A Math Lesson from the Prayer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The purpose of this article to stimulate the mind and at the same time encourage the average Muslim to give importance to the sunnan and Rawatib prayers, by evaluating the levels one can achieve in Jannah by offering more prayers. In an authentic hadith the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “There is no one who prostrated once to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, except that Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, and erase one sin thereby.” [1]
This narration lays the framework for us to look at the difference of the one who regularly prays Duha, Witr , or even the Sunnah of Fajr compared to those who don’t do so regularly, or maybe not at all. This worksheet is based on the chapter of the voluntary prayers collected by Shiekhul Islam Abu Yahya Zakariya Al-Ansari (925H) in his book “ The Guidebook of Hadiths for Islamic verdicts”. What’s more, is, he explained the narrations he collected which are all authentic.[2] Therefore throughout the article, his words are added for Fiqh lessons.
- The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak’ah of optional Salat other than the obligatory Salat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah).” [3]
This hadith mentions there are 12 Rak’ah daily so if a person offered these prayers for a week apart from earning a house in Jannah how much higher of a level in Jannah would they attain?
So imagine if a person prayed these 12 Rak’at daily for 30 days how higher of a status could they achieve in this life and how many sins could they have wiped away ?
- Ibn ‘Umar ( رضي الله عنه): I learned from the Prophet (ﷺ) ten (voluntary) Rak’ at – two Rak’ at before the Zuhr prayer and two after it; two Rak’at after Maghrib prayer in his house, and two Rak’at after ‘Isha’ prayer in his house, and two Rak’ at before the Fajr prayer.[4]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah ( رحمه الله) said the voluntary prayers make up for the deficiencies in the obligatory prayers, by adding to their appearance similar to how jewelry adds the beauty of a bride.
This hadith mentioned 10 Rak’at, so if a person didn’t offer the two before and after Thur how many Rak’at would that be ?
- Umm Habibah ( رضي الله عنها) : “Whoever prays regularly four Rak’ at before and four Rak’ at after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will forbid for him (from entering) the Hellfire.”[5]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah ( رحمه الله) said: The regularly prayed voluntary prayers to complete Thur are 4 before and 4 after it, the stressed Sunan are 2 before Thur and 2 after.
If a person offered 4 before and 4 Thur for 10 days how many extra levels could he/she attain in Jannah.
If a muslim offered 2 before Thur and 2 after for the 1st half of the month and then offered 4 before and 4 Thur for the other ½ of the month how many Rak’at would that be in total ? That’s a __________ level increase in Jannah.
- The Prophet (ﷺ) said: May Allah show mercy to a man who prays four rak’ahs before the afternoon prayer.[6]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah ( رحمه الله) said: These 4 Rak’at are the regularly maintained prayers of Asr, however they aren’t a stressed Sunnah.
Muhammad offered these prayers (4 Rak’at before Asr) for 6 months without missing a day and his brother offered them for 6 months as well,but during that 6 months he wouldn’t pray them at the weekend. What is the difference between these two siblings in rank?
- The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Pray before Maghrib, pray before Maghrib” then he said at the third time, “Whoever wishes (to)”.[7]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah ( رحمه الله) said: This hadith shows that there are 2 Rak’ah for the Sunnah of Maghrib, but they aren’t stressed Sunnah prayers.
Maryam offered these 2 Rak’ah every Friday for 1 year. How many extra levels did she earn for Jannah?
- ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها) reported: When the Prophet (ﷺ) had performed two Rak’ah before the Fajr prayer, he would lie down on his right side.[8]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah (رحمه الله) said: The wisdom for lying down on the right side after offering these prayers is to show that there arent 4 Rak’ at for the Sunnah of Fajr and if a person doesn’t lie down then he should separate these prayers by either talking or changing his place in the masjid.
- “Ata’ bin Yazid narrated to me that he heard Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari say: ‘Witr is a duty, so whoever wants to pray witr with five rak’ahs let him do so, whoever wants to pray witr with three, let him do so; and whoever wants to pray witr with one, let him do so.'”[9]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah (رحمه الله) said: This hadith proves that Witr is a stressed Sunnah. The majority of scholars hold this view except the Hanafis. They consider the Witr prayer an obligation.
In this hadith there is an offer for a person to offer 5,3,or 1 Rak’ah for witr, so we have Umar who prays 5, Adam who prays 3 and Yusef who offers 1. They have all been doing this for 1 year now, so what is the difference amongst the 3 brothers ?
- Aishah (رضي الله عنها): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) entered my house and prayed eight Rak’ at of Duha prayer.[10]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah (رحمه الله) said: The Duha prayer is a stressed Sunnah and the best way to offer it is by praying 8 Rak’ at and the least amount one could pray is 2 and this based on an authentic hadith in Bukhari and Muslim. The hadith about offering 12 Rak’ at for Duha prayer is weak. The closest one could off them in a complete fashion would be to offer 4 Rak’ at and 6 Rak’ at would be better than 4.
Um Adam offered 8 Rak’at of Duha prayers in 2019 and in 2018 she used to pray 6. What’s the difference between the 2 years?
Has she raised her level in Jannah and if so by how much ?
- Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you observes the Jumu’a prayer (two obligatory rak’ahs in congregation), he should observe four (rak’ahs) afterwards.[11]
Abu Yahya Az-Zakiriyah (رحمه الله) said: The regularly offered prayers for the Jumu’ah prayer are 4 after, but offering 2 is a stressed Sunnah.
If a Muslim man prayed maintained these 4 Rak’ at after Jumu’ah for 2 years what would his possible level in Jannah be increased by?
- 10. Abu Salama bin `Abdur Rahman(رضي الله عنه)narrated that he asked `Aisha(l) “How was the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) in Ramadan?” She replied, “He did not pray more than eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in any other month.[12]
If you were to offer the night prayer in the same fashion of the Prophet (ﷺ) for 30 nights of Ramadhan how higher of a status could you achieve?
What if you offered them every Ramadan for 10 years of life, then how much higher of a level could you achieve?
What if you offered them on the Night of Decree, then how much higher of a level could you attain?
Allah’s Help is sought!!
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Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1441©
[1] Sunan an-Nasa’i 1139
[2] فتح العلام بشرح الإعلام بأحاديث الأحكام /Shiekhul Islam Abu Yahya Zakiriyah (925H)
[3] Muslim : Book 8, Hadith 1097
[4] Al-Bukhari (1180) Muslim (729)
[5] Abu Dawud (269), At-Tirmithi (427)
[6] Abu Dawud (1271)At-Tirmithi (430)
[7] Al-Bukhari (1183)
[8] Abu Dawud (1261)
[9] Sunan an-Nasa’i (1712)
[10] Al-Bukhari (357) Muslim336)
[11] Muslim (881)
[12] Al-Bukhari (1147) Muslim 738)