Ruling on leaving the rawatib prayer in the mosque
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The listener (A. M. A. al-Shahri) from al-Namasiya sent a message containing several questions. In his first question, he says: It is observed that when the prayer ends, some of the worshippers leave without performing two rak'ahs after the prayer, considering them unimportant or not part of the prayer. What is the ruling on this?
Answer:
Not every prayer is followed by two rak'ahs. This is prescribed after the midday prayer, after the sunset prayer, and after the night prayer. In these three times, it is prescribed to pray two rak'ahs after the midday prayer, two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer, and two rak'ahs after the night prayer. If he leaves the mosque and prays them at home, that is better. If he leaves the mosque and prays them at home, it is better; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray them at home, and he said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:313.
So if he leaves and prays them at home, that is better. But if he leaves them entirely, he has left a recommended practice that is not obligatory, so he owes nothing. However, he has left the competition in good deeds, and he has left this recommended practice that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) maintained.
So what is prescribed for the believer is to perform this recommended practice either in the mosque or at home, and at home is better. As for leaving it entirely, that is not befitting for the believer, and it is not prescribed for him. Rather, what is prescribed for him and better for him is to pay attention to these confirmed voluntary prayers and to maintain them as the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) maintained them. And if he prays four rak'ahs after the midday prayer, that is better. As for the sunset prayer, its rawatib is two, and the night prayer is likewise. All of them are better at home, as mentioned earlier. Yes.
The listener (A. M. A. al-Shahri) from al-Namasiya sent a message containing several questions. In his first question, he says: It is observed that when the prayer ends, some of the worshippers leave without performing two rak'ahs after the prayer, considering them unimportant or not part of the prayer. What is the ruling on this?
Answer:
Not every prayer is followed by two rak'ahs. This is prescribed after the midday prayer, after the sunset prayer, and after the night prayer. In these three times, it is prescribed to pray two rak'ahs after the midday prayer, two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer, and two rak'ahs after the night prayer. If he leaves the mosque and prays them at home, that is better. If he leaves the mosque and prays them at home, it is better; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray them at home, and he said:
The most excellent prayer of a person is (that which he prays) in his house except that which is prescribed (the five congregational prayers).
أفضل صلاة المرء في بيته إلا المكتوبةSo if he leaves and prays them at home, that is better. But if he leaves them entirely, he has left a recommended practice that is not obligatory, so he owes nothing. However, he has left the competition in good deeds, and he has left this recommended practice that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) maintained.
So what is prescribed for the believer is to perform this recommended practice either in the mosque or at home, and at home is better. As for leaving it entirely, that is not befitting for the believer, and it is not prescribed for him. Rather, what is prescribed for him and better for him is to pay attention to these confirmed voluntary prayers and to maintain them as the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) maintained them. And if he prays four rak'ahs after the midday prayer, that is better. As for the sunset prayer, its rawatib is two, and the night prayer is likewise. All of them are better at home, as mentioned earlier. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.