Is Nafilah the same as Fard with regard to its essential parts and obligations?
Q:
Is Salah Al-Nafilah (Supererogatory Prayer) offered without Iqamah (call to Salah)? Does it include Al-Tahiyyat (Tashahhud [a recitation in the sitting position in the second/last unit of Prayer]) or not? Is the Sunnah of Fajr (Supererogatory Salah) similar to other supererogatory Salah?
A:
It is not prescribed to pronounce Iqamah for Nawafil, this should be done only for the five obligatory prayers. Whereas Al-Tahiyyat is obligatory in all prayers, Fard (Obligatory Salah) or Sunnah (Supererogatory Salah) , and the Sunnah of Fajr is similar to the rest of the Nawafil, but it is the most stressed among all, for the saying of
`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) was never more caring in his adherence to any of the supererogatory prayers than he was in the two rak‘ahs of Dawn.”
(Agreed upon its authenticity by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.