Sunnah Muakkadah

What Does Sunnah Muakkadah Mean in Detail?

In Islamic jurisprudence, actions are categorized by their level of obligation. Sunnah Muakkadah sits below fard (ওয়াজিব) and wajib (necessary, in Hanafi terminology) but above Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah (non-emphasized sunnah). নবী করীম 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 Sunnah Muakkadah is considered blameworthy and may even be deemed sinful according to some scholars. Examples include: the twelve rakaat of rawatib সালাতs (sunnah সালাতs associated with the five daily সালাতs), the two rakaat before Fajr, Witr সালাত, praying in congregation, and the Eid সালাতs. In the context of হজ্জ, many of the rites have Sunnah Muakkadah components that, while not invalidating the হজ্জ if omitted, should be performed whenever possible.