Chapter: Voluntary Prayers and the Sunnahs
Every prayer performed in addition to the five obligatory ones is a supererogatory act (nafilah), part of the voluntary devotions. Some of these voluntary prayers are classified as sunnah, and within the sunnahs certain ones carry more weight than others. The degree of emphasis is known by the Messenger of Allah’s—peace and blessings be upon him—constant observance of a given practice. The most strongly emphasised sunnahs are those he offered in congregation: the two ʿEid prayers, the prayer for rain (istisqāʾ), and the solar-eclipse prayer. To the same category belongs witr, which is part of the night vigil; its prescribed time extends from the completion of ʿIshāʾ until one performs the dawn prayer (Ṣubḥ).
It is permissible during the night prayers to pronounce the iqāmah and pray in congregation, even though praying alone is preferable. The two rakʿahs of Fajr are likewise among the sunnahs the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—maintained without fail. Some have said that these two rakʿahs are not sunnah but merely desirable supererogatory prayers, yet the sound position is what we have just stated.
Performing witr after the break of dawn is permissible, but once the obligatory Ṣubḥ prayer has been offered no further prayer may be performed. Delaying witr until dawn is disliked; the last portion of the night is superior for all of the night vigil, witr included, for anyone who is able.
The time for the two rakʿahs of Fajr begins with true dawn and lasts until the obligatory Ṣubḥ prayer. Whoever offers one or both rakʿahs before dawn has not fulfilled them.
Standing in prayer during the nights of Ramadan (qiyām Ramaḍān) is a sunnah. The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—initiated it but then discontinued it for fear that it might become obligatory upon his community. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, may Allah be pleased with him, re-instituted it in the presence of the Companions, and no one objected; they all agreed to practise it, in keeping with his—peace and blessings be upon him—statement: “Hold fast to my sunnah and the sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs…”