The ruling on the one who does not offer al-Sunan al-Rawaatib [1]:

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

  

Question: Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله was asked about those who do not regularly offer the Sunan al-Rawaatib?

Answer: The Shaikh رحمه الله replied: “The one who is persistent in leaving it, then this is evidence about his lack of religion (faith) ^[2] and his testimony will not be accepted according to the Madhhab of (Imaam) Ahmad (Ibn Hanbal), (Imaam) al-Shaafi`ee and others.”

[Majmoo` al-Fataawa (23/127)]

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Question: Another question was asked to Shaikh al-Islaam رحمه الله about a person who does not offer Witr prayer, and is it allowed to leave it?

Answer: The Shaikh رحمه الله replied: “All praise is for Allaah alone; Witr is Sunnah Mu’akkadah by the consensus of the Muslim (scholars). And the one who persistently misses it, then his testimony is not accepted.”

[Majmoo` al-Fataawa (23/88)]

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[1] `Aaishah رضي الله عنها narrated that Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever regularly offers twelve Rak`ah of Sunnah (prayer), Allaah will build a house form him in Paradise: Four Rak`ah before Dhuhr, two Rak`ah after it, two Rak`ah after Maghrib, two Rak`ah after `Ishaa’, and two Rak`ah before Fajr.” [Sunan Tirmidhee (414) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Umm Habeebah رضي الله عنها narrated that Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever prays twelve Rak`ah in a day and night, a house will be built from him in Paradise: Four Rak`ah before Dhuhr, two Rak`ah after it, two Rak`ah after Maghrib, two Rak`ah after `Ishaa’, and two Rak`ah before Fajr.” [Sunan Tirmidhee (415), Sunan al-Nasa’ee (1800, 1809) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

[2] From the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is that Imaan (Faith) increases with righteous deeds and decreases with sins and disobedience.