Performing the Sunnah in the place of the obligatory prayer
Question: Is it proper to pray the Sunnah prayers in the same place where the obligatory prayer was offered? Please answer in the light of the Quran and Hadith.
Answer: Once the obligatory prayer has been performed, one should change one’s place to offer the voluntary prayers, or speak something, so that there is a separation between the obligatory and the voluntary prayer. Without making a separation, the Sunnah and voluntary prayers should not be offered in the same place, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded:
أَنْ لَا نُوْصِلُ صَلٰوۃً بِصَلَاۃٍ حَتّٰی نَتَکَلَّمَ أَوْ نَخْرُجَ
“We should not join a prayer to another prayer until we speak or leave the place.”
It is understood from this that after offering the obligatory prayer, the Sunnah may be prayed in the same place provided that some speech has been made after the obligatory prayer; in this way, the Sunnah may also be offered after changing the place. Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarded changing the place as preferable, so that the places of prostration become more numerous.
