extend it to the obligatory prayers as well, for whatever is established for one form of prayer applies to another.
Among the texts that support this is the report narrated by Aḥmad (18576) and Ibn Mājah (1352) from Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā, on the authority of his father, who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting in a prayer that was not obligatory. When he came to the mention of Paradise and Hell, he said, ‘I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire, and woe to the people of the Fire.’” Ibn Abī Laylā is a narrator regarding whom criticism has been voiced.
Another report is recorded by Aḥmad (24088) from ʿĀʾishah, who said: “I stood in the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He recited al-Baqarah, al-Nisāʾ, and Āl ʿImrān, and whenever he came to a verse that contained glad tidings, he would supplicate to Allah and earnestly implore Him.”
All of this relates to voluntary prayers, yet there is nothing to prevent its inclusion in the obligatory prayers as well. The juristic principle is that whatever has been legislated for one prayer applies to every other. It is a sound rule that covers the rulings of both kinds of prayer, and only a specific text can exempt a matter from the general evidences.
- Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH) said in his book al-Fawāʾid:
“If you wish to benefit from the Qur’an, then gather your heart while reciting or listening to it, lend it your ear, and attend to it as one who is being personally addressed by the One who spoke it—glorified be He—through His Messenger. For it is a message from Him to you on the tongue of His Messenger. Allah the Exalted says, ‘Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart, or who listens while he is present in mind’ (Qāf 50:37). The ‘heart’ here is the living heart that understands from Allah. ‘Or who listens’ means he directs his hearing and pays close attention. ‘While he is present in mind’ means his heart is witnessing, neither heedless nor distracted. When the effective cause—the Qur’an—meets a receptive, living heart, the condition of attentive listening is fulfilled and the impediments are removed, the benefit is inevitably attained.”