HADEES - ~ Their Significance, Supererogatory Prayers

At-tatawwu', or nawafil or supererogatory prayers, have been
legislated to make up for any deficiencies left in the performance of
fard salah (obligatory prayers). In salah, there are virtues that are
not found in any other form of worship. Abu Hurairah reports that the
Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "The first thing that the
people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will
be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the angels although He knows
better: 'Look into the salah of my servant to see if he observed it
perfectly or been negligent in it. So if he observed it perfectly it
will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in
any way, Allah would say: See if My servant has any supererogatory
prayers. Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say:
Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his
supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined
in like manner" (Abu Dawud).
Abu Umamah narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said:
"Allah does not listen to anything from His slave as He does to the
two rak'at (of prayer)that he offers. Mercy descends over the
servant's head as long as he remains in prayer" (Ahmad and
at-Tirmizhi). As-Sayuti gradesit sahih. In al-Muwatta', Malik says:
"It has reached me that the Prophet said: '(Try to) keep to
thestraight path although you won'tbe able to do so completely; and
know that the best of your deedsis the salah, and only a (true)
believer preserves his wudu.'" Muslim records from Rabi'ah ibn Malik
al-Aslami that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said:"Ask
(anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companionin
paradise." The Prophet said:"Or anything else?" Rabi'ah said:"That is
it." The Prophet sallallahualehi wasallam said to him: "Thenhelp me by
making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)."

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