Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … There was no interval in their prayer—this refers to making a distinction between obligatory (fard) and supererogatory (nafl) prayers. This distinction can be made by speaking while remaining seated in one’s place, or by moving forward, backward, to the right, or to the left from one’s place. The evidences for this are being presented ahead.

The wording of one narration is as follows: From Abdullah bin Rabah, from a man among the Companions of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: That the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led the ‘Asr prayer, then a man stood up to pray after it. Umar radi Allahu anhu saw him and took hold of his cloak or garment and said to him: Sit down, for the People of the Book were destroyed because there was no distinction in their prayers. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Ibn al-Khattab has done well.” And in another narration: “Ibn al-Khattab has spoken the truth.” (Ahmad: 5/368, Sahihah: 3173)

From this blessed hadith it is established that one should not perform a supererogatory prayer immediately after an obligatory prayer, unless the worshipper engages in external speech or moves forward or backward. It is the habit of most non-Arabs, and especially the Turks, that they begin performing the sunnah prayers immediately after the obligatory prayer in the same place. In fact, this is the common practice of the majority even in the Haramain Sharifain. The following narrations clarify this subject well:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu reports that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Are you incapable, after performing (the obligatory) prayer, of moving forward, backward, to your right, or to your left (for the supererogatory prayer)?” (Abu Dawud) … Are you unable to do this: that after performing the (obligatory) prayer, you move forward, backward, to the right, or to the left (for the supererogatory prayer)?

Sa’ib says: I performed the Friday prayer behind Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu. When he finished with the salam, I stood in my place and began to perform the sunnah prayers. When he went to his place, he sent for me. When I came to him, he said: Do not do this again. When you have performed the Friday prayer, do not perform the next prayer until you have spoken to someone or moved from your place, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam commanded us that before performing another prayer after one prayer, we should speak or move forward or backward. (Muslim: 883)

It is narrated from Asma’ bin Malik al-Khatmi radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “When one of you performs the Friday prayer, he should not perform any prayer after it until he has spoken to someone or left his place.” (al-Daylami: 1/1/64, Sahihah: 1329)

From the hadith of this chapter, it is also established that it is permissible to perform additional prayers after ‘Asr, because if it were impermissible, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would have objected to that man. This hadith is in accordance with the practical hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, according to which he himself used to perform two rak‘ahs after ‘Asr. Furthermore, it is also known that this prayer was not exclusive to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. This issue has already been discussed previously.

It is thus understood that there should be some distinction between the obligatory prayer and the supererogatory prayer performed after it, even if it is by moving forward or backward, or by engaging in external speech.