The Rawatib Sunnah Prayer

Bismillahirrahmaanirraahim;

Insya-Allah, in this entry I want to share my understanding based on a book which I bought it about 2 years ago! Since I’m not good enough in memorizing I decided to analyze one chapter of the book; with my understanding. This book is entitled ‘Panduan Lengkap Shalat Empat Mazhab’ or can be translated as ‘Concise Guide of Prayers According to the 4 Schools’ which is written by Syaikh Abdul Qadir Ar-Rahbawi. The version of the book may vary; but mine is published by Pustaka Al-Kautsar based in Jakarta.

The chapter that I would to analyze is under the title of: “Rawatib Sunnah Prayers”. Basically, sunnah rawatib is the prayer that are performed before or after a Fardhu Prayer (compulsory prayers); with some explanation that I’m about to discuss. Refer to page 275.

Sunnah Rawatib prayers can be categorized into 2; which is muakkad (strongly recommended, i.e. Rasulullah SAW performed the prayer so often) and ghair muakkad (not strongly recommended as in muakkad, i.e. Rasulullah SAW do perform the prayer but sometime, he did not).

Muakkad prayer: The strongest opinion is consists of 10 raka’at. This include;

• 2 raka’at before Subuh (Fajr prayer)
• 2 raka’at before Zuhr (Noon prayer)
• 2 raka’at after Zuhr
• 2 raka’at after Maghrib (dawn prayer)
• 2 raka’at after Isya’ (Night prayer)

So that’s all make 10 raka’at. Other than listed, are called Mustahabbah (which mean optional; do at your will and rewarded). Next, I would like to explain overall sunnah rawatib prayer that performed by our Prophet Salallahu 'Alaihi wassalam both muakkad and ghair muakkad.

1. Sunnah Fajr: This prayer is perform before the compulsory Subuh prayer. This prayer is the strongest recommended to every Muslim should not miss, because Rasulullah SAW continuously perform Sunnah Fajr throughout his life. [Remember: In Ibadah, we should follow the guidance from Allah and the Sunnah; because Allah is the one who hear our dua'; He is the one who accept our Ibadah; and we must do as His commanded upon us, not fabricating our own Ibadah.] From Ummul mukminin, Aishah radiallahuanha reported that, from Rasulullah SAW he said, {"Those two raka'at (sunnah fajr) is the more I love than that in the world and all that bear in it".} [Note: Please recheck the translation, I try my best to translate accurately] Hadith Riwayah Ahmad and Muslim.

2. Sunnah Zuhr: Four raka'at before the Zuhr prayer and four raka'at after. This is according to hadith from Ummu Habibah Radiallahuanha; reported that Rasulullah SAW said, {"Whoever that perform 4 raka'at prayer before Zuhr, and another 4 raka'at after; Allah will forbid those (who perform the prayer) from the hellfire"} Hadith Riwayah the five Imams. But as I mention earlier, the muakkad prayer is 2 raka'at before and another 2 after Zuhr. It means, this one is mustahhab (optional) but recommended to do 2 raka'at -Wallahu'alam. This fact can be referred to one of the hadith from Abdullah bin Umar Radiallahuanhuma, he said, "{I memorized from Nabi Salallahu 'Alayhi Wa salam the ten raka'at; two before Zuhr, two after it, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after Isya' and 2 before Subuh" }Hadith Riwayah Al-Bukhari and Ahmad. [Status: Sanad jayyid]. But Hanafiyyah school regarded 4 raka'at before the Zuhr prayer is Muakkad (Strongly recommended). It is up to you which one to choose. As long as we implement sunnah of our beloved Prophet SAW!

3. Sunnah Ashar: This prayer is ghair muakkad. (Can perform at will; and Rasulullah sometime did not perform) This is based from a hadith from Ibnu Umar, he said that Rasulullah SAW said, {"Allah will give blessings for those who perform 4 raka'at prayer before Ashar."} Hadith Riwayah Ahmad, Abu Dawood. [Status: Regarded as Hassan by At-tirmidzi]

4. Sunnah Maghrib: 2 raka'at after Maghrib are muakkad. One of the hadith from Abdullah bin Mughafal al-Muzani Radiallahu anhu, he said, Rasulullah SAW said, {"Do pray before Maghrib 2 raka'at, and 2 raka'at after maghrib for whoever willing to do so. Rasulullah mentioned that so that people would not misunderstand that it is sunnah muakkad"} Hadith Riwayah Asy-Syaikhani, Abu Dawood, and the lafzh (context) is from Abu Dawood.

5. Sunnah Isya': There is no objection among the School of thoughts that sunnah Isya' is muakkad; the 2 raka'at after Isya', but the number of raka'at that is not muakkad is still under debate. I simplify the opinions as listed:

• Hanafiyah: Mustahhab 4 raka'at before and after Isya'. Hanabilah also agreed with this except 2 raka'at after Isya' instead.
• Syafi'iyyah: Mustahhab 2 raka'at before and after Isya'.
• Malikiyyah: They regarded exclusively the sunnah fajr as raghibah (recommended), others are mandub (optional).

End note: I have wrote an entry which list out the hadith that I have searched; but it may some difference regarding the total raka'at which is muakkad whether 12 or 10. But for me, it does not matter. It is up to us to choose which one of the opinion, as long as we try our best to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. Allahumma Shalli 'Alaa Muhammad Wa 'Alaa Aalihii Muhammad.

That's all for this topic.

Aquulu qawli hazaa wa astaghfirullah lii walakum;

Wassalaamualaikum.