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:

Burhan Bhai:

As salamu alaikum

Could you give me the meaning of the names Shubhu and Ruba?

Is is essential or permitted to say the Sunnat namaz with Kausur Fazr Shall appreciate your views

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Answer:

Can one make sunnah with qasr

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: Could you give me the meaning of the names Shubhu and Ruba?

A name assigned to each individual is no more than a sign or recognition of that person; and there is absolutely no obligation or compulsion in Shariah that a believer is obliged or required to keep a ‘traditional’ Islamic or ‘muslim’ name. One is at complete liberty to assign any good wholesome name to their off-spring in absolutely any language they will or please.

The only names which Islam prohibits from assigning to a believer are names which connote or denote polytheism or disbelief (Abdul-Lat, Abdul-Uzza, (slaves of the pagan gods like Lat and Uzza, etc.) or names like Ramdas (slave of the Hindu god Ram), etc.; or names which have an inherit evil or vile meaning.

Other than names which connote polytheism and disbelief, or names which have an inherently evil meaning….Islam has allowed the believers the complete freedom to chose and assign any good wholesome name in any language they will and please.

Ref: Shubhu….to the best of our knowledge ‘Shubhu’ is neither an Arabic term nor does it have any particular or specific meaning in the Arabic language.

Ref: Ruba… the literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘Ruba’ or ‘Ruba’a’ means hills or a height.

Your Question: Is is essential or permitted to say the Sunnat namaz with Kausur Fazr

First and foremost brother, allow us to clarify the different types of prayers: Fard, Nafl, and Sunnah:

Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or extra prayers. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.

Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his (saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does not pray the Sunnah prayers is that one lost a great opportunity to earn huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will Say to the Angels although He knows better: 'Look into the (Fard) ‘salah’ of My servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it. So if he observed it perfectly it will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (Nafl or Sunnah) prayers.’ Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would Say: ‘Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined in like manner"

Related by Abu Dawood.

All ‘Sunnah’ and ‘Nafl’ prayers, regardless of where and when they are offered are considered supererogatory and voluntary, not obligatory in Shariah…. if one happens to be in the state of travel and thus offers their ‘Fard’ (obligatory) prayers ‘Qasr’ or shortened, one is at absolute liberty to offer as many ‘Sunnah’ or ‘Nafl’ prayers as they please, or abstain if they wish.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan