Allaah] and cannot do without it even for a twinkling of an eye. This is because every moment that a person does not spend in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah will not be of any benefit to him. Rather, the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allaah is far greater than any benefits that can be gained.
Al-Bayhaqee relates from ‘Aaishah radiallaahu ‘anhaa that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no time in which the son of Aadam does not remember AIIaah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement” [Hasan: It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5720)]
Mu’aadh ibn jabal radiallaahu ‘anhu relates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The people of Paradise will not have any regrets except for those moments in which they were not engaged in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah.” [Saheeh: Related by lbnus-Sunnee in ‘Aml al-Yawma wal-Laylah (no.3). Refer to Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5446)].
Mu’aadh ibn Jabal also relates that Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ was asked: What action is the most beloved to Allaah? So he ﷺ replied: “That you continue to keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allaah, until you die.” [Hasan: Related by lbn Hibbaan (no.2318). It was authenticated by Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee in Saheeh al-Waabilus-Sayyib (p.80)]
POLISHING THE HEART
Al-Bayhaqee relates from Ibn ‘Umar radiallaahu ‘anhu that AlIaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allaah than the dhikr of Allaah.” It was said: Not even Jihaad in the path of Allaah. So he replied: “Not even if you were to continue striking with your sword until it breaks.” [Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (4/352), from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal radiallaahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5644)]
There is no doubt that hearts becomes rusty just as copper and silver coins become rusty. The polish for [this rust] is the dhikr of AIlaah. This is because [dhikr] is like a polish [which polishes the heart] like a shiny mirror. When dhikr is left, the rust returns. But when dhikr resumes, then the heart is [again] polished. And hearts become rusty due to two things:-
(i) Neglecting remembering Allaah, and
(ii) Committing sins.
The polish for these two things is:
(i) seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and
(ii) dhikr.
CONFUSING TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD
Whoever neglects [remembering Allaah] most of the time, then his heart will become rusty in accordance with how neglectful the person is. And when this [filthy] rust accumulates on the heart, then it no longer recognises things as they really are. Thus, it views falsehood as if it is the truth, and truth as if it is falsehood. This is because this rust darkens and confuses the heart’s perception, and so it is unable to truly recognise things for what they really are. So as the rust accumulates, the heart gets blackened, and as this happens the heart becomes stained with this filthy rust, and when this occurs it corrupts the heart’s perception and recognition of things. The heart [then] does not accept the truth nor does it reject falsehood, and this is the greatest calamity that can strike the heart. Being neglectful [of dhikr] and following of whims and desires is a direct consequence of such a heart, which [further] extinguish the heart’s light and blinds its vision. Allaah – the Most High – said:
“And do not obey him whose heart We have made to be neglectful of Our remembrance, one who follows his own whims and desires and whose affairs are furat [have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds have been lost].” [Soorah al-Kahf 18:28].
However, if it is found that the person is, in most cases, pre-occupied with the dhikr of Allaah and with following the Sunnah, and his affairs do not exceed the limits, but rather he is judicious and resolute in his affairs, then he should cling to him very firmly.
Indeed, there is no difference between the living and the dead, except with the dhikr of Allaah; since the Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of one who remembers Allaah and someone who does not, is like the example between the living and the dead.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
SOME BENEFITS OF DHIKR
1. Dhikr brings joy, happiness and relaxation in the heart of a person.
It makes the heart calm and tranquil, just as Allaah [The Most High] said:
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ
Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. [Surah Ar-Ra’d. Aayah 28].
And the meaning of Allaah’s statement [and whose hearts find rest] is that the distress and unease in their hearts will cease and are replaced with cheerfulness, joy and relaxation. And what it also means is that it has to be the case that nothing else can bring sound and everlasting tranquillity to the heart except remembrance of Allaah. If a person is deprived of remembrance of Alaah, his state is similar to a body that is deprived of its essential nourishment. There’s no life based upon virtue for the heart except through remembrance of Allaah. And because of this Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said, “The heart’s [need of] Dhikr is like a fish’s [need] for water, so what will be the state of a fish when isolated from the water!”
2. Protects from Shaytaan.
Indeed, Dhikr [remembrance of Allaah] protects a person from shaytaan. Whoever leaves Dhikr, shaytaan will accompany him in that manner in which a person is accompanied by his shadow. Allaah said: “And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur’an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan – devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him”. [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Aayah 36]
A person is not able to protect himself from shaytaan except through remembrance of Allaah and this one of the magnificent benefits of Dhikr.
3. When a person remembers Allaah, Allaah remembers him.
Allaah said: [Therefore remember Me [through acts of obedience], I will remember you [by forgiving you].[Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 152]
Narrated Aba Hurairah [radiyallaahu-anhu]: The Prophet ﷺ said that Allaah says, “Whoever remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than them.” [Al-Bukhaari 7405]
4. It prevents one from committing sins, wipes away sins and saves a person from Allaah’s punishment.
Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The son of Aadam never performs an act that brings grants him safety from Allaah’s punishment more than the remembrance of Allaah [The Exalted].” [Saheeh Al-Jaami. Number 5633]
5. It earns a person Allaah’s favour, reward and grace [in a way] that a person cannot earn through other acts of worship, even though it [i.e. Dhikr] is the easiest act of worship.
That is because moving the tongue is easier than moving the other limbs, for if the movement of the other limbs – day and night – was to be carried out in the same way as the movement of the tongue, a person will face great difficulty; rather he will not be able to do so, but still the reward of Dhikr [with the tongue] carries great good recompense and abundant reward.
The Messenger of Allahﷺ said: “The Mufarridoon have gone ahead.” He was asked, “Who are the Mufarridoon?” He ﷺ replied, “Those men and women who remember Allaah much.“ (Sahih Muslim).
Rewards like freeing number of slaves, one hundred good deeds added, hundred bad deeds wiped out, sins being forgiven even if they are as much as the foam of the sea, increase in the number of trees in Jannah and many more are amongst the great rewards from simple adhkaar, we will study about these and their ahadeeth in the upcoming classes In Sha Allah.
6. It is a light for the person in this Dunyah, in his grave and in the hereafter.
It [i.e. this light] will be running forward in front of him when he crosses the bridge of Siraat. There is nothing that illuminates the heart and the grave in a manner similar to Dhikr. Allaah [The Exalted] said: “Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? [Surah Al-An’aam Aayah 122]
The first person is a believer who is [given insight, clear guidance etc] through the light of Eemaan, love of Allaah, knowledge and awareness of Allaah and remembrance of Allaah. The second person is a heedless person who is heedless of Allaah, turns away from remembrance of Allaah and love of Allaah. [Indeed], absolute success is [achieved as a result of the] light of [Eemaan, Allaah’s guidance etc] and absolute wretchedness [befalls a person as a result of] missing this light. And due to this, the Prophet ﷺ used to ask Allaah: “O Allah! place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light on my right, light on my left, light in front of me, light behind me, light above me, light below me, make light for me.” [Muslim 763]
Dhikr is a light for a person’s face and body parts, light for him in his worldly [affairs], in the grave and on the day of resurrection.
7. A person earns Allaah’s blessings, forgiveness, praise and benevolence] and the angels [supplicate for him and ask Allaah to forgive him].
Whoever receives this from Allaah and the angels, then indeed he will be successful. Allaah said: “O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]. He it is Who sends [blessings, forgiveness, praise and benevolence] on you, and His angels too [supplicate for you and ask Allaah to forgive you], that He may bring you out from darkness [of disbelief and polytheism] into light [of Belief and Islamic Monotheism]. And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers”. [Surah Al-Ahzaab. Aayaat 41-43]
This class is part of the course : DHIKR please click and register.