Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … In the present era, people have become divided into two groups: some, due to their aversion and detachment from the mosques of the modernists, behave as if they consider the mosque to be a church; while others designate the mosque for all prayers, both obligatory (fard) and supererogatory (nafl). Both these groups, having deviated from the path of moderation, have fallen into excess and negligence. What is required is that, in any case, the mosques of Allah should be given due importance for obligatory prayers, and for supererogatory prayers, preference should be given to homes and concealed places where no one is watching. On this occasion, the following hadith should be kept in mind: It is narrated from a Companion of the Messenger of Allah radi Allahu anhu, who says: “A man’s supererogatory prayer (tatwawwu‘) in his house is superior to his supererogatory prayer in front of people, just as the merit of a man’s prayer in congregation exceeds his prayer alone.” (Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq: 3/70/4835, Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/256, Silsilah al-Sahihah: 3149) That is: The reward for a man performing supererogatory prayer at home is so much greater than performing it in front of people, as is the reward for congregational obligatory prayer compared to praying it alone. Although this hadith is mawquf (attributed to a Companion), its ruling is that of marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), because it is not based on personal reasoning or opinion.