Are nafl and Sunnah the same?

Beside the obligatory prayers in Islam ther are what is called nafl and Sunnah, what is the difference between them? Let’s find out.

Obligatory prayers are the five daily prayers, which are: Fajr, Duhr, ASR, Maghrib, and Isha, not performing them is considered a sin. While Sunnah and nafl are optional prayers, not praying them is not a sin and praying them gives you extra rewards.Sunnah and nafl are performed similar to the obligatory prayers, In this article will know are nafl and Sunnah the same?

 

Are nafl and Sunnah the same? 

Sunnah and nafl are similar to each other; they are both performed to worship Allah, and they are not obligatory which means there is no sin for not performing them. However, praying to them grants you many rewards.

Fard: Are the five daily prayers that are obligatory to perform, including: fajr, dhuhr, asr, maghrib, isha.

Sunnah: it is the optional prayer prayed before or after the fard prayers. They are as follows: 2 before fajr, 4 before dhuhr and 2 after, 4 before ASR, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after isha.

Nafl: optional prayers.

Until now we don’t understand the difference between them, we know that they are both optional prayers and we will be rewarded if we perform them. So what is the difference between Sunnah and nafl?

Scholars have different opinions when it comes to this question; some say that they are both the same while others say that Sunnah refers to what the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) did persistently. While nafel is what the prophet did sometimes not always.

Why are Sunnah and nafl Rakats offered?

Ad-Dasooqi al-Maaliki said: Naafil refers in linguistic terms to something extra or additional; in Islamic terminology it refers to that which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did but did not do persistently, i.e., sometimes he did not do it and sometimes he did do it.

It does not mean that he stopped doing it altogether, because one of his characteristics is that if he did a righteous deed he would not stop doing it altogether after that. … With regard to “Sunnah”, in linguistic terms it refers to a way or path; in Islamic terminology it refers to that,

 

which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did openly when he was among a group of people, and he persisted in doing it, but there is no proof to indicate that it is obligatory. Sunnahs that are described as mu’akkadah (confirmed) are those that bring a great deal of reward, such as Witr.

 

Al-Khateeb ash-Sharbeeni ash-Shaafa‘i said: Naafil in linguistic terms refers to something extra; in Islamic terminology it refers to actions other than those which are obligatory. They are so called because they are extra to what Allah, may He be exalted, has made obligatory. Naafil is similar to Sunnah, mandoob (recommended), mustahabb (encouraged) and so on. This is the well-known view.

Do you have to pray Sunnah and nafl?

No you don’t have to pray Sunnah and nafl, they are not obligatory prayers but optional. Meaning that not committing them is not a sin, while performing them will grant the performer with many rewards.

What is the difference between Sunnah and Fard?

Fard or obligatory prayers are the prayers that we are obligated to pray, not praying them is a sin. And Fard prayers are: fajr, dhuhr, ASR, Maghrib, isha.

Whilst Sunnah means the optional prayers that there is no sin in not performing them and many rewards when being performed. Sunnah include: 2 before fajr, 4 before dhuhr and 2 after, 4 before ASR, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after isha.

What is nafl?

Nafl is an optional prayer that Muslims pray voluntarily to get closer to Allah and be rewarded. Not performing them is not a sin. Additionally some say that when you pray more nafl prayers you will get more rewards. Nafl prayers include many prayers, here are some of them:

• Al-Tahajjud or the night prayer: this one is performed in the middle of the night and it is prefered that after you pray isha sleep for a while then wake up in the middle of the night and perform al-tahajjud. This nafl prayer is performed in two rakats and its total number is 12 in addition to one witr rakat.
• Salat al-Ishraq: this prayer is performed after Fajr, about 20-45 minutes after sunrise.
• Salat ad-Duha: this is another nafl prayer performed after the one third of the day pass.
• And Salat al-Awwabin: this salah is performed after praying maghrib and it is performed in two rakat, the total number of rakat ranges from 6 to 20 rakats.

Is tahajjud Sunnah or nafl?

As we said above tahajjud is one of the nafl prayers that is performed in the middle of the night. Pray Isha, sleep for a while then wake up in the middle of the night, make wudu and pray as much as you can. You don’t have to pray all the 12 rakat.

How to pray nafl?

You pray similar to the way you pray obligatory prayers; it is prefered to pray it in two rakats. But if you like to pray it in four rakat you can do so.

 

Difference between Sunnah and mustahab

Fard or obligatory prayers are the prayers that we are obligated to pray, not praying them is a sin. And Fard prayers are: fajr, dhuhr, ASR, Maghrib, isha.

Whilst Sunnah means the optional prayers that there is no sin in not performing them and many rewards when being performed. Sunnah include: 2 before fajr, 4 before dhuhr and 2 after, 4 before ASR, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after isha.

Sunnah, mustahab they are both similar. The point of performing them is to get closer to Allah and seek forgiveness. Performing these prayers grant the person with many rewards.

Is taraweeh Sunnah or nafl?

Taraweeh is a nafl prayer and it is performed in Ramadan after Isha, the messenger of Allah, used to pray it everyday throughout Ramadan. But they are not obligatory, taraweeh is an optional prayer.

How many Sunnah prayers in a day?

The total number of Sunnah prayer is 12 Rakat divided on the five daily prayers as follows:

• 2 before fajr
• 4 before dhuhr and 2 after.
• 4 before ASR.
• 2 after Maghrib.
• 2 after isha.

Difference between Sunnah and hadith

• Sunnah is always authentic while Hadith can be authentic as well as spurious.
• Hadith have been written and interpreted by scholars of Islam. Thus, these are dependent upon their ways of thinking, their character, and their memory and intellect.
• Sunnah has been passed on from one generation to another, so there is little chance of any error.
• Sunnah is related to certain aspects of life while Hadith is not confined to certain aspects of life.

Rakat fard and Sunnah

Fard or obligatory prayers are the prayers that we are obligated to pray; not praying them is a sin. And Fard prayers are: fajr, dhuhr, ASR, Maghrib, isha.

Sunnah prayer consists of 12 rakat divided on the five daily prayers as follows:

• 2 before fajr
• 4 before dhuhr and 2 after.
• 4 before ASR.
• 2 after Maghrib.
• 2 after isha.