Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Masajid ka Bayan, vol. 1, p. 101
Is it better to perform nafl (voluntary) prayers at home? If it is better, does this also apply to the Masjid Nabawi and Baytullah (where prayer rewards are multiplied by thousands and hundreds of thousands)? Please clarify.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ clearly stated the principle regarding voluntary prayers:
«فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ صَلاَۃِ الْمَرْئِ فِيْ بَیْتِہٖ إِلاَّ الْمَکْتُوْبَةَ»
(Sahih al-Bukhari – Kitab al-I‘tisam bil-Kitab wa’s-Sunnah, Bab Mā Yukrahu min Kathrat as-Su’āl)
Translation:
"The best prayer of a person is the one performed in his house, except for the obligatory prayer."
❀ In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ declared that all prayers other than the obligatory should preferably be performed at home.
❀ This ruling is general, applying equally to Masjid Nabawi ﷺ in Madinah and all other mosques.
❀ In fact, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged praying nafl at home while living in Madinah, despite the unmatched virtue of praying in Masjid Nabawi ﷺ.
❀ The virtues of prayer in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram are authentic and well-established.
❀ However, regarding nafl prayers, the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ is that they are better performed at home—whether in a local mosque or in a mosque of great sanctity.
In light of the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings, performing nafl prayers at home is more virtuous than performing them even in Masjid Nabawi ﷺ or Masjid al-Haram—despite the great reward promised for prayers in those mosques.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَالله أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
Question
Is it better to perform nafl (voluntary) prayers at home? If it is better, does this also apply to the Masjid Nabawi and Baytullah (where prayer rewards are multiplied by thousands and hundreds of thousands)? Please clarify.
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ clearly stated the principle regarding voluntary prayers:
«فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ صَلاَۃِ الْمَرْئِ فِيْ بَیْتِہٖ إِلاَّ الْمَکْتُوْبَةَ»
(Sahih al-Bukhari – Kitab al-I‘tisam bil-Kitab wa’s-Sunnah, Bab Mā Yukrahu min Kathrat as-Su’āl)
Translation:
"The best prayer of a person is the one performed in his house, except for the obligatory prayer."
Meaning and Application of the Hadith
❀ In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ declared that all prayers other than the obligatory should preferably be performed at home.
❀ This ruling is general, applying equally to Masjid Nabawi ﷺ in Madinah and all other mosques.
❀ In fact, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged praying nafl at home while living in Madinah, despite the unmatched virtue of praying in Masjid Nabawi ﷺ.
Nafl Prayers and Places of Great Virtue
❀ The virtues of prayer in Masjid Nabawi and Masjid al-Haram are authentic and well-established.
❀ However, regarding nafl prayers, the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ is that they are better performed at home—whether in a local mosque or in a mosque of great sanctity.
Conclusion
In light of the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings, performing nafl prayers at home is more virtuous than performing them even in Masjid Nabawi ﷺ or Masjid al-Haram—despite the great reward promised for prayers in those mosques.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَالله أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
