Question (Q-29):
In the first sitting (Qa’dah) of Sunnah Rak’āt (units), are we supposed to recite Salawāt upon the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ along with Tashahhud? After the first sitting (Al Qa’dah al ūlā), when we get up, do we recite Thanā, Ta’awwudh and Tasmiyyah?
Answer:
The four Rak’āt Sunnah before the Fardh Rak’āt (units) of ‘Asr and ‘Ishā are not emphasised (Ghair Mu’akkadah). The method of performing these four and also any four Rak’āt Nafl Salāh with one Tahrīmah (i.e with one opening Takbir) is to recite Salawāt ‘alan Nabi after Tashahhud in the first sitting (Qa’dah) and to recite Thanā, Ta’awwudh and Tasmiyyah at the beginning of the third Rak’ah before reciting the Glorious Qur’ān.
The famous Hanafī Fiqh book, Durr ul Mukhtār, states that if in the first sitting (Qa’dah) of a Sunnah Mu’akkadah Sālah, someone forgetfully recites Durūd Sharīf (Salawāt ‘alan Nabi) after At Tashahhud then he must do the prostration of forgetfulness (Sajdah As Sahw). In other Sunnah and Nafl Rak’āt (units) he should recite Durūd Sharīf (Salawāt) after Tashahhud in the first Qa’dah. When he stands for the third Rak’ah, he should commence with Thanā, Ta’awwudh and Tasmiyyah. It is stated in Durr ul Mukhtār,
و في البواقي من ذوات الاربع يصلي علي النبي صلي اللّٰه تعاليٰ عليه وسلم و يستفتح و يتعوذ
“And in the remaining Prayers (besides the Fardh and Sunnah Mu’akkadah) that have four Rak’āt (units), they will recite Salāh upon the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلَيْهِ وَ اٰلِه وَ سَلَّمَ) and will recite Thanā and Ta’awwudh.” (Volume 1, Page 500, Published in Pakistan).
Al ‘Allāmah Ibn Ābidīn Ash Shāmī رحمه الله explains that the reason for this is that in Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah and Nafl Rak’āt (units) each set of two Rak’āt (units) is considered a separate Salāh on its own,
لأن کل شفع صلاة علي حدة
“Because every set of two units is classed as a separate Salāh.” (Radd ul Muhtār, Volume 1, Page 500)
The same is stated in Bahār e Sharī’at, Volume 4, and similarly in Munyat ul Musallī and At Ta’līq Al Mujallī, Page 255 and Page 323.
Allah (تعالى) Knows Best.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
