Optional Prayers

Abū Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said: “Allah the Exalted says: I declare war against one who bears enmity towards a friend of Mine. When a servant of Mine comes closer to Me, with a thing which I love, out…

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August 16, 2022

Abū Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said: “Allah the Exalted says: I declare war against one who bears enmity towards a friend of Mine. When a servant of Mine comes closer to Me, with a thing which I love, out of things which I have prescribed; and when he seeks My favour through optional prayers (Nawafil), I start loving him, I become his ear with which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks, and when he requests Me for anything, I grant him and when he seeks protection, I give him protection.”

(Bukhari)

The hadīth highlights the importance of optional prayers (Nawafil), which is one of the best means of man’s coming closer to the Lord Almighty. Here the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) says that Allah loves optional prayers. It is so because man performs these optional prayers besides the obligatory prayers. He is not duty bound to say optional prayers. But just to seek the pleasure of Allah the believer spares at least some time from his busy schedule to remember Allah through optional prayers. When he does so, Allah begins to love him. The expression that Allah becomes his ears means that he likes to hear only what Allah permits and shuns all that He forbids. Similarly, he sees only what is permissible and keeps from what is forbidden; he uses his hands and feet only in accordance with the teachings of Allah and His Blessed Messenger. When such a person requests Allah for anything, He grants him his prayer. And when he seeks protection, Allah gives him protection.