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EPISODE 2️: SUNAN RAWATIB
Sunan Rawatib are the voluntary prayers that are attached to the obligatory prayers and are prayed before and after them.
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned about performing the Rawatib:
“Whoever prays twelve rak’ahs during the night and day, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before Zuhr and two after, two rak’ahs after Maghrib, two rak’ahs after ‘Isha’ and two rak’ahs before Fajr prayer.”
(Al-Tirmidhi, no. 380)
The Prophet (ﷺ) was known to strictly adhere to:
2 Rak’ahs before Fajr
4 (or 2) Rak’ahs before Dhuhr and 2 after.
2 Rak’ahs after Maghrib
2 Rak’ahs after ‘Ishaa
(At-Tirmidhi 433)
The Prophet was not strict in observing:
2 or 4 Rak’ahs before’ Asr.
2 Rak’ahs before Maghrib.
2 Rak’ahs before ‘Isha’.
These are according to the Hadith “There is a prayer between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqama), there is a prayer between the two Adhans.” And then while saying it the third time he added, “For the one who wants to (pray).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 627)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said “Whoever maintains four Rak’ah before Az-Zuhr and four after it, Allah makes him prohibited for the Fire.” (At-Tirmidhi)
He also said: “May Allah have mercy upon a man who prays four before Al-Asr.”(At-Tirmidhi)
The time for the prayers
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The time for every Sunnah prayer that comes before a fard prayer is from the beginning of the time for that prayer, until the prayer is done, and the time for every Sunnah prayer that comes after a fard prayer is from after the prayer is done until the end of the time for that prayer.”
Al-Mughni, 2/544
Rak’ataal Fajr
This is one of the Sunnah Mu’akkadah from the Rawatib. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The two rak’ahs at dawn are better than this world and what it contains. [Sahih Muslim 4: 1573]
As such, he was never more strict in offering any Nawafil than the two Rak’at (Sunnah) before dawn (Fajr) prayer.
What to recite
- The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) recited in the two (supererogatory) rak’ahs of the dawn (prayer) Surah Al-Kaafiroon and Surah Al-Ikhlas. [Muslim 4:1575]
- The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) used to recite in first (supererogatory) rak’ah of the dawn:
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا..
“Say: We believed in Allaah and what was revealed to us.. “(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:136), and in the second :فَلَمَّآ أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْكُفْرَ قَالَ مَنْ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَٱشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
When Jesus realized they [still] did not believe, he said, ‘Who will help me in Allah’s cause?’ The disciples said, ‘We will be God’s helpers; we believe in God– we believe in Allaah and bear testimony that we are Muslims” (Surah Aal ‘Imraan 3:52). [Muslim 4: 1576]
- The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) used to recite in the two (supererogatory) rak’ahs of the dawn prayer:
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا
“Say: We believed in Allah and what was revealed to us..”, and that which is found in Surah Al-i-‘lmran (3:64):
قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ تَعَالَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَآءٍۭ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ
“Come to that word (creed) which is common between you and us”
[Muslim 4: 1577]
When to observe the prayer
– In the last part of the night, after the tahajjud and before the Witr (Bukhaari)
– Between the Adhaan and Iqaamah of the Fajr salaah (Bukhaari)
Repayment of the prayer
Whoever could not pray the two Rak’ah before Fajr should pray them after the sun has risen. (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 423)
To be continued إن شاء الله
May Allaah bring us closer to what pleases Him. آمين.
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ISLAM GENERATION DAWAH GROUP
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