will create for his house a share of his prayer; for Allah shall make in his house, from his prayer, goodness." Narrated by Muslim (121). This is because prayer in the home is closer to sincerity and further from showing off (riya'). It is among the deeds of secrecy, and performing it in the mosque is public, while secret acts are better.
Section: It is recommended for a person to have voluntary prayers (tatawwu') that he performs consistently, and if he misses them, he should make them up. Abu Dawood said: I heard Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) say: "It pleases me for a man to have a known number of rak'ahs at night and during the day; if he is energetic, he should lengthen them, and if he is not energetic, he should lighten them." 'Aisha said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked: Which deeds are best? He said: "The most consistent of them, even if small." In another wording he said: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those which their performer does consistently, even if small." Agreed upon (122). She also said: The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to, if he performed a prayer, love to perform it consistently. And she said: His deed was regular (dimah), and if he performed a deed, he would establish it permanently. Narrated by Muslim (123). And Abdullah bin 'Amr said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to me: "Do not be like
(121) In: The chapter on the recommendation of performing voluntary prayer in one's home and its permissibility in the mosque, from the Book of Travelers' Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/539. It was also extracted by Ibn Majah, in: The chapter on what has been narrated regarding voluntary prayer at home, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/438. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/15, 59, 316. (122) Extracted by al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on the most beloved religion to Allah being the most consistent, from the Book of Faith; and in: The chapter on sitting on a mat and the like, from the Book of Clothing; and in: The chapter on moderation and consistency in deeds, from the Book of Heart-Softeners. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/17, 7/200, 8/122. And Muslim, in: The chapter on the virtue of consistent deeds, from the Book of Travelers' Prayer; and in: The chapter on the Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) fasting other than in Ramadan, from the Book of Fasting; and in: The chapter that no one will enter Paradise by his deeds, from the Book of Hypocrites. Sahih Muslim 1/540, 541, 2/809, 4/2171. It was also extracted by al-Nasa'i, in: The chapter on the praying person having a sutrah (barrier) between himself and the Imam, from the Book of Qibla; and in: The chapter on the difference of opinion regarding 'Aisha concerning the revival of the night, from the Book of Night Prayer. Al-Mujtaba 2/53, 3/178. And Ibn Majah, in: The chapter on consistency in deeds, from the Book of Asceticism. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1416. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/40, 61, 125, 165, 176, 180, 199, 231, 241, 268, 273. (123) In: The chapter on the comprehensive [hadith] on night prayer, and the chapter on the virtue of consistent deeds, from the Book of Travelers' Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/515, 541. It was also extracted by al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on whether to specify certain days, from the Book of Fasting; and in: The chapter on moderation and consistency in deeds, from the Book of Heart-Softeners. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/55, 8/122. And al-Nasa'i, in: The chapter on the praying person having a sutrah between himself and the Imam, from the Book of Qibla. Al-Mujtaba 2/53. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad =
