Asalaamu'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuhu Dear Sisters
I start by asking you, when was the last time you prayed all of the sunnah prayers or the nawafil (superogatory)?! When was the last time you made the extra effort & the extra time in the way of your Lord Azzawjaal? Subhan'Allaah if only we TRULY knew the reward of performing such acts we would hasten to do them with very little thought.
The Muslimah who truly strives to please her Lord doesn't limit herself to the five obligatory daily prayers. She pushes herself to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (Alayhi Sallam) & his wives (May Allaah be pleased with them) in making sure that she performs the rawaatib (the 12 sunnah prayers), and prays as many nafl prayers as her time and energy allow. Such prayers include salaat ad-duha, witr & the night prayers.
A muslimah who aspires to be a woman of Jannah performs these prayers which earn her the love and pleasure of Allaah azzawajaal. It brings her closer to Him & makes her one of the obedient and righteous slaves. Allaah azzawajaal Himself tells us in hadeeth qudsi the great status attained by the one who performs nafl deeds. He tabaraka wa ta'ala says:
"My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory deeds so that I will love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, hishand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it."
Allaahu Akbar! What a great honour and status to achieve! To be loved by The Lord of heavens & the earth. Dear sisters, isn't this the status we all wish to reach and have with Allaah azzawajaal?! By performing nafl deeds, whether it be 2 or more raakats in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd part of the night or performing the nawafil prayers after you have prayed the sunnah of the daily prayers. Not only do you earn the love of Allaah through performing nafl deeds. Allaah has promised us a house in Jannah if we perform the 12 sunnah prayers! Such a small act to perform yet such a great reward Allaahu Akbaar.
The 12 Sunnah Prayers (ar-Rawaatib )are: 2 Before Fajr,
4 before Dhuhr & 2 after
2 after Maghrib
2 after Ishaa
Set an example for others dear sisters! If your married & you find your husband falling short of performing such acts then by you performing them you would be his motivation & encouragement, advise him through your actions before your speech. Same with your children, such a great example to set for them to follow. Sisters who are not married, set an example for your siblings. Be the person who serves as form of motivation and encouragement for others in and outside your household to get closer to Allaah. By Allaah if someone performs a good deed because of you, the reward they gain will reach you also.
Now we know that performing the sunnah and nawafil prayers will gain us a great status of Allaah azzawajaal and earn us His love & pleasure but Allaah azzawajaal doesn't stop there... When Allaah loves His slave that person will be loved by the inhabitants of Jannah AND on earth! We find this in a hadeeth:
"When Allaah loves one of His servants, He calls Jibril and tells him: `I love so-and-so,so love him.' Then Jibril will love him, and will proclaim to the inhabitants of heaven: `Allaah loves so-and-so, so love him.' So the inhabitants of heaven will love him too, and he will be well accepted by the inhabitants of the earth. If Allaah hates one of His servants, He calls Jibril and tells him: `I hate so-and-so, so hate him.' Then Jibril will hate him and will proclaim to the inhabitants of heaven: `Allaah hates so-and-so, so hate him.' Then the inhabitants of heaven will hate him and he will also be detested by theinhabitants of earth." Saheeh Muslim
Do we not aspire to be like the mothers of the believers (May Allaah be pleased with them all) The wives of the prophet (Alayhi sallaatu wa Sallam) used to perform nafl prayers regularly and make them lengthy. A woman named al-Hawlaa bint Tuwayt from Banu Asad used to pray all night and never sleep! Until the prophet (Alayhi sallaatu wa salaam) advised her to pray only as much as she can.
Dear sisters, perhaps you could start off with performing the sunnah & nafl prayer after only one of the fard prayers to start with. Once you become used to it then start praying another and another until you find yourself performing all the prescribed sunnah & nawafil after the fard. Note: Salatul Fajr does not have any sunnah or nafl prayer after it. Concerning Salatul Asr there is difference of opinion in regards to performing 2 sunnah rakkah after Salaatul Asr. Allaah knows best
Dear sisters, be consistent and do not become lazy in performing such acts. Indeed most believed to Allaah azzawajaal are acts which are continuous even if they are small. "The most beloved deed to Allaah is that which is continuous, even if it is little.If `A'ishah started to do something, she would adhere to it."
Do we not wish to be like Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her? This attitude was not confined to Aa'ishah alone. It was the attitude of all members of the prophet (Alayhi sallaatu wa sallaam) household.
Let's strive to be amongst those who earn the love of their Lord and His pleasure and amongst those who are loved in the heavens and on earth. For surely becoming a woman of Jannah is only possible through dedication & determination in pleasing Allaah azzawajaal and doing everything that pleases His Majesty.
I remind myself before any of you & I ask Allaah to make us all amongst those who are keen in performing the nawafil deeds and following the sunnah. Aameen thumma Aameen
Love you all for His sake
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