ONE HADITH A DAY

Whoever regularly observes four Rak‘ahs before Zhuhr and four after it, Allah will make him forbidden to Hellfire

Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasā’i, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad · Authentic

عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ رضي الله عنها زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالت: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَأَرْبَعٍ بَعْدَهَا حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ».

“’Umm Habībah, the Prophet's wife, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever regularly observes four Rak‘ahs before Zhuhr and four after it, Allah will make him forbidden to Hellfire."”

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave glad tidings to one who constantly and regularly offers four voluntary Rak‘ahs before the Zhuhr prayer and four voluntary Rak‘ahs after it that Allah will make him forbidden to Hellfire.

Benefits

• It is recommended to offer four Rak‘ahs before Zhuhr and four after it regularly.
• The regular Sunnah prayers offered before the obligatory prayer have several rationales: one of which is getting oneself prepared for worship before starting the obligatory prayer. As for those offered after the obligatory prayer, one of their rationales is to make up for any shortcomings occurring in the obligatory prayers.
• The regular Sunnah prayers have great benefits, such as increasing good deeds, expiating sins, and raising degrees.
• The basic rule of Ahl-us-Sunnah regarding the Hadīths of the divine promise, like this Hadīth: They are to be interpreted as applying to those who die on Tawhīd (monotheism). The intended meaning is that they will not remain in Hellfire forever because the sinner from among the monotheists is deserving of punishment but will not be eternally condemned to Hellfire if he is punished.

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