Leaving the Rawatib Prayers
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Fatwa No. ( 17534 )
Q: I pray all the prayers in their times in congregation at the mosque, but after the prayer ends, I do not pray the Sunnah or the Witr. My father rebukes me and says to me: “It is obligatory for you to pray the Sunnah and the Witr, because they are obligatory.” I said to him: “It is a Sunnah; its doer is rewarded and its leaver is not punished.” So, is it obligatory for me to pray the Sunnah and the Witr, and what is the ruling if I do not pray them?
A: The sunnahs that accompany the obligatory prayers, known as the rawatib, are confirmed sunnahs, and it is strongly recommended to maintain them. They are: two or four rak'ahs before the midday prayer, two after it, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. Likewise, the witr prayer is a confirmed sunnah that should not be abandoned. Therefore, you should maintain them in order to seek reward and recompense from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in maintaining them, but they are not obligatory. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I pray all the prayers in their times in congregation at the mosque, but after the prayer ends, I do not pray the Sunnah or the Witr. My father rebukes me and says to me: “It is obligatory for you to pray the Sunnah and the Witr, because they are obligatory.” I said to him: “It is a Sunnah; its doer is rewarded and its leaver is not punished.” So, is it obligatory for me to pray the Sunnah and the Witr, and what is the ruling if I do not pray them?
A: The sunnahs that accompany the obligatory prayers, known as the rawatib, are confirmed sunnahs, and it is strongly recommended to maintain them. They are: two or four rak'ahs before the midday prayer, two after it, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. Likewise, the witr prayer is a confirmed sunnah that should not be abandoned. Therefore, you should maintain them in order to seek reward and recompense from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in maintaining them, but they are not obligatory. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.