The Sunnah prayers associated with the Five daily prayers

by Asma bint Shameem

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“There is no Muslim slave who prays twelve rak‘ahs to Allaah each day, voluntarily, apart from the obligatory prayers, but Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Muslim)

The hadeeth is referring to the twelve Sunnah associated with the five daily prayers.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam also said:

"Allaah will build a house in Heaven for whoever is diligent in observing 12 Sunnah Rak'aat (They are): 4 Rak'aat before and 2 after the Dhuhr Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib, 2 after the ‘Ishaa Prayer and 2 before the Fajr prayer.”

( at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani)

These are called "Sunnan al-Rawaatib” or Sunnah al-Mu’akkadah and are highly stressed Sunnah.

Reading these “Sunnan ar-Rawaatib” is a beautiful act of ibaadah for which you will be rewarded and it is highly encouraged to read these Sunnan but if you leave it, you will NOT be sinful.

Based on the above hadeeth, the number of rak’aat for each Salaah are:

🌷1. Fajr

-Two rak’aat Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly stressed Sunnah) BEFORE Fardh

- Two rak’aat Fardh

🌷2. Dhuhr

- Four rak’aat Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly stressed Sunnah) BEFORE Fardh

- Four rak’aat Fardh

- Two rak’aat Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly stressed Sunnah) AFTER Fardh

- Two rak’aat Nafl (optional but not as stressed as Sunnah Mu’akkadah)

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever, observes the practice of offering four rak’ahs before Duhr prayer and four rak’ahs after it. Allaah will shield him against the fire of hell.” (Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi- saheeh by al-Albaani)

🌷3. Asr

- Four rak’aat Sunnah

NON-Mu'akkadah BEFORE Fardh.

The NON-Mu'akkadah Rak'ahs are of less reward and significance in importance of adhering to them compared to the "sunnan al-rawaatib"

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"May Allaah have mercy on one who prays 4 raka’aat before the ‘Asr Prayer." (at-Tirmidhi- hasan by al-Albaani)

- Four rak’aat Fardh

🌷4. Maghrib

- Two rak’aat Sunnah

(NON-Mu’akkadah) BEFORE Fardh.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Pray before maghrib, pray before maghrib, pray before maghrib for whoever wills”(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

- Three rak’aat Fardh

-Two rak’aat Sunnah Mu’akkadah AFTER Fardh.

🌷5. Ishaa

- Two rak’aat Sunnah (NON-Mu’akkadah) BEFORE Fardh.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Between each two calls (the adhaan and iqaamah) there should be a prayer, between each two calls there should be a prayer, between each two calls there should be a prayer” – and the third time he said, “for whoever wishes.” (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

- Four rak’aat Fardh

- Two rak’aat Sunnah Mu’akkadah AFTER Fardh

-Witr

There are many different ways of praying witr and is Sunnah al-Mu’akkadah.

And Allaah knows best