Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-salam-alai-kum

People use to change there place while praying sunnath. Can you please inform me what's behind this.

Thanks

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Answer:

Change place for praying sunnat

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

One of the companions of the Prophet (saws) reports that the Prophet (saws) prayed the afternoon prayer and right afterward a man stood up to pray. 'Umar saw him and told him: "Sit, the People of the Book were destroyed because they did not differentiate between their prayers." The Prophet (saws) said: "Well said, Ibn al-Khattab [i.e., 'Umar]."

This is related by Ahmad.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1921 Narrated by Mu'awiyah ibn AbuSufyan

Umar ibn Ata ibn AbuKhuwar said that Nafi ibn Jubayr sent him to as-Sa'ib the son of Namir's sister with a view to asking him about what he had seen in the prayer of Mu'awiyah. He said: Yes I observed the Jumu'ah prayer along with him in Maqsura and when the Imam pronounced salutation I stood up at my place and observed (sunnah rak'ahs). As he entered (the apartment) he sent for me and said: Do not repeat what you have done. Whenever you have observed the Jumu'ah prayer, do not observe (sunnah prayer) till you have talked or got out for the Messenger of Allah (saws) had ordered us to do this and not to combine two (types of) prayers without talking or going out.

It is preferred to make a separation between the Fard and Sunnah or Nafl prayers after one finishes the Fard prayer. It is also preferred to change the place of prayer a little, so that a clear differentiation is made between the prayers. It is the opinion of some of the scholars that since Allah Subhanah will call everything and everyone to witness man’s good and evil deeds; every place of prayer and every spot of prostration will bear witness to the person’s worship in the Just Court of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan