What are the rawatib? And what are their times?
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Question:
A message was received by the program from one of the listening brothers from al-Qasim. He says: Regarding the rawatib prayers, what is their number? And how are they performed? Does the time for the voluntary prayer after the midday prayer extend until the call to the afternoon prayer, or not? And after the call to the afternoon prayer, is it possible to perform voluntary prayer before the obligatory prayer, or not? Likewise, regarding the voluntary prayer after the sunset prayer, does its time extend until the call to the night prayer, or not? And after the call to the night prayer, is it possible to perform voluntary prayer before the obligatory prayer, or not? Please clarify these matters regarding voluntary prayers to us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The rawatib that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) prescribed with the five prayers, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain them, are twelve rak'ahs in residence. Four of them are before the midday prayer after the sun has passed its zenith, saying the closing salam after every two. Two are after the midday prayer, with one closing salam. These are six. Two are after the sunset prayer. Two are after the night prayer. Two are before the dawn prayer. These are the rawatib that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain in residence. As for in travel, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would leave them, except for the sunnah of the dawn prayer. In travel, he would not pray these rawatib except for the sunnah of the dawn prayer, for he used to maintain it in both travel and residence.
It is prescribed for the believer, along with the five prayers (besides these rawatib), to pray four rak'ahs before the afternoon prayer, after the time has entered, in two units of two; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:263 This is not a rawatib. It is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would sometimes pray two rak'ahs before the afternoon prayer, and sometimes four rak'ahs before the afternoon prayer, but it is not a rawatib. However, it is recommended. If the believing man or woman prays it, it is better. Four before the afternoon prayer in two units of two. And two before the sunset prayer. This is recommended after the call to prayer and before the second call. Two rak'ahs. Likewise, after the call to the night prayer, it is better to pray two rak'ahs before the night prayer. It is not part of the rawatib, but it is recommended that when the mu'adhdhin calls and he is sitting in the mosque, he should stand up and pray two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer, after the call to the sunset prayer, and after the call to the night prayer. And if he prays more, there is no harm.
Likewise, it is recommended for him to perform tahajjud at night after the night prayer until the end of the night. He should perform tahajjud with whatever Allah makes easy for him, even if it is just one rak'ah with which he prays witr. And whatever he adds is better. He prays witr with three, or five, or seven, or more, saying the closing salam after every two. This is the best. And the best is eleven, or thirteen. And if he decreases or increases, there is no harm. He says the closing salam after every two, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this.
There is no harm in delaying the performance of the rawatib after the midday prayer. Its time extends until the call to the afternoon prayer. He prays it before the afternoon prayer, even if he delays, but before the afternoon prayer, before the time of the afternoon prayer enters. So it is with the sunset prayer. If he delays it... if he delays the rawatib and does not pray it until near the setting of the twilight, meaning: near the night prayer, there is no harm. But the best is to hasten with it before obstacles arise. This is the best. Otherwise, its time extends until the red twilight disappears from the direction of the sunset... the entry of the time of the night prayer.
Just as the post-midday sunnah extends until the entry of the time of the afternoon prayer. But if he hastens with this and that before the entry of the time of the one that follows it, that is more appropriate for him, so that no obstacle may befall him. And the best is in his house. If he prays it in the house, it is better. And if he prays it in the mosque, there is no harm. But in the house is better. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Does this ruling, Your Eminence the Shaykh, and this guidance, apply equally to men and women?
Answer: Yes, it is general for both men and women. The ruling is general for men and women. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, and may Allah reward you with good.
A message was received by the program from one of the listening brothers from al-Qasim. He says: Regarding the rawatib prayers, what is their number? And how are they performed? Does the time for the voluntary prayer after the midday prayer extend until the call to the afternoon prayer, or not? And after the call to the afternoon prayer, is it possible to perform voluntary prayer before the obligatory prayer, or not? Likewise, regarding the voluntary prayer after the sunset prayer, does its time extend until the call to the night prayer, or not? And after the call to the night prayer, is it possible to perform voluntary prayer before the obligatory prayer, or not? Please clarify these matters regarding voluntary prayers to us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The rawatib that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) prescribed with the five prayers, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain them, are twelve rak'ahs in residence. Four of them are before the midday prayer after the sun has passed its zenith, saying the closing salam after every two. Two are after the midday prayer, with one closing salam. These are six. Two are after the sunset prayer. Two are after the night prayer. Two are before the dawn prayer. These are the rawatib that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain in residence. As for in travel, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would leave them, except for the sunnah of the dawn prayer. In travel, he would not pray these rawatib except for the sunnah of the dawn prayer, for he used to maintain it in both travel and residence.
It is prescribed for the believer, along with the five prayers (besides these rawatib), to pray four rak'ahs before the afternoon prayer, after the time has entered, in two units of two; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
May Allah mercy on a person who prays four Rak'at before the 'Asr prayer.
رحم الله امرأ صلى أربعًا قبل العصرLikewise, it is recommended for him to perform tahajjud at night after the night prayer until the end of the night. He should perform tahajjud with whatever Allah makes easy for him, even if it is just one rak'ah with which he prays witr. And whatever he adds is better. He prays witr with three, or five, or seven, or more, saying the closing salam after every two. This is the best. And the best is eleven, or thirteen. And if he decreases or increases, there is no harm. He says the closing salam after every two, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this.
There is no harm in delaying the performance of the rawatib after the midday prayer. Its time extends until the call to the afternoon prayer. He prays it before the afternoon prayer, even if he delays, but before the afternoon prayer, before the time of the afternoon prayer enters. So it is with the sunset prayer. If he delays it... if he delays the rawatib and does not pray it until near the setting of the twilight, meaning: near the night prayer, there is no harm. But the best is to hasten with it before obstacles arise. This is the best. Otherwise, its time extends until the red twilight disappears from the direction of the sunset... the entry of the time of the night prayer.
Just as the post-midday sunnah extends until the entry of the time of the afternoon prayer. But if he hastens with this and that before the entry of the time of the one that follows it, that is more appropriate for him, so that no obstacle may befall him. And the best is in his house. If he prays it in the house, it is better. And if he prays it in the mosque, there is no harm. But in the house is better. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Does this ruling, Your Eminence the Shaykh, and this guidance, apply equally to men and women?
Answer: Yes, it is general for both men and women. The ruling is general for men and women. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, and may Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.