Salat al-Tatawwu
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Matba'at Safīr
Salat al-Tatawwu (Arabic: صلاة التطوع, lit. 'Voluntary Prayer') is a concise legal treatise on supererogatory prayer in Islam by the Saudi scholar Saeed bin Wahf al-Qahtani (d. 1440 AH / 2018 CE), examining its definition, virtues, divisions, types, and rulings through textual evidence from the Quran and Sunnah .
Title and Composition
The full title of the work is Salat al-Tatawwu: Mafhum, wa-Fada'il, wa-Aqsam, wa-Anwa', wa-Adab fi Daw' al-Kitab wa-l-Sunnah ("Voluntary Prayer: Concept, Virtues, Divisions, Types, and Etiquettes in the Light of the Quran and Sunnah") . It was published as the twenty-eighth booklet in al-Qahtani's comprehensive series of Islamic monographs . The author completed writing the treatise before sunset on Saturday, 20 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1420 AH (February 26, 2000 CE) .
Scope and Method
In his introduction, al-Qahtani states that the book is intended as a concise manual covering all necessary jurisprudence (fiqh) regarding non-obligatory prayers for Muslims . The methodology of the book relies strictly on deducing legal rulings from the Quran and authentic Prophetic traditions, with substantial reliance on the legal determinations and preferences (taqrirat wa-tarjihat) of his teacher, the Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baz .
Contents
The treatise begins by defining tatawwu' linguistically as an act of voluntary obedience and technically as any voluntary worship that a Muslim undertakes of their own accord without it being legally binding .
The work then details the virtues of voluntary prayers, citing textual proofs showing that:
- They complete and compensate for any shortcomings in the obligatory prayers on the Day of Resurrection .
- They elevate a person's spiritual ranks and expiate sins .
- Abundance of prostration serves as a primary cause for entering Paradise in the companionship of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
- Supererogatory prayer is the best physical voluntary act of worship after armed struggle (jihad) and seeking or teaching Islamic knowledge .
- Performing voluntary prayers at home brings blessing (barakah) and mercy into the household and repels Satan .
- Persistence in voluntary deeds earns the love of God and expresses gratitude for divine blessings .
Al-Qahtani also addresses the legal rulings and manners of supererogatory prayer, such as the consensus on the validity of performing voluntary prayers while sitting even when physically able to stand, though standing yields double the reward of sitting for those capable of it . He discusses the recommended cross-legged sitting posture during recitation and cites classifications from Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya and Ibn Baz regarding the Prophet's varied postures between standing and sitting during voluntary night prayer .
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