Beyond the Basics: Unlock the Power of Non-Obligatory Prayers
In the life of a Muslim, Salah is a cornerstone of faith, being the second pillar of Islam, it helps us become closer to Allah (SWT). The practice of prioritizing and integrating Allah (SWT) in our daily lives carry a plethora of benefits that are indicative in forms unimaginable, physical exercise in the form of low impact workouts, social prosperity in the form of increased interaction amongst the muslim community in the mosque and so much more are just a few examples of the worldly rewards of Salah.
The short amount of time spent praying are sacred moments of remembrance that provide a much-needed respite from life's demands, fostering a deeper connection with our Creator. Not only does it calm you down, but it also helps you grow spiritually in amazing ways. It purifies the soul and without it, a person’s spiritual essence remains incomplete. As a person who avoids prayer or opts not to prioritize, often experiences spiritual emptiness. The Holy Quran time and time again highlights the cruciality of prayer for example,
“Successful indeed are the believers: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive [khaashi‘oon]” [23:1-2]
Not only does it bring us closer to our Lord, but it also enforces a sense of consciousness of the Lord, it acts as an avid reminder to try our best not to sin, and if we mistakenly do commit a sin, then we should repent at once.
The significance of Salah in our faith is clear, but it's important to note that there are different types of Salah as well, and not all of them are obligatory (fard). It has become common knowledge that Muslims pray five daily obligatory prayers which are known as; Fajr (before dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (late afternoon), Maghrib (at sunset), and Isha (nighttime). But what about the prayers that are non-obligatory?
In Islam, the Holy Quran and the Prophet (PBUH)’s sunnah are the fundamental sources of guidance. While the Quran does not explicitly mention the 5 daily prayers, it does however, imply its obligation. This command is then delineated by the Prophet (PBUH). If we are to further study and understand the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), we can easily interpret the numerous additional forms of worship he used to do to get closer to Allah and increase the amount of good deeds (hasanat) he performed. One example can be; Nafl Prayer. This translates to “optional prayer”. It is a form of non-obligatory prayer that Muslims carry out to gather extra reward, since they are non-obligatory prayers, not performing them is not a form of sin however they do help in increasing your number of good deeds and better your spiritual health. We’ve highlighted some of the additional prayers Muslims can pray to increase spiritual development.
Salat at-Tahajjud (Late-night prayer)
The first type of non-obligatory prayer is called “Salat at-Tahajjud”, also known as “Salat ul-Layl”, which directly translates to “the night prayer”. Though there is no fixed time, it is highly recommended to perform this salah in the final third of the night right before the call to Fajr prayer, as at this time the doors of repentance are wide open and Allah (SWT) descends down to the lowest heaven to be especially close to the ones who call out to him. Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (PBUH) saying,
“Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him?” [Sahih Muslim, 758b]
Tahajjud prayer does not comprise of any specific number of rak’ahs, nor does it have a maximum limit. It is considered fulfilled even if one prays just one rak'ah of Witr after `Ishaa'. Traditionally, it is performed with at least two rak'ahs, followed by Witr, as per the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) before Fajr. Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that Muhammad said:
"Salatul Layl is offered as two rak'at followed by two rak'at and (so on) and if anyone is afraid of the approaching dawn (Fajr prayer) he should pray one rak'at and this will be a Witr for all the rak'at which he has prayed before." [Sahih Bukhari, 990]
The Prophet (PBUH) used to frequently pray Salat at-Tahajjud and encouraged his companions to do the same as participating in this shows your devotion to your Lord and religion. It is utilized as a method of seeking Allah’s forgiveness and redemption.and as a method to gain mental strength and peace, while actively avoiding sinful actions. During this prayer, a believer entrusts the All-Mighty with everything by setting all their worldly concerns upon him and opening the door to receive divine support.
Furthermore, The Quran also mentions the weightage of waking up in the middle of the night to perform prayer,
“And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise” [17:79]
Salat al-Istikhara (Prayer for asking for Guidance/Advice)
In life, we all are faced with moments where we must make drastic decisions. Decisions that will determine the outcome of our future, whether you want to start a business, get married, take up a job offer—--you want to do something and you are confused about it—--we tend to seek guidance.
Seeking guidance can be of 2 types, the one where we consult our friends, family, or professionals in the field. This type of guidance is called “Mushawarah” or “mushwara”. This is also mentioned in the Quran with the wording;
وَأَمۡرُهُمۡ شُورَىٰ بَيۡنَهُمۡ
“and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves,”
It is important we consult those who we trust, the ones who care for us, and those who hone knowledge in the particular matter. While on the other hand, spiritual guidance is the one we seek from our Lord. Allah (SWT) the All Knowing, The Knowledgeable, has much more knowledge than we might ever have. The Quran says,
“even though it be hateful to you; but it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know.” [2:216]
This verse clearly mentions that perhaps the things that seem bad, only feel that way momentarily as they actually hold hidden benefits. Truly, Allah knows what we do not. Hence He facilitated us with a way to ask for his guidance through Salat-ul-isthikhara.
Salat al-Istikhara is another type of non-obligatory prayer which can be considered as an extremely powerful tool Allah (SWT) has blessed us with to ask His guidance in all matters. Setting aside any kind of hesitation, Muslims should aim to pray Salat al-Istikhara before making any choice, whether that be big or small, it is good to gain the Lord’s approval in advance.
Istikhara involves praying two non-obligatory rak'ahs followed by a specific du'a, seeking Allah's guidance after personal effort and consultation with others. These rak'ahs can be woven into our natural daily sunnah, such as the two rak'ahs before Fajr or after Maghrib, or they can be an additional two rak'ahs. The dua for Salat al-Istikhara is as follows:
"O Allah! I seek goodness from Your Knowledge and with Your Power (and Might) I seek strength, and I ask from You Your Great Blessings, because You have the Power and I do not have the power. You Know everything and I do not know, and You have knowledge of the unseen. Oh Allah! If in Your Knowledge this action (which I intend to do) is better for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then make it destined for me and make it easy for me and then add blessings [baraka'] in it, for me. O Allah! In Your Knowledge if this action is bad for me, bad for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and whatever is better for me, ordain [destine] that for me and then make me satisfied with it."
Contrary to popular belief, one may not see the response to the prayer in a dream, instead the response can be noticed by ease created in the path of achieving the end goal. If you notice that the doors are opening one by one, that is a sign by the Lord of the step being positive for you. However, if you notice difficulties abrupting your path, this is also a sign of the Lord’s disapproval, it is Him trying to protect you from the harm you may face if you were to proceed.
Many Muslims prefer to combine the 2 mentioned types of non-obligatory prayers, Salat at-Tahajjud and Salat al-Istikhara, utilizing the peaceful and soundlessness attribute of the late night to silently connect and plead with Allah (SWT) for repentance and guidance. Imagine sitting back on your Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest to comfortably sit back and immerse themselves in connecting with their Lord. The Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest is made with extra foam padding to ensure maximum comfort during your prayers. To top it all off, its foldable and compact feature allows its storage process to be completely hassle-free making it a great addition to your homes.
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