السنة Muakkadah

What Does السنة Muakkadah Mean in Detail?

In Islamic jurisprudence, actions are categorized by their level of obligation. السنة Muakkadah sits below فرض (واجب) and واجب (necessary, in Hanafi terminology) but above السنة Ghair Muakkadah (non-emphasized سنة). النبي Muhammad performed these acts so consistently that scholars emphasize their importance. A person who performs them earns reward, and one who occasionally omits them is not sinful. However, one who habitually abandons السنة Muakkadah is considered blameworthy and may even be deemed sinful عند some scholars. Examples include: the twelve rakaat of rawatib الصلوات (سنة الصلوات associated with the five daily الصلوات), the two rakaat before Fajr, Witr الصلاة, praying in congregation, and the Eid الصلوات. In the context of الحج, many of the rites have السنة Muakkadah components that, while not invalidating the الحج if omitted, should be performed whenever possible.