What is the difference between muakkadah sunnahs and non-muakkadah sunnahs?

A Brief Description of the Question: 

What is the difference in the performance of muakkadah sunnahs (obligatory sunnahs) and ghair muakkadah sunnahs (non obligatory sunnahs)? For example what is the difference in performance of 4 rakahs of Sunnah in zuhr (noon prayer) and to that of asr (afternoon prayer)?

The Answer: 

The Sunahs which are muakkadah:A part of the prayers performed accordingly to the obligatory prayers and Jum’a (Friday) Prayer are called muakkadah sunnahs. In one hadis, such kinds of prayers have been described as: “Whoever performs 12 rakah prayers except obligatory prayers, Allah Almighty will build a home for them. Those are: 2 rakahs before the fajr (dawn or early morning) prayer, 4 rakahs before the zuhr (noon) prayer and 2 rakahs after, 2 rakahs after the Maghrib (evening) prayer and 2 rakahs after the ‘isha’ (night) prayer. (Tirmizi; Salât, 189; Nesâî, Kiyâmul-Layl, 66; Ibn Mace, Ikâma, 100).

Non-Muakkadah Sunnahs: The prayers Hazrath Prophet’s sometime did not perform. These are:

1. 4 rakahs before the ‘asr (afternoon) prayer. About that prayer The Prophet of Allah said: “May Allah give mercy upon those who perform 4 rakahs prayer before the asr prayer.” (Tirmizi, Salat, 301)

2. Related with 4 rakahs prayer performed before isha prayer, It is narrated that Hz. Aisha said as follow:

“Hz. Prophet used to perform 4 rakahs prayer before isha.” (Zaylaî, Nasbur-Râva, II, 145 vd.; ash-Shavkânî, Naylul-Avtâr, III, 18).

There are great favors to perform the muakkadah sunnahs. There is no hellish torture when intentionally given up, but it is possible to be deprived from mercy. Such people become deserving of denunciation by the Prophet of Allah. Changing and denying these sunnahs are bid’ at (innovation) and aberration.

Performing non muakkadah sunnahs are very good and favorfull. Natural actions such as eating, drinking, wearing etc actions by the way of complying Sunnah become good deed for us. The deeds that are used to be performed in that way become alive and opportunity to get mercy. They make person spiritually happy. Because complying the smallest Sunnah, too reminds the prophet of Allah, gives a light and happiness to the heart. Giving up such kind sunnahs are not sin also there is not denunciation. But there is a possible situation to lose mentioned favors and the light of Sunnah and fact moral. One, who gives up Sunnah, gives up real moral and virtue as well and the result of this is deprivation from the mercy of Our Lord.

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