Some More Questions Regarding Prayers I have a few more questions on prayers which I would be grateful if you can clarify. 1) What is the status of non-fard prayers ie. prayers other than eg. the 3 compulsory rakats of Maghrib. Some people say these are optional and yet other people say that one is committing a sin by leaving them out. Please clarify the status of the Sunnah and Witr prayers. 2) Can the Fajr prayer be performed right up to a few minutes before sunrise ? 3) Likewise, can the Maghrib prayer be performed right up to a few minutes before Isha prayer time ? 4) For combined prayers, can the Zohr and Asr prayers be performed either at Zohr time or at Asr time depending on necessity ? 5) Likewise, can Maghrib and Isha be performed either at Maghrib time or both at Isha time ? In this last case, I know a brother who performs both prayers at Maghrib time since he cannot keep his wudu to perform the Isha prayer at it's proper time. My understanding has been that this can only be done with a good reason eg . travelling. Please clarify. Reply Answers to your questions follow: 1- The only obligatory rakats are those known as "Fardh". All Muslims shall be held accountable if they intentionally miss these rakats. Offering these rakats shall inshallah be a source of great reward in the hereafter. Those rakats which are usually known as sunnah, are the nawafil (extra) rakats that were normally offered by the Prophet (pbuh). These rakats are a part of the uswah-e-hasanah (the finest model) of the Prophet (pbuh). Although missing these rakats shall not be punished in the hereafter but offering these rakats shall inshallah be greatly rewarded. One should always remember that according to the Qur'an, if one has true love for God in his heart, he should follow the uswah (model) of the Prophet (pbuh), which shall result in getting God's love in return (A'l `imra'n 3: 31). Witr prayers are basically a part of the Tahajjud prayers, which were obligatory for the Prophet (pbuh) but were nawafil for other Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh) used to offer his tahajjud prayers in odd numbers (normally eleven). For this purpose, he used to end his tahajjud prayers with either one, three, five etc. rakats. This is the reason that these prayers were known to be witr - as witr means odd number(s). The prescribed time for the tahajjud prayers was in the very late night or the very early morning hours. Because of the extra ordinary reward of the tahajjud prayers and because of the importance that the Qur'an attached to these prayers a number of Muslims also started offering the tahajjud prayers regularly. But there were other Muslims, who desired to earn the great reward attached to these prayers but could not get up so early in the morning to offer the tahajjud prayers at their prescribed time. When these Muslims asked the Prophet (pbuh) regarding their problem, the Prophet (pbuh) allowed them to offer witr (i.e. odd number) rakats at the after the `isha prayers. This is how witr prayers started being offered after `isha prayers. This explanation clearly tells us that the witr prayers, like the sunnah, are nawafil (extra) prayers. Offering them shall be a source of great reward but by missing them one shall not be held answerable on the day of judgment. 2- Although it is not recommended to delay offering the fajr prayers till very close to sunrise but if a person could not wake up at the right time, he may offer these prayers at any time before sunrise, even to the extent that if a person could complete one of the two (obligatory) rakats before sunrise and the second one after surise, he would be said to have offered his prayers withing the prescribed time limit. 3- Again the recommended time for Maghrib prayers is after sunset. But in case a person is delayed due to some pressing circumstances, and offers his Maghrib prayers anytime before the horizon is completely darkened, he would be said to have offered his prayers within the prescribed time limit. 4- Yes 5- Yes. I really could not understand the reason that you have given for the brother's combining Maghrib and `isha prayers. If he cannot keep his wudhu from Maghrib to `isha then what stops him from a fresh wudhu? I think that in such a situation, rather than combining the two prayers, he should perform another wudhu and then offer the `isha prayers at its proper time. I fully agree with your understanding in this case. I hope this helps. In case any aspect of my answer remains unclear, please feel free in writing back to me. Regards The Learner