even if he does not come early except on Friday, there is nothing wrong with that.

Thus, there is a difference between one who performs ablution in order to pray during a prohibited time—in which case he may not pray—and one who performs ablution for some purpose other than prayer, concerning whom we say: if you have performed ablution, then pray. The same applies to the mosque-greeting prayer: there is a difference between one who enters the mosque in order to offer the mosque-greeting prayer during a prohibited time and one who enters it for another purpose, after which we instruct him to offer the mosque-greeting prayer, due to the Prophet’s saying: “Actions are only by intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended.” (1)

Benefit: Matters in which voluntary prayers differ from obligatory prayers:

1. The obligatory prayers were prescribed for the Prophet while he was in heaven on the Night Journey and Ascension, unlike voluntary prayers, which were prescribed like the rest of the laws of Islam.

2. It is prohibited to discontinue an obligatory prayer without an excuse, unlike a voluntary prayer.

3. One who abandons an obligatory prayer is sinful, unlike one who abandons a voluntary prayer.

4. Obligatory prayers are limited in number, whereas voluntary prayers have no fixed limit.

5. Obligatory prayers are performed in the mosque, whereas voluntary prayers are better performed at home, except for those that have been exempted. (2)

6. A voluntary prayer may be performed on a riding animal without necessity, unlike an obligatory prayer. (3)

7. An obligatory prayer is prescribed for a specific time, whereas voluntary prayers include both those prescribed for particular times and those not tied to a particular time.

8. While travelling, facing the qiblah is not a condition for a voluntary prayer, unlike an obligatory prayer. (4)