2 rakat salat al-Taubah after 'Asr?

[a.s.]

I know generally that it is not permissible to pray any nafil after 'Asr salah.
But is it permissible to pray Salat al-Taubah after 'Asr, in the case that one has sinned and greatly feels the need to repent?

Im guessing it should be permissible since your supposed to repent immediately, so waiting until after Maghrib to pray the 2 rakat would be a sin in and of itself because you are delaying repentance.

[a.s.]

Anyone?

[hope1]

Assalamu alaikum,

Tauba can be done without performing the two rakat nafl salat. To think that tauba can only be done by performing two rakat nafl salat is incorrect and I don't know if it is mentioned anywhere that this is a condition. In fact I am certain that this is not mentioned.

Following this logic a woman in haidh can say the same - the two cases are not exactly the same but similar.

[Shuayb Abdul-Khaaliq]

Repentance has nothing (directly) to do with praying 2 (or any number of) rakat nafl salat. Of course, Alhamdulillah, Insha'Allah, nafl are definitely part of a Muslim's well-being, but repentance is not dependent on praying nafl.

A scholar at our Masjid recently, whose sheikh was Maulana Yunus Patel (ra), said that he once asked Maulana Yunus Patel (ra) something to the effect of what kind of words one should use when making taubah (repenting) to Allah . He said the maulana gave him the following example as an answer (paraphrased):

Let's say a father has 2 young sons, both of whom have done something to greatly upset the father:

A. The first son, who is not really that sorry about his actions and considers himself to be really clever, comes up with an elaborate plan to apologize and make up with his father. He writes a whole speech about how he is so sorry, even uses some props and what not to really spice things up and look legitimate... he then goes and delivers this planned act to his father. The father can sense that maybe this son is not really being sincere in his apology and rather this is all a big elaborate act to get him to forgive him. Hence, the father has to think twice before deciding whether his son is being sincere and if he should forgive him or not.

B. The second son, who is truly sorry for his actions which caused his father to become so upset, doesn't know what to do or say to apologize and make up with his father. He goes to his father not knowing what his plan of apology is. As soon as he sees his father, he falls to his feet and bursts out in tears. No words come out of his mouth because he's crying so hard and also he just doesn't know what to say. The father sees the condition of this son & senses his sincerity on the spot, without a doubt.

Which of the above two sons do we think the father is going to forgive without hesitation?

Maulana then said taubah is the same thing. It is the name of a kaifiat (feeling), and it doesn't necessarily need to have any special words or acts. Feeling truly sorry, feeling extreme resentment for the sin(s) one has committed, crying in front of Allah about it and sincerely promising never to do it again, then following through with that promise... that is taubah.

May Allah forgive my mistakes in narrating this story and Allah knows best.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

I know generally that it is not permissible to pray any nafil after 'Asr salah.
But is it permissible to pray Salat al-Taubah after 'Asr, in the case that one has sinned and greatly feels the need to repent?

Im guessing it should be permissible since your supposed to repent immediately, so waiting until after Maghrib to pray the 2 rakat would be a sin in and of itself because you are delaying repentance.

Imam Nawawi (RA) writes in Chapter 2 of Riyadus-Saliheen:

2. Chapter on Repentance:


Scholars say that it is s a duty to repent of every wrong action. If it is disobedience which occurs between a person and Allah and does not involve the right of another human being, repentance has three preconditions.

1. The first is that one divest himself of disobedience.
2. The second is that he regret doing it.
3. The third is that he resolve not to ever return to it.
   
   
   If one of the three is lacking, then his repentance is not sound.
   
   
4. If it involves to another human being, repentance has four preconditions: these three and that he discharges his duty to the other person.
   

If it is money or the like, he pays it to him. If it is a hadd-punishment because of slander and the like it, he give shim power over him or seeks his pardon. If it is slander, he undoes it, He must repent of all wrong actions. If he repents of some of them, the people of truth say that his repentance of them is sound, but he still has the rest. There is much evidence in the Book, the Sunna and the consensus of the Community about the obligation to repent.

[a.s.]

The thing is, I feel most at rest when I actually do Wudhu and pray nafl as repentance. The reason is because I've read many ahadith relating that when a person sins, and after that he purifies himself thoroughly and prays 2 rakahs, only thinking of Allah, he will be forgiven.

But dont get me wrong, thats not all I do for repentance. I do make dua and verbally ask for forgiveness. It just satisfies me more if I also pray the 2 rakahs.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

The thing is, I feel most at rest when I actually do Wudhu and pray nafl as repentance. The reason is because I've read many ahadith relating that when a person sins, and after that he purifies himself thoroughly and prays 2 rakahs, only thinking of Allah, he will be forgiven.

But dont get me wrong, thats not all I do for repentance. I do make dua and verbally ask for forgiveness. It just satisfies me more if I also pray the 2 rakahs.

I understand that but your satisfaction is not a pre-condition in Shariah and following the Shariah is what matters.

[a.s.]

I understand that but your satisfaction is not a pre-condition in Shariah and following the Shariah is what matters.

Gotcha. Jazakallah akhi.