Question

What is the authenticity of this narration?

“The superiority of the prayer of a man in his house over his prayer [in a place] that people can see him, is like the superiority of the obligatory prayer over the voluntary.”

Answer

This Hadith is recorded in Shu’abul Iman of Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah), Hadith: 2989 and Al-Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 7322.

Also see Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 6516.

This Hadith is sound (hasan).

See Targhib, vol. 1, pg. 280 and As-Sirajul Munir, vol. 3, pg. 22.

Note: After recording this Hadith, Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has stated that this refers to Nafl (voluntary) salah.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar