Other benefits attained by the performance of nafl are:
1.) REMOVES DEFICIENCY IN THE FARAAIDH
Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“The first thing regarding which a person will be questioned on the day of resurrection is his salaah. If his salaah is in order, the rest of his acts of worship will also be in order. (This is because if a person is regular in his salaah, then through the blessings of this salaah all his other acts of worship will also be in order). If his salaah is not in order, the rest of his actions will also not be in order.
Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo will then address the angels saying, “Does My servant have any nafl salaahs in his book of deeds?”
If he has any nafl salaahs, he will be given the reward of fard salaahs in order to make up for the fard salaahs which he missed. Thereafter, the other fard acts will also be accounted for (and completed through the nafl acts; such as fard fasts and nafl fasts, fard charity and nafl charity, etc.) All this will be done through the kindness and mercy of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo. (That is, this is actually the mercy of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo that the fard acts will be completed by the nafl acts. Because strictly speaking, the rule ought to have been that the fard should not be completed by the nafl. And if it is not complete, the person ought to be punished. Glory be to Allaah! How merciful He is!) The person who does not have any fard acts nor any nafl acts will be punished."
However, if Allaah wishes, He could forgive whomsoever He wishes.
(Tirmidhi no. 413, Nasai no. 466/467)
Note: This hadith tells us that we should have adequate nafl salaah to our credit to make up for any deficiency in our fardh salaah. There are many people who say that it suffices for them to observe only the fardh salaah, since the nafl are meant only for the eminent. While it may be enough to perform the fardh salaah properly, it is not so easy to perform it perfectly. There will always be some deficiency in one respect or the other, and this deficiency cannot be compensated for, except though nafl salaah. (Fadhaaile-salaah)
2.) SALVATION FROM HELL-FIRE
Jaabir ibn Abdullaah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that the person who offers two rak’ats of nafl salaah in a secluded place where no one but Allaah and the angels (which are with him all the time, and which only leave him when he goes to relieve himself or when he is engaged in sexual intercourse) can see him; then salvation from jahannam will be written down for him.
(Tareekh Dimishq no. 5055 vol. 43 page 197)
In other words, he will be granted the ability to abstain from sins and thereby save himself from sins. However, he should continue offering this salaah. Only then will he attain this blessings.
3.) LIGHT FOR THE HOUSE
Umar RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Offering nafl salaah at home is an enlightment. Whoever wishes, he should brighten his home.”
(Ibn Majah no. 1375, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah no. 6460)
Jaabir RadhiyAllaahu Anhu reported that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“When any one of you observes salaah in the masjid, he should reserve a part of his salaah for his house, for Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo will make the salaah as a means of betterment in his house.” (Muslim no. 778)
Ibn Umar RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Offer some of your salaah at home and do not make your houses as graveyards.” (Muslim no. 777, Tirmidhi no. 451)
Allamah Ainee Rahimahullaah states that this refers to nafal salaah, since this is further from show, and will protect one from destroying his actions, this house will be blessed because of it, mercy and angels will descend therein, and the shayaateen will flee from there.
(Awjaz vol. 3 g. 263)
4.) ATTAINING VIRTUE
Abu Umaamah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo did not permit anything for His servant more virtuous than two rak’ats which he performs. Virtue will continue raining on the head of a servant as long as he is in salaah. A person cannot gain as much closeness to Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo as he can with that which emerged from Him (i.e. the Quraan.)” (Tirmidhi no. 2911)
5.) SIGN OF IMAAN
Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu said,
“Three acts are signs of true imaan:
1.) a person has a nocturnal emission in a cold night. He stands up and makes ghusl, with none seeing him besides Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo
2.) fasting on a hot day
3.) a person performing salaah in a desolate land, with none seeing him besides Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo.”
(Shuabul-Imaan no. 51, 2502)
And I did not offer voluntary worship before death – There is an indication in this stanza to prepare for death.
“The life of this world is nothing but amusement and play. As for the abode of the hereafter, that is the true life. If only they possessed understanding.” (Ankabut verse 64)
Anas RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“O Allaah! There is no life except the life of the Hereafter.”
(Bukhaari no. 6413, Muslim no. 1805)
Anas RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Three things follow the deceased: his family, his wealth, and his deeds. Two things return and one thing remains with him. His family and wealth return, and his deeds remain with him.” (Bukhaari no. 6514, Muslim no. 2960)
Ibn Umar RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates,
“Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam held me by my shoulders and said, ‘Remain in this world as though you are a stranger (in a foreign land) or one who is crossing the road.’
Ibn Umar RadhiyAllaahu Anhu used to say, ‘When you spend the evening, do not expect to see the morning. When you get up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening. Prepare for your illness when you are enjoying good health. Prepare for your death when you are enjoying life.’”
(Bukhaari no. 6416)
The ulamaa explain this hadeeth as follows: Do not incline towards this world and do not make it your abode. Do not hope to live long in it. Nor pay too much attention to it. Only attach yourself to it as much as a stranger attaches himself in a foreign land. Do not engross yourself in it by engaging in matters which a foreigner will not engage himself in when he wants to return to his family. The inspiration to do good is from Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo alone.
It is narrated by Amr, son of Maimoon-al-Audi RadhiyAllaahu Anhu that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said to a man by way of good advice,
“Value five things before the arrival of five (which are their opposites):
a. your youth before old age
b. your good health before ill health;
c. your opulence and prosperity before poverty and want;
d. your leisure before preoccupation;
e. and your life before death.”
(Mustadrak of Haakim no. 7846)
To be Continued In Sha Allaah
مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ