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 (farz) and wajib (necessary, in Hanafi terminology) but above Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah (non-emphasized sunnah). Hz. Peygamber 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 namazs (sunnah namazs associated with the five daily namazs), the two rakaat before Fajr, Witr namaz, praying in congregation, and the Eid namazs. In the context of Hac, many of the rites have Sunnah Muakkadah components that, while not invalidating the hac ibadeti if omitted, should be performed whenever possible.