How can one reconcile the daily performance of Sunnahs—such as Witr, the two Rak'ahs before Fajr (nafilat al-fajr), grasping (qabd) in prayer, reciting aloud in Maghrib, and the daily wird (set of devotions)—with the saying that it is preferable not to perform some Sunnahs daily so that they are not mistaken for obligatory (wajib) acts?
The Sunnahs that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, consistently observed, such as the regular supererogatory prayers (rawātib) and the Witr prayer, and the postures of prayer; it is legislated to observe them consistently and not to neglect them. No scholar has ever said that it is recommended to abandon the Witr or the regular supererogatory prayers sometimes, for fear that people might assume they are obligatory. This has been said regarding some issues where there is a concern that common people might deem them obligatory, thereby considering anyone who neglects them to be negligent, such as consistently reciting As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Insan in the Fajr prayer on Friday. Some scholars do not pay attention to this perceived harm; rather, they consistently observe the in all circumstances. As for what there is no fear of people believing to be obligatory, like the regular supererogatory prayers, or what is disputed regarding its obligation, like the Witr prayer, no one has ever advocated for abandoning it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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