Nawafil Prayers and their Signficance

Nawafil (voluntary) Acts of Worship

The most common nawafil acts of worship are the sunnah prayers. In this following Hadith Qudsi[1], the importance of Nawafil deeds has been explained.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (saas) said,

"ALLAH said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; (obligatory deeds)....

...and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection, I will protect him..."

~Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi 25 in Imam Nawawi Forty Hadith

Their Signficance (Nawafil Salat)

·        Makes up for any deficiencies in the obligatory prayers

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the angels although He knows better: 'Look into the salah of my servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it. So if he observed it perfectly it will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah would say: See if My servant has any supererogatory prayers. Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined in like manner" [Abu Dawood]

·        A source of elevation for you

The Prophet (saas) said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet said: “Anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet (saas) said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)."  [Muslim]

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[1] The Hadith Qudsi, or sacred hadith, have a particularly important status because their meaning is entirely from Allah (swt) while the wording is that of the Prophet Muhammad (s) himself.

Specific Optional Prayers

An- Nawafil zawwatil asaab- Specific Optional Prayers

Those that are highly recommended to do consistently also known as  'Sunnah Ar Rawatib, sunnah prayer associated with fard prayer

`Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "There is a Salat (prayer) between every Adhan and Iqamah; there is a Salat between every Adhan and Iqamah.'' (While saying the same for the) third time (he (PBUH) added), "It is for him who desires (to perform it).''
~Al-Bukhari and Muslim

The Prophet (saas) said, Allaah will build a house in Heaven for whoever is diligent in observing 12 Sunnah Rak'aat (as follows): 4 Rak'aat before and 2 after the Dhuhr (Midday) Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), 2 after the ‘Ishaa’ (Evening) Prayer and 2 before the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer."

~ Hadith sahih narrated by at-Tirmidhi No. 379 and by others. Hadith No. 6183 in Sahih al-Jaami

They are regarded as sunnah attached to obligatory prayer.

These sunnah include:

Sunnah of Fajr -2 before

Sunnah of Dhuhr- 4 before and 2 after

Sunnah of Maghrib- 2 after

Sunnah of Isha- 2 after

The Prophet (saas) would consistently adhere to these prayers and also encourage the believers to do the same as a means of getting closer to Allah.

Prophet (saas) said:

•  “Prostrate as much as you can, because whenever you prostrate, Allah elevates your rank by a degree and wipes out a sin from your record” (Muslim)
• “Whenever a servant prostrates to Allah, Allah writes a reward for him, wipes out one of his sins and elevates his rank by one degree; so prostrate as much as you can” (Ibn Majah)

* If these are missed for any specific reason you may make them up. Some scholars say if you were consistent with making them then try to make-up the ones missed.

Evidence on missing Sunnah of Fajr

Qais bin Fahad who said: "The Prophet (saas) saw me performing two Rak'ah of prayers after finishing the Fajr prayer He asked: 'What are these two Raka'h?' "What is this prayer?" I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I did not perform the two Raka'h that precede the prayer of Fajr, so I performed them now" [ Ahmad , Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhii ].

The Prophet (saas) did not make any comment. So, the silence of the Prophet (saas) proves that it is permitted. However, it is likeable to perform these two Sunnah Raka'h if one misses doing them before Fajr after the sunrise.

 The Prophet (saas) said: "Whoever missed to performing the two Raka'h of Fajr he should perform them after sunrise" [ al-Tirmidhi ].

Important Intimate Matters

Types of Discharge and its rulings

Maniyy is the discharge from male and female that necessitates a complete ghusl (full washing). The word maniy is used to refer to the fluid secreted by either male or female at the time of orgasm

It’s Description

·         Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “The water of the man is thick and white, and the water of the woman is thin and yellow.

~ Narrated by Muslim (313).

·         It may be white for some women. 

·         Slight doughy smell

·         There is pleasure when it is emitted, and desire ceases immediately after it is emitted. 

In regards to wet dream: Umm Sulaym (may Allaah be pleased with her), who asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about a woman who sees a dream like a man sees (i.e., an erotic dream). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a woman sees that, she should do ghusl.” Umm Sulaym said: I felt shy when I heard that. She asked, “Is that possible?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “How else would the child resemble his father or mother? The water of the man is thick and white, and the water of the woman is thin and yellow. Whichever of the two prevails or comes first decides which parent the child will resemble.”

~ (Agreed upon. Al Bukhari 130,  Saheeh Muslim, 313)

In regards to sexual intercourse: 'A'isha the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) reported. A person asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about one who has sexual intercourse with his wife and parts away (without orgasm) whether bathing is obligatory for him. 'A'isha was sitting by him. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I and she (the Mother of the Faithful) do it and then take a bath.

~Muslim Book 003, Number 0685

We also must note that even if fluids are not emitted but intercourse takes place meaning a man sits between the four parts of a woman and their sexual organs touch this necessitates ghusl according to evidence in this Hadith:

:

Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to 'A'isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: 0 Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don't feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) and the circumcised parts touch each other a bath becomes obligatory.

~Muslim Book 003, Number 0684

Madhiy a discharge from male and female as a result of stimulated thoughts and arousal without feeling. This discharge if noticed requires you to clean affected spot and perform wudu

Evidences from Hadith

Narrated 'Ali: I used to get emotional urethral discharge frequently. Being the son-in-law of the Prophet I requested a man to ask him about it. So the man asked the Prophet about it. The Prophet replied, "Perform ablution after washing your organ (penis).

~Al- Bukhari bk 5 #269

It’s Description

·         A sticky white fluid that is emitted when a person is thinking of or desiring intercourse.

·          Its emission is not accompanied by feelings of pleasure, it does not gush out in spurts, and it is not followed by exhaustion.

Wadiyy it is a thick white fluid which is passed after passing urine. Wadiy is not emitted as a result of sexual desire; it is emitted after passing urine.  If this type of discharge is noticed you are required to clean affected area (i.e istinjah) and perform wudu.

It’s Description

·         it is a thick white fluid, odorless

Al Nawawi’s explanation of Wadiyy

As for wadiy, it is a thick, white, cloudy liquid that resembles maniy in its thickness, but it is different in its cloudiness and it has no smell. It comes out immediately after urinating, or when carrying heavy objects, and it comes out one or two drops at a time, and so on. The scholars are unanimously agreed that ghusl is not required when madhiy and wadiy are emitted.

~from  al-Majmoo’ (2/160)  

Three Types of Blood

Three Types of Blood

There are three types of blood that a woman should be familiar with to apply the correct rulings.

1.     MENSES- HAID

·         In the Arabic language, the word Menses means: the pouring and flowing of

            something.

·         According to its Islamic meaning, it is the blood that the female naturally

            releases without an outside cause and during certain specific times. It is, therefore, a natural blood flow that is not related to disease, wound, abortion or delivery. The characteristics of its flow clearly differ amongst women depending upon their overall condition, environment and immediate surroundings.

Description of Blood Flow: Thick, red/black, may have odor

2.     ISTIHADAH

·         Is the vaginal bleeding of a woman such that it may not stop or it may

stop but for a short period of time (a day or two in each month).

1.      Bleeding that does not stop:

'Aisha (radiyallaahu 'anha) related that: "Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish said to the Prophet (saas): "I do not become clean (i.e., bleeding is not ending) and in one narration "I got persistent bleeding (in between theperiods) and I do not become clean."

2.       Bleeding that stops for a short period of time:

 Humnah bint Jahsh came to the Prophet (saas) and said: "My menstruation was great in quantity and severe."

~ Related by Ahmad, Abu-Dawoud, and At-Tirmidhi who said it is Saheeh (correct Hadeeth) It is also related that Imam Ahmad considered the Hadeeth to be Saheeh and that Imam Al-Bukhari is reported to have said it is good Hadeeth.

Description of Blood Flow: light red, thin, no odor, similar to blood of an open wound

 

3.      NIFASS

 Is the bleeding due to delivery by a pregnant woman. It may occur with

delivery, after delivery (post-natal) or before delivery (by two or three days coupled to contractions).

Description of Blood Flow: Similar to menses blood thick, red/black, clumpy, may have odor no more than 40 days in duration

Some content are Excerpts from the Natural Blood of Women By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saleh Al Uthimeen

Akham of Haid: Ruling of Menses and Intimate Matters

Rulings on Menstruation

The subject of menses is very important for every Muslimah to know and implement 

It is understood that both women and men are equal in seeking knowledge of the deen and in matters concerning them. Even the women during the time of the Prophet (saas) the women ask for a day from the Messeger of Allah(saas) so they could learn their deen correctly.

 Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

Some women requested the Prophet to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. Once during such a lesson the Prophet said, "A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire." On that a woman asked, "If only two die?" He replied, "Even two (will shield her from the Hell-fire)."

~ Al Bukhari  Volume 1, Book 3, Number 101

It took Imam Ahmed (RA) 9 years to learn and understand the rulings on menstruation so how are we to be relaxed in this matter.

To proceed:

‘A'ishah (radhiallahu anha)  said, “Bless it be the women of the Ansar! Shyness did not prevent them from understanding their religion properly.”
~Reference: Fath al-Bari, 1/228, Kitab al-'ilm, bab al-haya' fi'l-'ilm; Sahih Muslim, 4/16, Kitab al-hayd, bab ghusl al-mustahadah wa salatiha

As soon as the menses cycle is over it wajib to do ghusl and start salat

Evidences from Quran

"If you are sexually impure, purify yourselves." And, "They question you concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and do not have sex with them until they are cleansed" 

~(al-Baqarah 222).

Evidences from Hadith

The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said to Fatimah bint Abu Habish, "Do not pray during your period. After it has ended, perform ghusl and pray."

~(Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

How do you know when the menses is over?

Our beloved Ummul Mumineen has given us a detailed description on the ending of menstruation Yahya related to me from Malik from AIqama ibn Abi AIqama that his mother, the mawla of A'isha, umm al-muminin, said, "Women used to send little boxes to A'isha, umm al-muminin, with a piece of cotton cloth in each one on which was yellowness from menstrual blood, asking her about the prayer. She said to them, 'Do not be hasty until you see a white discharge." By that she meant purity from menses.

~Al-Muwatta Hadith   Hadith 2.99   

Tawakkul: Full Trust in Allah

Mahad Nisa Al- Mumeenat

(Believing Women Institute)

Dars Notes

December 10, 2010 

Section 5

Tawakkul Depending on Allah

Legislated: At- Tawakkul- depending on Allah holding on to the cause

Whoever relies on Allah (has Tawakkul), He is sufficient for him (At-Talaaq 65:3)

A person with true faith will always rely on Allah / have Tawakkul.

 Lack of Tawakkul indicates lack of true faith

Excerpt from Kiittab At—Tauhiid by. Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab

Tawakkul (Put your Trust in Allah)

Allah the Almighty said:

"Put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed."

(5:23)

He the Most Exalted said:

"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'an) are recited unto them, they (i.e., the verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)."

(8:2)

He said:

"O Prophet (Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) ) Allah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you."

(8:64)

He said:

"And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him."

(65:3)

Narrated Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him)

"Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)," was said by Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them, but it

only increased them in Faith".

(Al-Bukhari and An-Nasa'

Tawassul: Seeking Nearness to Allah

Mahad Nisa Al- Mumeenat

(Believing Women Institute)

Dars Notes

December 10, 2010

Section 4

What is Tawassul?

·       Tawassul is to seek nearness to Allah.

There are three types

 Invoking by Allah’s names and Attributes

·        invoking Allah by righteous, good deeds performed

·        By soliciting the Du’a of a righteous, living person.

The type we covered intensively was invoking Allah by righteous, good deeds performed

Great example explaining Tawassul, by righteous, good deeds performed:

The Messenger of Allah has informed us of the story of the three men who resorted to a cave to rest for the night, when a large rock fell down the mountain and blocked their way out. These three men then started to invoke Allah by the best righteous deed they could remember. The first one invoked Allah by his kindness with his parents, the second person by his refraining from fornication, while the third man invoked Allah by his good deed of investing the salary of a worker who left before he received his compensation. When the worker returned later on to collect his money, he found that it was multiplied many folds, and he took it all. These three people invoked Allah by mentioning the best deeds they could think of, so that Allah would save them from the cave that they were trapped in. Allah then accepted their Du’aa’ and the rock moved, allowing them to leave the cave. [Al-Bukhari] full hadith Bukhari Vol 8 Book 73 #5