Sunnah Prayers

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him." (Bukhari, 6502)

Twelve rak'ahs Sunnah prayer:

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs a day and night, Allah (SWT) will build for him a house in Paradise." (Sunan An-Nasai, 1809). 

Narrated Abd Allah b. Shaqiq: I asked A'ishah about the voluntary prayers offered by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She replied: Before the noon prayer he would pray four rak'ahs in my house, then go out and lead the people in prayer, then return to my house and pray two rak'ahs. He would lead the people in the sunset prayer, then return to my house and pray two rak'ahs. Then he would lead the people in the night prayer and enter my house and pray two rak'ahs. He would pray nine rak'ahs during the night, including Witr (prayer). At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting. When he recited the Qur'an while standing, he would bow and prostrate himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate himself from the sitting position, and when dawn came, he prayed two rak'ahs, then he would come out and lead the people in the dawn prayer. (Abu Dawud, 1251)

The 12 rak'ahs mention are:  

• Four rak'ahs before Dhuhr Prayer
• Two rak'ahs after Dhuhr Prayer
• Two rak'ahs after Maghrib Prayer
• Two rak'ahs after Isha Prayer
• Two rak'ahs before Fajr Prayer

The hadith above highlights the Prophet's unwavering dedication to Allah's worship. Despite his immense responsibilities as the leader of the Muslims, he found time for all forms of devotion, including Quran recitation and extended night prayers. Furthermore, his past and future sins were forgiven. His commitment inspires reflection. I find myself making excuses for my own shortcomings. O Allah, grant us the strength to worship You as You deserve and to follow the Prophet's Sunnah. 

Those who perform these twelve rak'ahs, as described above, will be rewarded by Allah with a house in Paradise.

Duha Prayer:

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encouraged us to pray the Duha prayer. As narrated by Bukhari, Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) advised him to fast three days each month, to pray two rak'ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before going to bed.

Abu Dhar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: "In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah's glorification is an act of charity. Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is disreputable is an act of charity, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice." (Muslim, 720)

Two rak’ahs before Maghrib for those who wish to perform them:

Narrated Abd Allah al-Muzani: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Pray two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer. He then said (again): Pray two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer, it applies to those who wish to do so. That was because he feared that the people might treat it as sunnah." (Abu Dawud, 1281)

Sunnah Prayer between the Two Adhans for those who wish to perform it: 

Narrated Abdullah bin Mughaffal Al-Muzani: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said thrice, "There is a prayer between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqama)," and added, "For the one who wants to pray." (Bukhari, 624)

Sunnah prayer before and after Jumu’ah prayer:

Narrated Salman-Al-Farsi: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumu'ah prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven." (Bukhari, 883)

It was narrated from Salim that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two rak'ahs in his house after Jumu'ah." (Nasai, 1428)

Two Rakats before the Fajr Prayer:

Narrated Aisha: "The Prophet (ﷺ) was never more regular and particular in offering any Nawafil than the two rak'ah (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer." (Bukhari, 1163)

A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: "The two rak'ahs at dawn are better than this world and what it contains." (Muslim, 725)

As mentioned above, praying Fajr holds immense value, exceeding the worth of this world and all its possessions. May Allah bless us with the ability to consistently pray Fajr and be among those who uphold this sacred duty.

Tahajjud (Night Prayer):

Narrated Ibn Abbas: "The prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ) used to be of thirteen rak'ah of the night prayer." (Bukhari, 1138)

According to a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, the 13 rak'ahs include the Witr prayer and the Sunnah prayers for Fajr (dawn prayer).

Abu Hurairah narrated that: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is that of Allah's month of Al-Muharram. And the most virtuous Salat after the obligatory is the night prayer.” (Tirmidhi, 438)

Writing this section brings back fond memories of my grandmother, may Allah have mercy on her. She was a devout woman who would pray at night, she kept a bucket in her bedroom for performing ablution before her prayers. She would dispose of the water in the morning. Life was simpler then, with no indoor bathroom and it was dangerous outside at night. As a child, I remember thinking, 'When I grow up, I will build her a big house with an indoor bathroom so she can perform her ablution comfortably.’  

Istikhara prayer:

According to Sunan Nasai, Jabir bin Abdullah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged his companions to perform Istikhara prayer for guidance in all their affairs, just as he taught them verses from the Quran.

If you are considering any significant decision, such as marriage, buying or selling, traveling, or any other important matter, it is recommended to offer two rak'ahs and recite the supplication seeking guidance before making your final choice.

For the specific supplication, please refer to Hisnul Muslim, chapter 26.

Greeting the Masjid (Tahiyatul-Masjid): 

Narrated Abu Qatada bin Rabi Al-Ansari: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you enters a Mosque, he should not sit until he has offered a two rak'ah prayer." (Bukhari, 1167)

Jabir and Abu Salih reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah: "Sulaik al-Ghatafani came (to the mosque) while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was giving the (Friday) sermon. He asked him: Did you pray something? He said: No. He said: Offer two rak'ahs and make them short." (Abu Dawud, 1116)

Prayer when return from a journey:

Narrated Ka`b: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from a journey in the forenoon, he would enter the Mosque and offer two rak'ahs before sitting. (Bukhari, 3088)

This is a reminder for both myself and you to strive to offer these voluntary prayers. If we can't offer all of them, let's aim for at least some. The Prophet (ﷺ) was a busy man, yet he always found time to worship Allah and perform voluntary acts. He is our true example, and we should follow his Sunnah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to offer our Nafl prayers at home. As we learned previously, he performed most of his voluntary prayers at home. The following hadith informs us that offering Nafl prayers at home is better than offering them in the mosque.

It was narrated from Zaid bin Thabit that: "O people, pray in your houses, for the best prayer a person offers is in his house, apart from the prescribed (obligatory) prayers." (Nasai, 1599)

I prayed to Allah to make it easy for us to perform extra voluntary deeds and to accept them from us.