Q: I am one of the envoys sent to
France.
I saw many mistakes made by people who perform Salah in the Masjid (mosque). Some of these include neglecting the Sunnah Ba`diyyah (supererogatory Prayer performed after an obligatory Prayer) of `Isha' (Night) Prayer. In Ramadan they skip this Sunnah and offer Tarawih (special supererogatory night Prayer in Ramadan) directly. Please explain the ruling on this act, may Allah reward you with the best and make people benefit from your knowledge!
A:
The `Isha' Prayer has a Sunnah Ba`diyyah that consists of two Rak`ahs. These Sunnah Prayers are asserted depending on the Hadith of
Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) who said,
I memorized (a tradition) from the Prophet (peace be upon him) of two Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) before Zhuhr Prayer and two after it; two Rak`ahs after Maghrib Prayer, and two Rak`ahs after `Isha' Prayer, and two Rak`ahs before Fajr Prayer.
(Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Furthermore, they are desirable according to the Jumhur (dominant majority of scholars), so abandoning them counts as neglect of the Sunnah Prayers. It should be noted that a person who offers them will be rewarded and the one who neglects them will not be punished.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.