Answered by: Mufti Jamal Ahmed
Question
Assalamualaikum Hazrat.
Please confirm my understanding of Mustahab. It means desirable, or preferable, right? If I indulge in a deed that is a Mustahab, I am a winner. if I refrain from a Mustahab, I’m a loser, but not a sinful loser. Is this understanding correct?
If, so I wanted to confirm if a Muslim has no plans to ever indulge in that which, is Mustahab/Nafl, for example:
– Nalf salah
– Miswaak
– Perform dhikar after salah
– Wear white
– Put on ataar(perfume)
Will that person be sinful? In short, is the complete abandonment of the Sunnah (optional) a sinful intention, and practice?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Mustahab means preferable or desirable. A mustahab act is that which if a person does it, he is rewarded and if he does not do it, he is not sinful nor is he blameworthy. Thus, if a person does not have any intention to do mustahab acts and abandons them, he is not sinful.
(وَمُسْتَحَبُّهُ) أَيْ الْوُضُوءِ (التَّيَامُنُ) الْمُسْتَحَبُّ مَا يُثَابُ عَلَى فِعْلِهِ وَلَا يُلَامُ عَلَى تَرْكِهِ.
Majmaul Anhur, pg.16, vol.1, Daru Ihya Al Turathul Arabiyah
وَالنَّفَلُ وَمِنْهُ الْمَنْدُوبُ يُثَابُ فَاعِلُهُ وَلَا يُسِيءُ تَارِكُهُ، قِيلَ: وَهُوَ دُونَ سُنَنِ الزَّوَائِدِ.
Raddulmuhtar, pg. 103,vol.1 Darul Fikr
قَالَ الْفَقِيهُ أَبُو اللَّيْثِ السُّنَّةُ مَا يَكُونُ تَارِكُهَا فَاسِقًا وَجَاحِدُهَا مُبْتَدِعًا وَالنَّفَلُ مَا لَا يَكُونُ تَارِكُهُ فَاسِقًا وَلَا جَاحِدُهُ مُبْتَدِعًا.
Al Jawharatunnayirah, pg.5 vol.1 Al Matba’ah Al Khariyah
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Mufti Jamal Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham