Nafl salat
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Nafilah salah (Arabic: صلاة نفل) is a type of optional salah in Islam. Like Sunnah salat, they are not considered obligatory but are thought to confer extra benefit on the person performing them. duha prayer is considered an extra plus for the Muslim life.
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[edit] Ishraq
The time for the Ishraq prayer beings ten to fifteen minutes after sunrise and consists of two Raka'ahs.[citation needed] Praying ishraq is considered to yield greater rewards than performing the lesser Jihad according to some traditions.[1]“According to majority of scholars of Hadith and Fiqh, Duha Prayer, Al-Ishraq Prayer, and Al-Awwabin Prayer are all names of the same salah (ritual Prayer). It is a recommended Prayer without any fixed number of rak`ahs; its time proper starts a little after sun rise (approximately twenty minutes after sunrise) and extends up to the time of the declining of the sun from the meridian. The above view of the majority of scholars and jurists is based on the fact that there is no reason to make a distinction in the sources. A minority of scholars, however, have made a distinction between Al-Ishraq Prayer and Duha Prayer. According to them, Al-Ishraq Prayer is done after sun rise (around twenty or so minutes after) while Duha Prayer is done much later. There is no doubt that the first view is more authentic and more in conformity with the close study of the hadiths in this respect. Anyway, one must never make an issue out of this controversy, for, after all, it is an optional Prayer. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim has cited the various views about the importance of this Prayer: Some say that one should not exaggerate its importance, and therefore do it only sparingly and not consistently, while others insist that it should be performed consistently. In other words, there is nothing in the sources to make it obligatory or even comparable to Witr Prayer in importance. The hadith that states that it is comparable in reward to performing Hajj and `Umrah is not a sound hadith, but is considered dubious and of doubtful nature, so one need not pay any attention to it. Even if someone, however, were to look at it favorably, it can never be taken literally, for it contradicts both sound hadiths and sound reason. As for the precise intention to be formulated while praying Duha Prayer or Al-Ishraq Prayer, or others, there is no hard and fast rule to follow. Since it is an optional Prayer, it is enough to say in one’s mind that one is praying nafl or sunnah of Duha or Ishraq. One may perform any number of rak`ahs from a minimum of two rak`ahs up to preferably eight rak`ahs. May Allah help us to see the truth as truth, and follow it; and may He help us see the error as error and help us to shun it.”
[edit] Duha
Duha prayer begins after sunrise and ends at meridian, and is generally thought to include at least two Raka'ahs, though in some traditions the number is four or even twelve.[2][3][4][5][6] It is generally prayed when one-fourth of the day has passed.[citation needed] Performing this prayer is believed to be effective in seeking forgiveness for one's sins.[7] The supererogatory morning prayer has been narrated from the Prophet through paths that have reached mass-narration levels - from 19 to over 30 Companions - according to Imam al-Tabari, al-`Ayni in `Umdat al-Qari, al-Haytami, al-Munawi, and al-Qari in Sharh al-Shama'il, Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari, al-Kattani in Nazm al-Mutanathir, and as per the monographs compiled by al-Hakim and al-Suyuti as well as the recensions of Abu Zur`a al-`Iraqi in Tarh al-Tathrib, Ibn al-Qayyim in Zad al-Ma`ad, and al-Shawkani in Nayl al-Awtar. According to the vast majority of the Ulema of the Salaf and Khalaf it is a desirable and recommended prayer. The following post is an overview of the name, legal status, time, length, and immense merit of this important voluntary prayer. I. Its name The supererogatory morning prayer has many names. Among them: (a) Salat al-Duha or Sibhat al-Duha, Sibha meaning a supererogatory prayer in general and Duha meaning morning, mid-morning, or late morning. This is the name that reoccurs the most in the narrations. (b) Salat al-Awwabin ("Prayer of the Oft-Returning"), thus specified by the Prophet for the late morning prayer when the sun is very hot as per the hadith of Zayd ibn Arqam in Sahih Muslim cited below; the narration of `Ali who saw a group of people praying Duha immediately after sunrise and advised them to delay it, saying: "It would be best if they left it until the sun was one or two spear-lengths high for that is Salat al-Awwabin." Ibn Abi Shayba and al-Tabari, cf. Kanz al-`Ummal #23437, 23461. And `Awn al-`Uqayli in explanation of the verse { innahu kana lil-awwabina ghafura- verily He is most forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence)} (17:25): "Meaning those who pray Salat al-Duha." Narrated by al-Asbahani in al-Targhib as cited by al-Shawkani in Nayl al-Awtar. See more evidence for this appellation below [II.6(a-c)]. The reason for this name is that one leaves dunya at that time to return to Allah Most High and makes up for the Night prayer that he missed. Hence Salat al-Duha is even more stressed for those who miss tahajjud and is its replacement, cf. Ibn al-Qayyim, Zad al-Ma`ad (1:356) as cited in `Itr, I`lam al-Anam Sharh Bulugh al-Maram (p. 628). Note: `Ubayd ibn `Umayr defined al-Awwabin as "Those who remember their sins when all alone. then ask Allah forgiveness." In al-Qurtubi's Tafsir for the verse { Rabbukum a`lamu bima fi nufusikum in takunu salihina fa'innahu kana lil-awwabina ghafura - Your Lord is best aware of what is in your minds. If you are righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn (unto Him)} (17:25). (c) Salat al-Ishraq ("Sunrise Prayer") i.e. very shortly after sunrise, and this is its Qur'anic name as per the narration of Ibn `Abbas in the Sunan of Sa`id ibn Mansur: "I searched for Salat al-Duha in the Qur'an and found it in the verse { yusabbihna bil-`ashiyyi wal-ishraq - Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him [Dawud] at nightfall and sunrise} (38:18). Cf. also Ibn Abi Shayba in his Musannaf and al-Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-Iman from Ibn `Abbas: "Verily it [Salat al-Duha] is in the Book of Allah, nor can they penetrate it who attempt to penetrate it! [i.e. without knowledge] Then he recited: { In houses which Allah has allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein. Therein do they offer praise to Him at morn and evening} (24:36)." (d) Salat al-Fath ("The Victory Prayer") because it is established that the Prophet prayed it the morning he entered Makka (in al-Bukhari and Muslim) and this has become the Sunna of military leaders upon entering a newly-conquered region.
[edit] Tahiyatul Masjid
Also called "masjidus salam", this is a highly recommended prayer consisting of two Raka'ahs and performed when first entering a mosque. It is considered to be a way of greeting the place of worship in order to draw nearer to Allah.[8]
[edit] Khawf
The word "Khawf" means fear. Khawf is a type of prayer that is prayed during time of fear. This prayer was performed by Prophet Muhammad in the Battle of Uhud. It is considered to be a substitute for normal prayers while on a battlefield.[9]
[edit] Journey prayer
When a person is about to travel, and also when they return from traveling, it is considered beneficial to pray two Raka'ahs in a mosque.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Targhib p. 427. vol. I ref. Abu Yate ba Isnad-e-Sahib
- ^ Al-Sunan al-Sughra #1,659
- ^ Sahih Muslim #1,175
- ^ Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal #23,317
- ^ Sunan Ibn Majah #1,371
- ^ Mishkaat pg.116
- ^ Sunan al-Tirmidhi #438
- ^ Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 1:456
- ^ Abu’l-Hasan Ahmad al-Quduri, "Mukhtasar al-Quduri"
- ^ Radd al-Muhtar, 1:459
