Analysis of the Jurisprudential Principle of the Subservience of Supererogatory Prayers to Obligatory Prayers (A Case Study of the Ruling on Noon Supererogatory Prayers for a Traveler in the Places of Discretion: Mecca, Medina, Kufa, and the Shrine

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

• Seyedmohammadali Salehi

2nd and 3rd level professor of Khorasan Seminary

10.22067/jfiqh.2025.89799.1833

Abstract

The rule of subservience (tabaʿiya) and consequently the supererogatory noon prayers of a traveler in the four sacred places is one of the issues related to the traveler's prayer and supererogatory prayers. In essence, this seemingly minor issue is actually significant. The existing ambiguities pertain to whether the rule of tabaʿiya extends to supererogatory prayers or obligatory ones. Additionally, is the subservience of supererogatory prayers to obligatory prayers provable? If proven, does it encompass the four sacred places or not? Furthermore, does the ruling on the supererogatory noon prayers of a traveler outside the four sacred places align with that within these places? The underlying principles for understanding this issue is complex. In this paper, we evaluate the rule of subservience and the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the traveler's supererogatory prayers in the four sacred places. We address the issues indicating the absolute fall (waive) or establishment of supererogatory prayers in the case of full prayers or intending to offer complete prayers or their establishment in the case of shortening the prayers. After evaluating and analyzing the available solutions, we present them for consideration. This paper is library-based research, utilizing data extracted from early and recent jurisprudential sources, and it has been written in an analytical and descriptive manner. Ultimately, after reading and analyzing the obstacles, we establish the foundations for the assertion of the supererogatory noon prayers in the four sacred places, proving that the supererogatory noon prayers for a traveler in the four sacred places are absolutely established.

Keywords

• Rule of subservience (tabaʿiya)؛ supererogatory prayers
• four sacred places؛ choice between shortening and completing
• traveler

Main Subjects

• Religious jurisprudence

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