Wisdom Behind the Legislation of Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Sunan Rawatib) Before and After Obligatory Prayers
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the wisdom behind the legislation of Sunan Rawātib (regular Sunnah prayers) before and after the obligatory (farḍ) prayers?
The wisdom behind Sunan Rawātib is that they serve as a means of assistance and support in properly performing the obligatory prayers. A person who continually neglects these Sunnahs may eventually become negligent in the farā’iḍ themselves. Thus, these Sunnahs act as a strong support for the correct observance of the obligatory acts of worship.
"There is profound wisdom in offering Sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory ones.
The Sunnahs before the farḍ prayer help because a person is usually engaged in worldly affairs, which develop a state of mind that hinders presence of heart and khushūʿ (humility and devotion)—which is the essence of worship.
When Sunnahs are offered beforehand, the heart becomes attuned to worship, achieving a state that brings the person closer to humility and inner devotion.
So, when one enters the obligatory prayer, he already has attained a spiritual state that enhances the farḍ prayer—something he would not achieve if he began directly without performing Sunnah. This effect becomes more pronounced with greater regularity and over time.
This new spiritual state either completely replaces or at least weakens the previous heedless condition caused by worldly distractions.
As for the Sunnahs after the farḍ prayers, their wisdom lies in what has been reported in the ḥadīth: ‘The shortcomings in obligatory deeds are compensated for through voluntary (nafl) acts.’
Therefore, after completing the farḍ, it is appropriate to perform actions that will serve as compensation for any deficiencies that may have occurred in the obligatory performance."
[Iḥkām al-Aḥkām Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām, vol. 1, p. 199]
"It is best that a worshipper should never leave the Sunan Rawātib under any circumstance,
because they serve to make up for the deficiencies in the obligatory prayers."
[al-Hidāyah, vol. 1, p. 161]
"The Sunnahs after the obligatory prayer were legislated to compensate for deficiencies, and those before the farḍ were legislated to sever the hopes of Shayṭān."
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār, p. 90]
① Sunnahs Before Farḍ:
② Sunnahs After Farḍ:
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the wisdom behind the legislation of Sunan Rawātib (regular Sunnah prayers) before and after the obligatory (farḍ) prayers?
❖ Answer:
The wisdom behind Sunan Rawātib is that they serve as a means of assistance and support in properly performing the obligatory prayers. A person who continually neglects these Sunnahs may eventually become negligent in the farā’iḍ themselves. Thus, these Sunnahs act as a strong support for the correct observance of the obligatory acts of worship.
✿ The View of ʿAllāmah Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd رحمه الله (d. 702 AH):
"There is profound wisdom in offering Sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory ones.
The Sunnahs before the farḍ prayer help because a person is usually engaged in worldly affairs, which develop a state of mind that hinders presence of heart and khushūʿ (humility and devotion)—which is the essence of worship.
When Sunnahs are offered beforehand, the heart becomes attuned to worship, achieving a state that brings the person closer to humility and inner devotion.
So, when one enters the obligatory prayer, he already has attained a spiritual state that enhances the farḍ prayer—something he would not achieve if he began directly without performing Sunnah. This effect becomes more pronounced with greater regularity and over time.
This new spiritual state either completely replaces or at least weakens the previous heedless condition caused by worldly distractions.
As for the Sunnahs after the farḍ prayers, their wisdom lies in what has been reported in the ḥadīth: ‘The shortcomings in obligatory deeds are compensated for through voluntary (nafl) acts.’
Therefore, after completing the farḍ, it is appropriate to perform actions that will serve as compensation for any deficiencies that may have occurred in the obligatory performance."
[Iḥkām al-Aḥkām Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām, vol. 1, p. 199]✿ The View of ʿAllāmah ʿAlī bin Abī Bakr al-Marghīnānī رحمه الله (d. 593 AH) – Author of
"It is best that a worshipper should never leave the Sunan Rawātib under any circumstance,
because they serve to make up for the deficiencies in the obligatory prayers."
[al-Hidāyah, vol. 1, p. 161]✿ The View of ʿAllāmah al-Ḥaṣkafī al-Ḥanafī رحمه الله (d. 1088 AH):
"The Sunnahs after the obligatory prayer were legislated to compensate for deficiencies, and those before the farḍ were legislated to sever the hopes of Shayṭān."
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār, p. 90]
Summary of Wisdom:
① Sunnahs Before Farḍ:
- Help attain focus and devotion (khushūʿ).
- Act as spiritual preparation for the farḍ prayer.
- Shield against Shayṭān’s whispers and worldly distractions.
② Sunnahs After Farḍ:
- Serve as compensation for possible shortcomings in the farḍ.
- Demonstrate continuation and consistency in devotion.
