Consistency in Acts of Worship
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Question: I voluntarily perform some prayers away from the times when prayer is prohibited, and I also remember Allah with tasbih and tahlil, as well as voluntary fasting on various days. I do all of this without binding myself to any of them as a fixed regular practice, out of fear of not being consistent with them and thus falling into religious innovation. What is the ruling on this?
Answer: May Allah increase you in your eagerness for good and in the abundance of voluntary acts, such as voluntary prayer and the remembrance of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Tahlil, tasbih, and takbir are required and prescribed matters. Voluntary prayer includes what is established at specific times, such as the rawatib (regular voluntary prayers) with the obligatory prayer, whether the rawatib before or after it. Likewise, witr is established at night between the 'Isha' prayer and the dawn. Similarly, tahajjud at night is something one should be consistent with. Just as one should be consistent with performing the rawatib with the obligatory prayers, one should be consistent with witr; in fact, it is even more emphasized.
It is also necessary for the Muslim to have a share of night prayer, and he should make his last prayer witr. Likewise, the Dhuha prayer is a confirmed sunnah (recommended practice) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). These are acts of worship
that are time-bound to their prescribed times. If a person is consistent with them, that is something required, and the most beloved deed to Allah is the most consistent one, even if it is little.
Likewise, being consistent with the remembrance of Allah through tahlil and tasbih is not a problem. Voluntary prayer, as I mentioned, is permissible except in the times when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited prayer. You have mentioned that you avoid those times, and praise be to Allah.
Answer: May Allah increase you in your eagerness for good and in the abundance of voluntary acts, such as voluntary prayer and the remembrance of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Tahlil, tasbih, and takbir are required and prescribed matters. Voluntary prayer includes what is established at specific times, such as the rawatib (regular voluntary prayers) with the obligatory prayer, whether the rawatib before or after it. Likewise, witr is established at night between the 'Isha' prayer and the dawn. Similarly, tahajjud at night is something one should be consistent with. Just as one should be consistent with performing the rawatib with the obligatory prayers, one should be consistent with witr; in fact, it is even more emphasized.
It is also necessary for the Muslim to have a share of night prayer, and he should make his last prayer witr. Likewise, the Dhuha prayer is a confirmed sunnah (recommended practice) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). These are acts of worship
that are time-bound to their prescribed times. If a person is consistent with them, that is something required, and the most beloved deed to Allah is the most consistent one, even if it is little.
Likewise, being consistent with the remembrance of Allah through tahlil and tasbih is not a problem. Voluntary prayer, as I mentioned, is permissible except in the times when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited prayer. You have mentioned that you avoid those times, and praise be to Allah.