Two Rak'aat before Maghrib

There are Hadith which mention that there are 2 Rak'aat before the Maghrib Salaah. Normally, they are 2 such Rak’aat on which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) laid no emphasis. On the contrary, he did not even want people to take them as a regular practice. This may be one of the reasons why the Khulafa-e-Raashideen (Radiyallahu Anhum) were not practicing it. Moreover, Hazrat Abdullah Bin 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma) said that he did not see anyone performing them at the time of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam).

Moreover, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not allocate any special time to perform them. Those who were performing them, did it while Azaan was being given.

Nowadays, the way it is being done in some Masjid by a certain group does not conform to the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Firstly, it is being promoted on a permanent basis whereas Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not even want people to make it a regular practice. Secondly, extra time is being allocated to accomplish it so much so that the Maghrib Salaah is performed much later after the Azaan. Thirdly, an announcement is made to inform that there are facilities to perform these two Rak'aat in their respective Masjid. All these points do not conform to the principle of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). One must know that attaching more importance than required to a principle is Bid'ah. It is the same error that is occurring in regards to these 2 Rak'aat.

There was a time when this same group had minimised the importance of the Sunnah Mu'akkadah. At that time, the youths especially, were contenting themselves with the Farz alone. And now, they are attaching importance and are putting emphasis on these 2 Rak'aat in an imbalanced way. It is an imbalance which was found in the Khawaarij. It is lack of experience and wisdom that leads to this kind of imbalance. That is why one must always understand and apply the Deen under the supervision of the wise. Those who are wise in Deen are the Fuqaha (the jurists) such as the 4 Aimmah, Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi alayh), Imam Malik (Rahmatullaahi alayh), Imam Shaafi'i (Rahmatullaahi alayh) and Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal (Rahmatullaahi alayh). It is these very Fuqaha who knew the true scope of a Hadith and the context in which it must be applied and the manner in which it must be applied.

Imam Tirmizi (Rahmatullaahi alayh) says:

"هم اعلم بمعانى الحديث"

"It is they (the Fuqaha) who know the meaning of Hadith better." (Tirmizi)

[English version of "Deux rakaat avant maghrib" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.2]