Q 2: What is the ruling on a woman who spent several years offering the obligatory Salah but did not offer Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units) and the supererogatory Salah?

A: Those who abandon supererogatory Salah and Witr will not be punished for it nor are they guilty, but they miss the abundant and great reward. A person should be keen on offering the supererogatory acts of worship and Witr, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did, especially Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib (supererogatory acts that were stressed and regularly performed by the Prophet) which are performed before and after Salah. It is reported that Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib complete the shortcomings of the obligatory Salah. Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim and others related on the authority of Tamim Al-Dary that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The first thing about which the people will be called to account out of their actions on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is perfect, that will be recorded perfect. If it is defective, Allah will say to His angels: See if there are optional prayers to his credit, to compensate the obligatory prayer by the optional prayer for My servant. The servant will be reckoned for Zakah in the same way. Then all the actions will be considered similarly. Moreover, observing the supererogatory Salah is a sign of good, a cause to draw near to Allah, by which Allah helps His servants and answers their supplications. Al-Bukhari and Imam Ahmad related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (Part No. 6; Page No. 116) (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah the Almighty has said: "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it..." It is obligatory upon every Muslim to maintain offering Witr because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not quit performing it in residence or travel.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.