Reality of Prayers in Specific Months and Nights
Source: Fatāwā al-Deen al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p.110
Question:
Certain merits are attributed to offering a specific number of rakʿāt (units of prayer) during particular months, days, or nights. For example:
◈ One who prays a certain number of rakʿāt in Dhul-Ḥijjah will receive a specific reward.
◈ One who prays during Muḥarram will be granted a great reward.
◈ One who offers twenty rakʿāt on a Saturday night will receive a particular virtue.
Are such prayers recommended in Sharīʿah?
(Your brothers: Noor-ul-Haq and Shaukat)
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Our Noble Prophet ﷺ used to offer forty rakʿāt of prayer daily, including obligatory, Sunnah, and voluntary prayers.
Occasionally, he would offer more due to temporary circumstances.
However, there is no proof of any special prayers for specific months, days, or nights.
These types of prayers are fabricated by ignorant individuals and have no basis in Sharīʿah.
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (رحمه الله) writes in al-Mawḍūʿāt (3/113):
"All such narrations are fabricated and have no legal standing."
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) states in al-Manār al-Munīf (p. 95):
"The narrations regarding prayers for specific days and nights are fabricated — such as the prayer for Sunday, the prayer for Monday night, the prayer for Saturday night, and the prayer of the first Friday night of Rajab (Ṣalāt al-Raghā’ib). All of these are lies against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
Such prayers are found in the books Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn by Imām al-Ghazālī, and Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn by ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī.
However, Hadith scholars refuted these prayers, including:
◈ Ibn al-Jawzī in al-Mawḍūʿāt (3/113, 143)
◈ Ibn Ḥajar in Tabyīn al-ʿAjab bimā Wurida fī Faḍl Rajab (pp. 12–19)
◈ Imām al-Suyūṭī in al-La’ālī al-Maṣnūʿah (2/290–293)
◈ Ibn ʿIrāq in Tanzīh al-Sharīʿah al-Marfuʿah (2/90–92)
◈ Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Ḥayy al-Lakhnawī in al-Āthār al-Marfuʿah (pp. 290–293)
◈ Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) in al-Silsilah al-Ḍaʿīfah
◈ The merits associated with prayers during specific months, days, or nights are fabricated and have no basis in Islam.
◈ A Muslim should perform voluntary prayers in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ One must avoid engaging in invented practices and stick to what is authentically reported.
Waṣallallāhu ʿalā Nabiyyinā Muḥammad wa ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajmaʿīn.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب۔
Source: Fatāwā al-Deen al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p.110
Question:
Certain merits are attributed to offering a specific number of rakʿāt (units of prayer) during particular months, days, or nights. For example:
◈ One who prays a certain number of rakʿāt in Dhul-Ḥijjah will receive a specific reward.
◈ One who prays during Muḥarram will be granted a great reward.
◈ One who offers twenty rakʿāt on a Saturday night will receive a particular virtue.
Are such prayers recommended in Sharīʿah?
(Your brothers: Noor-ul-Haq and Shaukat)
❖ The Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
✿ The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
Our Noble Prophet ﷺ used to offer forty rakʿāt of prayer daily, including obligatory, Sunnah, and voluntary prayers.
Occasionally, he would offer more due to temporary circumstances.
However, there is no proof of any special prayers for specific months, days, or nights.
These types of prayers are fabricated by ignorant individuals and have no basis in Sharīʿah.
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (رحمه الله) writes in al-Mawḍūʿāt (3/113):"All such narrations are fabricated and have no legal standing."
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) states in al-Manār al-Munīf (p. 95):"The narrations regarding prayers for specific days and nights are fabricated — such as the prayer for Sunday, the prayer for Monday night, the prayer for Saturday night, and the prayer of the first Friday night of Rajab (Ṣalāt al-Raghā’ib). All of these are lies against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
❖ Where Did These Fabricated Prayers Come From?
Such prayers are found in the books Iḥyā’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn by Imām al-Ghazālī, and Ghuniyat al-Ṭālibīn by ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī.
However, Hadith scholars refuted these prayers, including:
◈ Ibn al-Jawzī in al-Mawḍūʿāt (3/113, 143)
◈ Ibn Ḥajar in Tabyīn al-ʿAjab bimā Wurida fī Faḍl Rajab (pp. 12–19)
◈ Imām al-Suyūṭī in al-La’ālī al-Maṣnūʿah (2/290–293)
◈ Ibn ʿIrāq in Tanzīh al-Sharīʿah al-Marfuʿah (2/90–92)
◈ Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Ḥayy al-Lakhnawī in al-Āthār al-Marfuʿah (pp. 290–293)
◈ Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) in al-Silsilah al-Ḍaʿīfah
Conclusion:
◈ The merits associated with prayers during specific months, days, or nights are fabricated and have no basis in Islam.
◈ A Muslim should perform voluntary prayers in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ One must avoid engaging in invented practices and stick to what is authentically reported.
Waṣallallāhu ʿalā Nabiyyinā Muḥammad wa ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajmaʿīn.ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب۔
