Combining 2 Units Of Sunnah And Nafl After The Fard Of Zuhr, Maghrib And Isha

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following:

   Whilst performing 2 units of sunnah after the 4 fard units of Ẓuhr prayer, someone forgets to perform salām in the final sitting and instead stands to continue prayer. Then, upon remembering his mistake, he offers a further 2 units of prayer and finishes after performing the prostration of forgetfulness.

   In this scenario, will the 4 units of prayer offered be considered as the sunnah and nafl together?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   If someone offers 4 units of prayer with one salām after performing the fard units of Ẓuhr, Maghrib or ꜤIshāˈ, the sunnah and nafl will be fulfilled according to the soundest opinion. In the situation described by the questioner, Muakkadah sunnahs  and nafl prayers will be fulfilled.

   It is mentioned in al-Durr al-Mukhtār:

هل تحسب المؤكدة من المستحب ويؤدى الكل بتسليمة واحدة ؟ اختار الكمال: نعم

   In Radd al-Muḥtār[1] regarding: اختار الكمال, it is stated:

ذكر الكمال في فتح القدير أنه وقع اختلاف بين أهل عصره في أن الاربع المستحبة هل هي أربع مستقلة غير ركعتي الراتبة أو أربع بهما؟ وعلى الثاني هل تؤدى معهما بتسليمة واحدة أو لا، فقال جماعة: لا، واختار هو أنه إذا صلى أربعا بتسليمة أو تسليمتين وقع عن السنة والمندوب، وحقق ذلك بما لا مزيد عليه، وأقره في شرح المنية والبحر والنهر

   In Bahār-i-SharīꜤat it is stated:

   Muakkadah sunnahs is included alongside the Mustahabb that follow the fard units of Ẓuhr, Maghrib and ꜤIshāˈ. For example, if someone offers four units of prayer after the fard units of Ẓuhr, the Sunnah and Mustahabb prayers will both be fulfilled, even if one performs them together with one salām, i.e., finishes with salām at the end of 4 units of prayer.[2]

   Muftī Amjad ꜤAlī al-AꜤẓamī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was asked:

   Zayd made the intention of performing two sunnah after the fard units of ꜤIshāˈ. Instead of performing salam to end the prayer, he stood up thinking that he had 2 units of nafl left to pray and they would be included in this. Will his sunnah and nafl prayers be valid?

   He replied, “It is better to perform salām after two units, but if he did not perform salām and added an extra 2 units, the prayer is still valid. Muakkadah sunnah and nafl will be fulfilled.”[3]

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered By: Mufti Abu Muhammad Ali Asghar Attari

Ref No: NOR-12338

Date: 7th Muḥarram al-Ḥarām 1444AH/ 6th August 2022