The Ruling on Leaving the Sunnahs, Voluntary Prayers, and Witr
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 20930 )
Q2: A woman has been for several years praying the obligatory prayers, but she has not prayed Witr or the Sunnahs. What is the ruling on that?
A2: One who leaves the Sunnahs, voluntary prayers, and Witr is not punished for it and does not commit a sin by leaving them, but he misses out on much reward and great recompense. It is incumbent upon a person to strive to perform the voluntary acts of worship and Witr, following and emulating the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), especially the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib) performed after and before the obligatory prayer; for it has been reported that they make up for any deficiency in the obligatory prayer. Evidence for this is what Imam Ahmad , Abu Dawud , Ibn Majah , al-Hakim , and others narrated from Tamim al-Dari from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:. Also, maintaining the voluntary prayers is a sign of goodness and a cause for Allah’s love for him, nearness to Allah the Exalted, His guidance for His servant, His assistance to him, and His answering of his supplication. Evidence for this is what al-Bukhari and Imam Ahmad narrated from Abu Hurayrah
(may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6502, the hadith. Also, every Muslim woman should strive to perform Witr, for it is authentic that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave it, whether in residence or travel. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: A woman has been for several years praying the obligatory prayers, but she has not prayed Witr or the Sunnahs. What is the ruling on that?
A2: One who leaves the Sunnahs, voluntary prayers, and Witr is not punished for it and does not commit a sin by leaving them, but he misses out on much reward and great recompense. It is incumbent upon a person to strive to perform the voluntary acts of worship and Witr, following and emulating the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), especially the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib) performed after and before the obligatory prayer; for it has been reported that they make up for any deficiency in the obligatory prayer. Evidence for this is what Imam Ahmad , Abu Dawud , Ibn Majah , al-Hakim , and others narrated from Tamim al-Dari from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:
The first thing by which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If he has completed it, it will be recorded for him as complete. If he has not completed it, Allah will say to His angels: "Look to see if you find any voluntary prayer from my servant, and complete his obligatory prayer with it." Then alms (zakah) is treated in the same way, and then deeds are taken according to that.
أول ما يحاسب به العبد يوم القيامة صلاته، فإن كان أتمها كتبت له تامة وإن لم يكن أتمها قال الله لملائكته: انظروا هل تجدون لعبدي من تطوع فتكملوا به فريضته ثم الزكاة كذلك، ثم تؤخذ الأعمال على حسب ذلك(may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him
إن الله قال: من عادى لي وليًّا فقد آذنته بالحرب، وما تقرب إلي عبدي بشيء أحب إلي مما افترضته عليه، وما يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه، فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش بها ورجله التي يمشي بها، وإن سألني لأعطينه، ولئن استعاذني لأعيذنه
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.