Is It Right For Health And Safety Field Workers To Only Perform Obligatory Prayers?

Can a person who works at fields such as health and security perform only fardhs of prayers and abandon performing the rawatibs?

Sunnah or rawatib prayers, which are established before and after daily prayers, are evaluated as the worships that prepare one to fardh cycles of prayers and complete the missing parts which may occur in these prayers. Moreover, they are accepted as the indicators of loyalty to Prophet Muhammad (saw). For this reason, it is advised that one should establish these prayers as much as possible.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) declared that the missing prayes of servants will be completed with nafl prayers on the Day of Judgment when one is brought to account for his/her deeds. It is stated in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayra (ra) from the Messenger of Allah (saw) that:

“The first thing about which the people will be called to account out of their actions on the Day of Judgment is prayer. Our Lord, the Exalted, will say to the angels - though He knows better: Look into the prayer of My servant and see whether he has offered it perfectly or imperfectly. If it is perfect, that will be recorded perfect. If it is defective, He will say: See there are some optional prayers offered by My servant. If there are optional prayer to his credit, He will say: Compensate the obligatory prayer by the optional prayer for My servant. Then all the actions will be considered similarly.” (Tirmidhi, Salat, 193; Abu Dawud, Salat, 151; Nasa’i, Salat, 9, Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 202).

Therefore, the regular nafl prayers ( rawatib sunnahs) should be established with fardh prayers. Those who have important excuses may leave these sunnahs when required as long as they do not make a habit out of it.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS