In the Name of Allāh, the Entirely Gracious, the Exclusively Merciful

📩 Question:

The questioner says: Is it prescribed to pray the sunnah rawaatib prayers whilst travelling or is it to be left off?

📝 The answer:

The Prophet (ﷺ) did not pray the rawaatib prayers whilst travelling except for the sunnah of the Fajr prayer and the Witr prayer. As for the remaining rawaatib prayers then they are not to be prayed whilst travelling.

Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) saw a group of people praying the supererogatory prayers and so he said:
ما يصنع هؤلاء؟
“What are they doing?”
They said:
"يسبحون"
“Glorifying Allah” i.e. praying the supererogatory (rawaatib) prayers.
He said:
لو كنتُ مسبحا لأتممت صلاتي، صحبت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يزد على ركعتين حتى قبضه الله، وصحبت أبا بكر فلم يزد على ركعتين حتى قبضه الله، وصحبت عمر فلم يزد على ركعتين حتى قبضه الله.
“If I had offered the supererogatory (rawaatib) prayer (while travelling), I would have completed the prayer. I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during a journey, he did not pray more than two raka'at until his death. I also accompanied Abu Bakr, and he prayed two raka'at and nothing more until he died. I also accompanied 'Umar, and he prayed two raka'at and nothing more until he died.”

So ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) disapproved of praying the rawaatib prayers (while travelling). And the Dhuha prayer is not included in this, so if someone dismounts to encamp and wishes to pray, then he can pray. The speech is with regards to the rawaatib prayers, as for the unrestricted supererogatory prayers whenever one wants, then he can do so.

And is one sinful if they pray the rawaatib prayers (while travelling)?
If they are ignorant of it, they should be taught to that they may stop. As for if they know of its ruling however they oppose it intentionally then it is feared for them that they are sinful. And this is due to the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ):
(فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي)
“And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me”

Original Fatwa:
https://t.me/ibnhezam/15689

#Fatwas_on_fiqh
#Fatwas_on_prayer_salah
#Fatwas_on_the_prayer_of_a_traveller

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