Rules of Sunnat-e-Maukida and Ghair Maukida
There are many Sunnats which are regarded as Maukida, whereby it has been regarded as important in Shariat and to miss it even once without reason is worth reprimanding, and to make a habit of missing them would mean being a wrongdoer (Fasiq) who’s giving oath would not be counted and is worthy of hell. To miss it is close to Haram and those who miss it have a risk of not being interceded on the day of judgement. Sunnat-e-Maukida is sometimes also referred to as Sunun-e-Hidaya. Many Sunnats are Ghair Maukida and are sometimes referred to as Sunun-e-Zawa’id and it’s importance has not been defined in Shariat and sometimes is quoted as Mustahhab. Nafl are those actions which by doing would gain reward and to miss carries no punishment and there is no harm in missing.
Namaz which is Sunnat-e-Maukida
** Rule: The Sunnat-e-Maukida are these;*
The first two Rakats of Fajr, before the Farz Namaz
The first four Rakats of Zohr before the Farz Namaz and the two Rakats of Zohr after the Farz Namaz.
The two Rakats after the Farz Rakats of Maghrib.
The two Rakats of Isha after the Farz Rakats.
The first four Rakats before Farz of Ju’ma and the four Rakats after Farz and it is better also to pray the two Rakats additionally after Farz [Guniya, Hidaya].
- Rule: The most important Maukidah is the Sunnats of Fajr, upto the extent that many Ulema regard them as Wajib. Therefore they cannot be prayed without reason whilst sitting or on a vehicle or moving car [Fatahul Qadir etc.].
Rules of missing Sunnats
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Rule: If the Fajr Namaz became Qaza and you prayed them before midday then also pray the Qaza for the Sunnats otherwise don’t. Except for Fajr if all other Sunnats became Qaza, then there is no Qaza for them.
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Rule: If you missed the first Sunnats of Zohr or Ju’ma and prayed the Farz Rakats then if there is time pray the Sunnats after and it is better to pray them after the normal Sunnats that are prayed after the Farz Namaz [Fatahut Qadir, Bahar].
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Rule: If the Sunnats of Fajr are not prayed and the Farz Namaz is prayed then do not pray them until after sunrise as Qaza as it is better to pray them after sunrise and it is not allowed to pray them in this situation before sunrise [Radd-ul-Mohtar, Bahar].
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Rule: It is Sunnat to pray in the Sunnats of Fajr, in the first Rakat ‘QuI Yaa Ayyuhal Kafiroon’ and in the second ‘QuI Huwallaho Ahad’.
When Nafl is allowed
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Rule: It is not allowed to start any Nafl or Sunnat once Jamaat has started. The only exception is the Sunnats of Fajr and the rule is you must start them even if the Jamaat has started as long as you are aware that you can finish the Sunnats and join the Jamaat even if it is in the last Qaidah. You must pray these Sunnats separately away from the rows of Jamaat as to pray them in the same row as the Jamaat is not allowed.
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Rule: If you are aware that if you pray Nafl or Sunnat then you will miss the Jamaat, then it is not allowed to start the Nafl or Sunnat.
Mustahhab Namaz
- Rule: Four Rakaat Namaz before Isha and Asr and four Rakats after Isha all with one Salaam is Mustahhab. It is also the case if you pray two Rakats after Isha then the Mustahhab will be fulfilled. It is also Mustahhab to pray four Rakats after Zohr. It is quoted in the Hadith that those who pray these will have the fire of hell made Haram for them.
Salaatul Awaabeen
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Rule: After Maghrib, to pray six Rakats is Mustahhab and they are known as SalaatuI Awaabeen. It is better to pray them in two, two Rakats [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar].
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Rule: The Mustahhab of Zohr, Asr and Isha include the Sunnat-e-Maukida. For example if you pray four Rakats after Zohr Farz then both the Sunnats and the Mustahhab will be fulfilled and alternatively you can pray them both with one Salaam. Meaning perform Salaam after four Rakats and only the intention of Sunnat is sufficient, there is no need to define the Maukida and Mustahhab separately as they both will be fulfilled [Fatahul Qadir, Bahar].
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Rule: Qiraayat is obligatory in all the Rakats of Nafl and Sunnat.
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Rule: To intentionally start a Sunnat or Nafl Namaz will make it Wajib, meaning if you break it then to repeat or perform it’s Qaza is Wajib.
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Rule: Nafl Namaz can be prayed without reason whilst sitting down, however, to pray it standing up carries double reward [Hidaya].
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Rule: If you are praying Nafl sitting down then sit as if you are sat in Qaidah except for when you are praying Qiraayat have your arms folded below the navel just as you have them when stood up [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar].
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Rule: The two Rakats Nafl that are prayed after Witr, it is better to pray ‘Iza Zul ZilatuI Ardo’ in the first Rakat and ‘QuI Yaa Ayyuhal Kafiroon’ in the second Rakat.
Where is it better to pray Sunnat and Nafl ?
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Rule: It is better to pray the Sunnat and Nafl in the home [Hidaya etc.].
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Rule: Do not talk between the Sunnat and Farz Namaz as the reward is reduced [Fatahul Qadir], the same rule applies to any action which is forbidden as soon as Takbeer-e-Tahrima is said (i.e. eat, drink, talk etc.) [Tanweer, Bahar].