ভূমিকা

📌Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Sunan An-Nabi Chapter 16: The Adab of Salat (Ritual Prayer) In al-Kafi: Narrated from al-Fud’ail ibn Yasar and ‘Abdul Malik and Bukayr who said: We heard Aba ‘Abdillah (as) saying: The Holy Prophet (S) used to pray twice as many supererogatory prayers as the obligatory prayers and he used to fast twice as many supererogatory fasts as the obligatory fasts.[^1] Note: This has also been narrated by Shaykh Tusi.[^2] Also: Narrated from Hannan who said: ‘Amr ibn Harith asked Aba ‘Abdillah (as) while I was sitting (there): “May I be your ransom!

Tell me about the prayer of the Noble Prophet (S).” He (as) said: “The Holy Prophet (S) used to pray eight rak’ahs at midday and four (rak’ahs) in the first prayer (i.e. the Dhuhr prayer), then eight (rak’ahs) after this and four in the ‘Asr prayer. Three (rak’ahs) in Maghrib prayer, four after Maghrib, then four (rak’ahs) in ‘Isha prayer, eight for night prayers and then three for Witr. And (he prayed) two rak’ahs at dawn and two for the Fajr prayer.” I said: “May I be your ransom!

📌What if I am able to perform more than these - will Allah chastise me for praying more?” He replied: “No, but He will chastise you for abandoning the sunnah .” ^3 In al-Tahdhib: In his narration from Husayn ibn Sa’id from Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Abi ‘Abdillah (as) who said: The Holy Prophet (S) would pray the utmah [^4] prayer and then he would go to sleep.[^5] Note: There are numerous similar narrations but we will suffice with this one.

It is apparent from this narration that the utmah is considered to be separate from the fifty (daily prayers consisting of the daily obligatory and nawafil prayers). Its two rak’ahs, (performed while sitting) are counted as one rak’ah and it was prescribed as a precautionary replacement for the Witr prayer - in case someone dies in his sleep before being able to perform the Witr.

Al-Saduq has narrated in al-’Ilal: Narrating from Abi Basir from Abi ‘Abdillah (as) who said: The one who believes in Allah and the day of reckoning should not sleep until after having performed the Witr.

✦ ✦ ✦