Amongst the Forsaken Sunan (Recommend acts)

By Shaikh: Abdul Aziz Muhammad As-Sadhaan

First Khutbah:

In the past Khutbah, we have mentioned some of the Sunan (i.e. recommended acts of worship) that many people have forsaken and rarely offer. To complete what was previously touched upon, we say:

Amongst the Sunan that become rarely offered is performing An-Nawaafil (i.e. supererogatory acts of worship) at home. There are many texts that encourage doing that. It was narrated on the authority of Zayd ibn Thaabit, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "O people, pray in your houses, for the best of prayer is a man’s prayer in his house, apart from the prescribed prayers.”  [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Furthermore, it was narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “When any one of you finishes his prayer in his mosque, let him give his house a share of his prayer, for Allaah will create something good in his house from his prayer.”  [Reported by Muslim]

What actually confirms the multiplication of the reward of offering supererogatory prayer in one's house is the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him: "Man’s voluntary prayer, where people do not see him, is twenty five times as equal as that which he performs publicly." [Reported by Abu Ya‘la]

This implies many educational interests for children. That is because when children see their father offers prayer in his house, they will imitate him in all of his actions.

My fellow Muslims, amongst the Sunan that many people do not know is reciting whatever Du‘aa' (i.e. supplication of Allaah The Almighty) one likes after finishing the first Tashahhud (i.e. particular recitation while in sitting posture in Prayer). While offering prayer, some remain silent when they finish reciting Tashahhud while the Imam (i.e. one who leads them in prayer) still in the sitting posture; rather, they feel shy to say something more than the words of Tashahhud. In this regard, it is recommended to recite the supplications that one likes for it was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "When you sit after every two Rak‘ahs, then say: At-tahiyyaat al-tayyibaat As-salawaatu Lillaahi (All compliments, blessed words, prayers, pure words are due to Allaah ..." Until he, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "And that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger and then each of you should select the supplication he likes best and supplicate Allaah." [Reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i]

My fellow Muslims, amongst the Sunan that many Muslims neglected is prolonging time after raising head from bowing and prostration. Many people offer the second prostration quickly after raising head from the first one. This act is actually included in the dispraised hastiness, and one should do the opposite of it because it is one of the forsaken recommended acts in prayer. It was narrated that Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "While leading you in prayer I do not shorten anything in the prayer. I pray as I saw the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, leading us. He (Thaabit), may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Anas used to do something which I do not see you doing; when he lifted his head from bowing he stood up (so long) that one would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration). And when he lifted his head from prostration, he stayed in that position, till someone would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration for the second Sajda)." [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: This Sunnah was forsaken by many people after the time of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, came to a close. The one who adheres firmly to the Sunnah and does not care about those who goes against it should not pay much heed to what goes against such guidance." End quote

Amongst the Sunan that are rarely offered; rather, they are forsaken and may people do not know is using different wordings of Tasleem when finishing prayer. The well known and most done wording is As-Saalaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmat-Allaah (i.e. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah) to one's right and left. However, it was authentically narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, sometimes used to recite Tasleem to his right and left hand saying: As-Saalaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmat-Allaah wa Barakaatuh (i.e. Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allaah). In some other times, he, peace and blessing be upon him, used to recite Tasleem on his right hand saying: As-Saalaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmat-Allaah wa Barakaatuh, and to his left hand saying: As-Saalaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmat-Allaah. There are some other wordings scholars have mentioned while describing the prayer of Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him.

My fellow Muslims, amongst the Sunan that many people do not know regarding the Janaazah (i.e. Funeral prayer) is reciting a Soorah after Al-Faatihah. It was narrated that Talhah ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Awf, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:  "I prayed behind Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with them, in a funeral prayer and he recited Soorat Al-Faatihah and another Soorah aloud and after completing the prayer, I caught his hand and asked him (about that). He replied: "I have recited them loudly to know that this act is Sunnah and truth." [Reported by An-Nasaa'i, Ibn Al-Jaarood, and Al-Haakim with similar wordings].

Second Khutbah:

My fellow Muslims, amongst the other Sunan that are related to Janaazah (i.e. Funeral prayer) and many people do not know is reciting Du‘aa' after the fourth Takbeer. When imam makes the fourth Takbeer, some people remain silent until the imam recites Tasleem. The correct thing is that one should make Du‘aa' after it. This is based on a narration on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Abi Awfa, may Allaah be pleased with him, who made four Takbeers. After the fourth Takbeer, he stood supplicating for as much as he did in between the other Takbeers. Then he said: "The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, used to do the same in a funeral prayer. [Reported by Al-Bayhaqi and others]

My fellow Muslims, amongst the other Sunan that are related to Funeral prayer is to recite more than four Takbeers. It was narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam made five Takbeers in a Funeral prayer and said the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, did the same. [Reported by Muslim]

Also, it was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn Az-Zubayr, may Allaah be pleased with them, said:  "(On the day of Uhud), the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, offered the funeral prayer for Hamzah and said Takbeer nine times." [Reported by At-Tahaawi and has many other witnesses]

It was also narrated that ‘Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, offered Funeral prayer for Abu Qataadah, who participated in the battle of Badr, and made Takbeer seven times. [At-Tahaawi and Al-Baihaqi collected this statement, using as authentic chain of narration that follows the conditions set by Imam Muslim]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "All these are authentic narrations, and therefore, reciting more than four Takbeers should not be rejected. The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, did not forbid reciting more than four Takbeers. To the contrary, he peace and blessing be upon him, and his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, after him, practiced this. 

My fellow Muslims, amongst the other Sunan that are related to Funeral prayer is to make Tasleem exactly in the same way of the obligatory prayer. It is well-known that people make one Tasleem in the funeral prayer as it was reported in Sunnah. However, it was also reported that Sunnah stated making Tasleem two times, one to the right and the other to left. It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Three qualities the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, used to do while people have abandoned’, one of them (he said was) ‘making Tasleem in Funeral prayer like the Tasleem in normal prayer." [Reported by Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabaraani and An-Nawawi said, it has a good chain of narrators, and Al-Albaani deemed it Hasan (good) Hadeeth]

Amongst the forsaken Sunan that are related to wind storm and rain is reciting invocations when wind storm blows. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "It is Allaah's mercy; it (sometimes) brings blessing and (sometimes) brings punishment. So when you see it, do not revile it, but ask Allaah for its goodness and take refuge with Allaah from its evil." [Reported by Imam Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

It was also narrated that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "When the wind blew strongly, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, used to say,  “O Allaah, I ask You for its good and the good of what is in it and the good of what it is sent with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what is in it and the evil of what it is sent with.” [Reported by Muslim]

Amongst the Sunan that are rarely performed when it rains uncovering head when it rains so that rain may touch the head. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, and his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to uncover their heads with the first drop comes from the sky during that year.”

Amongst the Sunan that are attached to rains and many people do not know is making Du‘aa' while rain is falling. It was proved that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, used to say when rain falls: "O Allaah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain." [Reported by Al-Bukhaari]

In another narration reported by Abu Daawood and others, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "O Allaah! Let it be a beneficial downpour."

Moreover, amongst the other recommended invocations said when it rains is that it was narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "We have been given rain by the grace and Mercy of Allaah The Almighty." [Reported by Al-Bukhaari]

My fellow Muslims, amongst the Sunan that many people do not know is prohibition of keeping looking at the flaming fire strikes. This was proved by what was reported by Imam Ahmad and Al-Haakim with an authentic Sanad from Muhammad Ibn Sireen, may Allaah have mercy upon him, who said: "We were with Abu Qataadah, may Allaah be pleased with him, on the roof of our house. He saw a flaming fire strikes. They keep looking at it. Upon this Abu Qataadah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "We were prohibited to keep looking at it with our eyes." His saying: "We were prohibited", meaning, according to the majority of the scholars, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, prohibited us.

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