Project "Revive a Sunnah" Week 10

Week 10: December 8th-15th 2006
(17th-24th of Dhul Qa'dah 1427 AH)

Alhumdulillah, Project "Revive a Sunnah" has reached its' tenth week. The question is: What role did you play in this project so far?
Insha Allah, I hope you have at least forwarded some of these e-mails to your friends and/or family.

Another way you could help this project is by nominating a sunnah to be revived. I personally keep a list of the sunnahs to be revived, and every time new sunnah comes to my mind, I quickly write it down (so that I don't forget). A couple of weeks ago, someone suggested a sunnah to be revived through the on-line blog. Since I did not have this sunnah written down, I quickly added it to my list.
The end result: This is going to be the sunnah to be revived for this week, insha Allah.

Can you imagine the reward this person will receive, as this project is communicated to hundreds of people? I encourage every one of you to take an active role in this project, so that you may gain an abundant reward, insha Allah. And never forget to make your intentions only for the sake of Allah.

The sunnah to be revived this week is related to the sunnah/nawafil prayers. Most of us offer our sunnahs/nawafil prayers in the Masjid (when we go to the Masjid). However, the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) advised us to pray our sunnahs/nawafil at home.

From the Ahadith:

1.
Related Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "If one of you offers his prayers in the Mosque then he should make a portion of his prayers in his house, as Allah has made his prayers in his house a means of betterment (for him)."
[Ahmad and Muslim]

2.
'Umar related that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "The nawafil salah of a man in his house are a light; whoever wishes should lighten up his house." [Ahmad]

3.
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Make some of your prayers in your houses and do not turn your houses into graves." [Ahmad and Abu Dawud]

4.
Recorded from Zaid ibn Thabit on sound authority that the Messenger of Allah said: "A person's salah in his house is better than his salah in my mosque, except for the fard salah." [Abu Dawud]

From the Scholars:

The author of Riyadh-us-Saliheen, Imam an-Nawawi said: "The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) encouraged one to offer nawafl in one's house because then the prayers are more private and will have less of a chance of being done for show and will be free from defects that vitiate good deeds. Furthermore, this will be a blessing for the house as mercy and angels will descend on it while Satan flees from it."

A number of virtues/benefits have been mentioned about offering the sunnahs/nawafil prayers. It should be clear to us by now that it is much better to offer the supererogatory prayers at home. Therefore, let's revive this sunnah for the sake of Allah, insha Allah.

You are most welcome to direct any Feedback/Comments/Suggestions/Nominations to albosnawi@gmail.com

May Allah reward you all.
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Wa Salaamu Alaykoum,

Kemal Smajlovic