The Difference Between the Sunnah and the Nafilah
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Question:
The questioner says, Your Eminence the Shaykh: What is the difference between the sunnah and the nafilah? The meaning of each has become confused for many people among the Muslims. Perhaps you have some guidance on this.
Answer:
The nafilah is that which Allah has not made obligatory; it is called nafilah. For example, the Duha prayer, the witr prayer, the rawatib, and the sunnah of wudu' are called nafilah.
As for the obligatory prayers of Zuhr, 'Asr, and Maghrib, these are called fard. The first Hajj is called fard, and a person's second Hajj is called nafilah. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is nafilah, while fasting in Ramadan is fard, and so on.
As for the sunnah, there is detail in it. The term sunnah is used for the words, actions, and sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it is called sunnah. The term sunnah is also used for the nafilah; the Duha prayer is called sunnah and is also called nafilah. Thus, sunnah is synonymous with nafilah in some cases. It is used for what is not obligatory but is prescribed, such as the Duha prayer and the witr prayer, which are called sunnah, meaning they are not obligatory.
The term sunnah is also used for the actions, sayings, and biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also used for what is the opposite of bid'ah. For example, it is said: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is sunnah. Singling out Rajab for fasting, or Friday for fasting, is bid'ah. Fasting the entire year is bid'ah; the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it; it is not an act of drawing near to Allah. He said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1706Sahih (Darussalam) If he fasts three days of every month, let him fast on Monday and Thursday. These are called sunnah. These are the aspects of the sunnah: it is used for the nafilah, for what is prescribed but not obligatory, and for what is the opposite of bid'ah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The questioner says, Your Eminence the Shaykh: What is the difference between the sunnah and the nafilah? The meaning of each has become confused for many people among the Muslims. Perhaps you have some guidance on this.
Answer:
The nafilah is that which Allah has not made obligatory; it is called nafilah. For example, the Duha prayer, the witr prayer, the rawatib, and the sunnah of wudu' are called nafilah.
As for the obligatory prayers of Zuhr, 'Asr, and Maghrib, these are called fard. The first Hajj is called fard, and a person's second Hajj is called nafilah. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is nafilah, while fasting in Ramadan is fard, and so on.
As for the sunnah, there is detail in it. The term sunnah is used for the words, actions, and sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it is called sunnah. The term sunnah is also used for the nafilah; the Duha prayer is called sunnah and is also called nafilah. Thus, sunnah is synonymous with nafilah in some cases. It is used for what is not obligatory but is prescribed, such as the Duha prayer and the witr prayer, which are called sunnah, meaning they are not obligatory.
The term sunnah is also used for the actions, sayings, and biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also used for what is the opposite of bid'ah. For example, it is said: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is sunnah. Singling out Rajab for fasting, or Friday for fasting, is bid'ah. Fasting the entire year is bid'ah; the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it; it is not an act of drawing near to Allah. He said:
There is no fasting for one who fasts continually.
لا صام من صام الأبدThe presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.