The Optional Salah (prayer)

“I went to visit abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I was a young person. The Imam described for me optional Salawat (prayers) and fasting and he noticed from my face that I considered it heavy. He then said to me, This is not like obligatory Salawat (prayers), so that on neglecting, one is destroyed. It is optional and if you cannot do on time, you can do compensatory prayer for it. They disliked that their deeds are taken up one day complete and one day incomplete. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, “Those who perform their Salah (prayer) all the time” (71:23). They (true Muslims) disliked continuing Salah (prayer) until sun declines on midday to the west; the doors of heaven open on such time.’”” (The meaning of ’all the time’, is not performing Salah (prayer) without any intervals).

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Obligatory and optional Salah (prayer) are fifty-one Rak‘at, of which there are two Rak‘at after al-‘Atmah in a sitting position which are counted as one Rak‘at in a standing position. Obligatory Salah (prayer) are seventeen Rak‘at and optional Salah (prayer) are thirty-four Rak‘at.’”

“We heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that the Messenger of Allah would perform of optional Salah (prayer) twice as much as obligatory Salah (prayer), and fast of optional fast twice as much as the obligatory one.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the most excellent item in the Sunnah of Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the complete, all fifty (Rak‘at).’” Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sinan a similar Hadith.

“Once, when I was present, ‘Arm ibn Hurayth asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, tell me about Salah (prayer) of the Messenger of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Holy prophet performed eight Rak‘at of Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime). He (the Messenger of Allah) performed the first four, then eight thereafter, then four of al-‘Al-‘Asr. He performed three of al-Maghrib, four after al-Maghrib, four of al-‘Isha’ al-Akhirah, eight of nightly Salah (prayer), three of al-Witr, two Rak‘at at dawn and the morning Salah (prayer) of two Rak‘at.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if I can do more than this, will Allah punish me because of a great deal of Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, however, He punishes because of omitting Sunnah.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is there anything before or after al-‘Isha’ al- Akhirah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, except that I perform two Rak‘at thereafter and I do not count it as part of nightly Salah (prayer).’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), prohibited me from speaking between the four Rak‘at after al- Maghrib.”

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that our people have differences about optional Salah (prayer). Certain ones among them say it is forty-four and others perform fifty. Please tell me about what you perform and how is it, so I can do similarly. He (the Imam) said, ‘I perform fifty-one Rak‘at.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Hold on to it.’ He (the Imam) counted with his hand saying, ‘Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) is eight. There are four after al-Dhuhr, four before al-‘Asr, two after al-Maghrib, two before al-‘Isha’, two after al-‘Isha’ in a sitting position which are counted as one Rak‘at in a standing position. There are eight Rak‘at of nightly Salah (prayer), three of al-witr and two at dawn. Obligatory Salah (prayer) is seventeen Rak‘at and this becomes fifty-one Rak‘at.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about optional Salah (prayer) during the day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs eight Rak‘at before al-Dhuhr and eight after al-Dhuhr.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Salah (prayer) at noontime is Salah (prayer) of repenting people.’””

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, ‘. . . during the night in Sajdah (prostration) and in standing position fearful of the next life and hopeful of the mercy of his Lord. . . .’ (20:130). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the nightly optional Salah (prayer).’ I then said, ‘ . . . and in both ends of the day perhaps you will become happy. . .’ (20:130). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to optional Salah (prayer) during the day.’ I then said, ‘. . . when the stars go back. . . .’ (52:49). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the two Rak‘at before the morning Salah (prayer).’ I then said, ‘. . . after Sujud (prostrations) . . .’(52:40) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the two Rak‘at after al-Maghrib.’”

“Abu la’ far (a.s.), has said, ‘At the time you wake up, at night for prayer (Tahajjud) then say, “All praise belongs to Allah who has returned my spirit so I can praise and worship Him.” When you hear the rooster crow say, “He is free of all defects. He is most holy. He is the Lord of angels and the spirit. His mercy comes before His anger. No one, other than You (Allah), deserves worship. You do not have any partner. I have done bad deeds and have done injustice to my own soul, so forgive and grant me mercy; no one, other than You, is able to forgive sins.” When you get up look to the sky and say, “O Lord, the dark night cannot curtain You, nor the sky with its constellations, or the vast expanse of earth, or the darkness one over the other, or the ocean with its giant waves that curtain Your creatures from each other. You know whatever eyes steal or the chests hide. The stars have disappeared, eyes have gone to sleep, You are the living guardian whom sleep and slumber cannot overtake. Free from all defect is the Cherisher of the worlds, Lord of the messengers and all praise belongs to Allah, The Cherisher of the worlds.” Then read five verses from Chapter Three: “The creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and the night are evidence (of the existence of Allah) for people of reason (3:190). It is these who commemorate Allah while standing, sitting, or resting on their sides and who think about the creation of the heavens and the earth and say, ‘Lord, you have not created all this without reason. Glory be to You. Lord, save us from the torment of the fire.’ (3:191). Our Lord, those whom You consign to the fire are certainly disgraced. There is no helper for the unjust. (3:192) “Lord, we have heard the person calling to the faith and have accepted his call. Forgive our sins, expiate our bad deeds, and allow us to die with the righteous ones. (3:193) Lord, grant us the victory that You have promised Your Messenger and do not disgrace us on the Day of Judgment; You are the One who never ignores His promise.” (3:194) “Thereafter brush your teeth; and make Wudu’. When placing your hand in water say, “(I begin) by the name of Allah, and with the power of Allah. O Lord, make me of the repenting ones and of those who purify themselves.” When you complete Wudu’ say, “All praise belongs to Allah, Cherisher of the worlds.” When you stand up for Salah (prayer) say, “(I begin) in the name of Allah, with (the power of) Allah, to Allah, from Allah and with the will of Allah and there is no means or power except the power and means of Allah. O Lord, make me of the visitors of Your house and of the builders of Masjids, please open for me the door to repent before You and close to me the door of disobedience to You and all sins. All praise belongs to Allah who has made me of those who speak to Him. O Lord, turn to me with Your face, the majestic in praise.” Then begin your Salah (prayer) with the first Takbir.’” (Ahadith 2-12 can best be explained by fatwa.)

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, after performing ‘Isha’ al- Akhirah (the late evening Salah (prayer)) would ask that water for his Wudu’ and toothbrush be placed near his pillow under a cover. He then would sleep as long as Allah willed then he would wake up, brush, make Wudu’ and perform four Rak‘at Salah (prayer). He thereafter he would sleep, then wake up, brush, make Wudu’ and perform four Rak‘at Salah (prayer), then sleep until about dawn then he would get up for witr, then perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer).’ The Imam then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah was a good lesson for you.’ I (the narrator) asked, ‘What time would he wake up? 5 The Imam replied, ‘He would wake up after one-third of the night.’ In another Hadith he has said, ‘He would wake up after midnight.’ Yet in another Hadith it is stated that his waking up, Ruku‘ and sajdah were of the same proportion. Each time, after waking up, he would brush and read verses 190 -194 of Chapter Three.”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah would perform thirteen Rak‘at at night of which one Rak‘at was al-Witr and two Rak‘at of the morning whether on a journey or at home.’”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, saying, ‘During the day there are sixteen Rak‘ats Salah (prayer). There are eight after the sun declines to the west at noon, eight after Dhuhr Salah (prayer), four Rak‘at after Maghrib (soon after sunset) - O Harith do not miss them at home or on a journey- and two Rak‘at after the ‘Isha’ al-Akhirah (late evening Salah (prayer)). My father would perform these two Rak‘at in a sitting position. I perform them in a standing position. The Messenger of Allah would perform thirteen Rak‘at Salah (prayer) during the night.’”

narrated to him ’Isma‘il ibn Sa‘d al-Ahwas who has said the following: “I asked al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Of how many Rak‘at does Salah (prayer) consist?’ He replied, ‘There are fifty-one Rak‘at (every day).”’ Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa a similar Hadith.

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘nightly initiation is of strong impression and of strongest words’ (73:7) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, “‘strongest words” means a man’s getting up from his bed just for the sake of Allah and for no other considerations.’”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘A servant (of Allah) wakes up three times at night and if he still is not up (for Salah (prayer)) Satan comes and urinates in his ears.’ I then asked about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They would sleep very little at night’. (51:18) The Imam replied, ‘There were few nights in which they would miss getting up for Salah (prayer)).”’

I heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘In the night there is an hour in which if a Muslim performs Salah (prayer) and appeals before Allah for a wish; his prayer is answered every night. I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, which hour is it?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is in the first one-sixth of the second half of the night.”’

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man of your followers, of their virtuous ones complained before me against sleep. He said that he wants to get up for the nightly optional Salah (prayer) but sleep overcomes him until it is morning. Sometimes he performs the compensatory prayer for a whole month of missed Salah (prayer) or two months and bears with its heaviness.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the delight for his eyes, by Allah.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) did not give him permission to perform his nightly optional Salah (prayer) in the beginning of the night, saying, ‘To do compensatory prayer for them during the day is better.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘Of our virgin girls there are those who love good and people of goodness. They try to perform Salah (prayer) but sleep overcomes them, and perhaps they may perform the compensatory prayer for what is missed and perhaps face weakness in performing the compensatory prayer for what is missed, but she is able to perform in the beginning of the night. He (the Imam) granted them permission to perform Salah (prayer) in the beginning of the night if they feel weakness and lose performing the compensatory prayer for what is missed.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man who gets up in the end of the night to perform his nightly optional Salah (prayer), all of them at one time and goes away to sleep, is not very praiseworthy.”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs two Rak‘at of al-Witr, then stands up and forgets saying Tashahhud (testimonies of belief) until he performs Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees), then remembers when he is in Ruku‘. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to sit down from Ruku‘, say Tashahhud, then stand up and complete.’ He (the narrator) has said that he asked, ‘Have you not said that in obligatory Salah (prayer) if one remembers after Ruku‘, one continues, then performs two Sajdah (prostration) because of mistake after ending Salah (prayer) in which one says Tashahhud (testimonies of belief)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Optional Salah (prayer) is not like obligatory one.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the most excellent time for al-Witr. He (the Imam) said, ‘Dawn is the beginning of it.”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What time did the Messenger of Allah perform al- Witr?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Within a time like from sunset to al-Maghrib Salah (prayer).’”

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the two Rak’at before the morning, ‘When is the time for them?’ He (the Imam) said, ’It is before dawn. When it is dawn, it becomes time for the morning.’”

“I performed my Salah (prayer), in Masjid al-Haram. Al-Rida’ ‘Alayhi al-Salam, led the Salah (prayer). It was Salah (prayer) of night. When he (the Imam) completed, he (the Imam) made his sleep (instead of sleeping after Salah (prayer)) into a Sajdah (prostration).”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I get up in the end of the night and I fear (of the coming of dawn before completing).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Recite just al-Fatihah, and make it faster and faster.’”

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who gets up in the end of the night and he is afraid of coming of dawn (before completing). Should he begin with al-Witr or perform Salah (prayer) as normal so that al-Witr becomes the last item?’ He (the Imam) said, ’He begins with al-Witr.’ He (the Imam) said, ’I have done so.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) in the two Rak’at of al-Witr. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, if you may need something, you can go out and when you are prepared, then come back to perform one Rak’at.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Witr and what is recited in them all. He (the Imam) said, ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is recited.’ I then asked, ‘Is it read in all three of them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is read in all three of them.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about Qunut (supplication after recitation) in al-Witr: if there is a definite reading for it which is followed and recited. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, there is no definite reading for it. Praise Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and say, ‘O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and ask Allah to forgive your great sins.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’Every sin is great.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Qunut (supplication after recitation) in al-Witr is asking for forgiveness and in obligatory Salah (prayer) it is to ask for your wishes.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in al-Witr, ask forgiveness from Allah seventy times.” (Ahadith 20-34 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)

“A man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali, ibn abu Talib (a.s.), and said, ’O Amir al- Mu’minin, I am deprived of Salah (prayer) at night.’ Amir al-Mu’minin said, ‘Your sins have tied you down.’”

“I have read in a letter of a man to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and it says, ‘Are the two Rak‘at before Salah (prayer) of dawn of Salah (prayer) during the night? Or it is of Salah (prayer) during the day and when should I perform them?’ With his handwriting he (the Imam) had written, ‘Fill them in Salah (prayer) of night a complete filling.’” (Hadith 35 and the following chapter are best explained by fatwa.)