Q 4:
some people claim that the supererogatory Salah offered after the Maghrib (sunset) Prayer is not obligatory.
Is this claim true?
A:
Offering two Rak`ahs after the Maghrib Prayer is not obligatory; it is an act of Sunnah according to the Hadith mentioned in this regard. Among them is the Hadith narrated by
`Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said,
I remember from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he used to perform two Rak`ahs before Zhuhr and two Rak`ahs afterwards, two Rak`ahs after Maghrib, two Rak`ahs after `Isha', and two Rak`ahs before Fajr, a time when nobody would enter the house of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Hafsah related to me that when the time of Fajr begins and the Mu'dhin calls the Adhan, he (peace be upon him) performed two Rak`ahs.
(Part No. 7; Page No. 254)
Narrated by
Ahmad,
Al-Bukhari, and
Muslim.
Moreover, on the authority of
Um Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), who reported by
Al-Nasa'y and
Al-Tirmidhy, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed four Rak`ahs before Zhuhr Prayer.
This Hadith is classified as authentic by
Al-Tirmidhy.
Also,
Al-Bukhari
narrated on the authority of
`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said
The Prophet (peace be upon him) never missed four (Rak`ahs) before the Zhuhr Prayer.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.