What is the ruling concerning one who intentionally abandons the recommended acts (sunan) of prayer, such as raising the hands, the Tashahhud, and the supplications (adhkar), and says: "Since these are sunnah, I will not perform them"?

Jurists divide Sunnahs into two categories: non-emphasized Sunnahs and emphasized Sunnahs. Non-emphasized Sunnahs – such as raising the hands during *Takbirat al-Ihram (definition)* and the opening supplication – do not invalidate the prayer if omitted intentionally or forgetfully, by consensus.

As for emphasized Sunnahs, which some scholars like the Hanbalis refer to as "Wajib (definition)" (obligatory), examples of these according to them include the first *Tashahhud (definition)*, glorifying Allah during bowing, and praising Allah after rising from it. According to the Hanbalis, omitting them intentionally invalidates the prayer, while omitting them forgetfully necessitates the prostration of forgetfulness (*Sujud (definition) al-Sahw*).

As for the Malikis, they differed on whether intentionally omitting emphasized Sunnahs invalidates the prayer, and the prevalent opinion is that it does not. Examples of these according to them include reciting a *Surah (definition)* after *Al-Fatiha* and the first and second *Tashahhud*. Omitting them does not necessitate the prostration of forgetfulness according to them. The text indicates that some of what the Hanbalis call "Wajib" is considered by the Malikis as a "light Sunnah (definition)" whose omission does not invalidate the prayer, without any disagreement among them.

A Muslim is advised to be diligent in following every Sunnah established from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to beware of contradicting it, because laxity in observing Sunnahs may lead to abandoning obligatory duties.