Question:
Immediately after saying the opening Takbeer (saying Allahﷻu Akbar), we recite a supplication. That is what is being referred to as the opening supplication. The question is: Should this opening supplication be recited in Sunnah prayers as well, or should it be recited only in obligatory (Fard) prayers?
Answer:
When he (the questioner) asks about the opening supplication in prayer, he is referring to which supplication?
- “Innee wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fatara as-samawati wal-arda haneefan wama ana mina al-mushrikeen.”
Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allahﷻ. - “Allahﷻumma, baaid baini wa baina khatayaya kama baaadta baina l-mashriqi wa l-maghrib. Allahﷻumma, naqqini min khatayaya kama yunaqqa th-thawbu l-abyadu mina d-danas. Allahﷻumma, ighsil khatayaya bi l-maa’i wa th-thalji wa l-barad.”
(O Allahﷻ! Set me apart from my sins as the East and West are set apart from each other, and cleanse me of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allahﷻ! Wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail.) - “Subhanaka Allahﷻumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.”
Glorious You are, O Allahﷻ, and with Your praise; blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped except You.
The question being asked is whether these supplications are only for obligatory prayers or for other prayers as well. If Islam had prescribed a separate formula for obligatory prayers, such as reciting certain words in bowing (Ruku), then that same recitation applies to voluntary prayers as well. For example, when it is prescribed to say Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem in Ruku, it applies equally to obligatory, Sunnah, and Nafl prayers. Whenever it is called prayer, the same general rules apply to all prayers.
Only those prayers that have specific, separate rulings are exceptions. For example, the funeral prayer (Janazah) has its own specific rulings, which must be followed only in that prayer. Similarly, if there are special rulings for the rain prayer, those rulings apply only there. Otherwise, the general instructions given for prayer apply to all prayers.
Therefore, if the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ recited these supplications in prayer, they apply to Sunnah and Nafl prayers as well. This is the correct understanding. Even if one argues otherwise, there is direct evidence.
For example, in Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith number 898, it is reported that when the Prophetﷺ (peace be upon him) began prayer, he would say:
“Allahﷻu Akbar. Wajahtu wajhi lilladhi fataras-samawati wal-arda hanifan musliman wa ma ana minal-mushrikeen. Inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbil-alamin, la sharika lahu, wa bidhalika umirtu wa ana awwalul-muslimin. Allahﷻumma antal-maliku la ilaha illa anta, subhanaka wa bihamdik.”
(Allahﷻ is Most Great. Verily, I have turned my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, worshipping none but Allahﷻ alone, as a Muslim, and I am not among the idolaters. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allahﷻ, the Lord of all existence. He has no partner. I have been commanded with this, and I am among the Muslims. O Allahﷻ, You are the Sovereign, there is none worthy of worship but You. Glory and praise be to You.)
There are many evidences showing that the Prophetﷺ recited this. Since you asked specifically about Sunnah prayer, the reports indicate that he recited it there as well. Even if such reports were not available, it would still be recited.
Similarly, in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number 242, it is reported:
“Subhanaka Allahﷻumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.”
(Glorious You are, O Allahﷻ, and with Your praise. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped except You.)
Then he would say:
“A’udhu billahi as-sami’il-aleemi min ash-shaitanir-rajim, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi.”
(I seek refuge in Allahﷻ, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Satan, from his madness, arrogance, and whispering.)
It is also reported that the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ (peace be upon him) recited these supplications during night prayers. Therefore, the opening supplication is not restricted to obligatory prayers, Sunnah prayers, or Nafl prayers separately. Whenever it is a prayer, the opening supplication should be recited.
The only exception is the funeral prayer, which has its own specific format. Apart from that, the opening supplication should be recited in all other prayers.