Categories of Voluntary Prayer
1. Rawatib Sunnah (confirmed sunnah prayers attached to the five daily prayers):
The Prophet performed these regularly and rarely missed them:
| Prayer | Before/After | Rak’at |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | Before (2) | 2 rak’at — most emphasized; the Prophet said: ‘The two sunnah of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it’ (Muslim) |
| Dhuhr | Before + After | 4 before + 2 after (Hanafi: 4+2+2) |
| ‘Asr | Before | 4 (recommended, not mu’akkada) |
| Maghrib | After | 2 |
| ’Isha | After | 2 |
2. Tahajjud (night prayer): Prayed after sleeping, in the final third of the night. The Prophet (SAW) prayed it consistently — the Quran addresses him in 73:1-4 commanding it. It is sunnah mu’akkada for the Prophet and extremely emphasized for the community.
3. Duha (Chasht) Prayer: 2-8 rak’at prayed mid-morning after sunrise. The Prophet (SAW): “Whoever prays Duha prayer will have the reward of performing Hajj and ‘Umra.” (Bayhaqi) — understood as metaphorical elevation of virtue.
4. Awwabin: 6 rak’at after Maghrib between Maghrib and ‘Isha.
5. Tahiyyat al-Masjid: 2 rak’at upon entering any mosque, before sitting, as greeting to the mosque.
6. Salat al-Istikharah: 2 rak’at seeking divine guidance in a decision, followed by the du’a al-istikharah. See [[istikhara]].
7. Salat al-Tasbih: A special nafl prayer with extra tasbihat — attributed to a teaching the Prophet gave his uncle Abbas.
The Three Times Prohibited for Nafl
Nafl prayers are prohibited at three times:
- Sunrise: From the moment the sun begins to rise until it is fully up (approximately 15-20 minutes)
- Istiwa’ (zenith): When the sun is at its highest, just before Dhuhr time enters
- Sunset: From the sun beginning to set until fully set
Exception: Qada’ of obligatory prayers may be performed even at these times (per the majority).
The Witr Prayer — A Special Category
Witr (الوتر — the odd-numbered) is a special prayer, prayed after ‘Isha and ideally at the end of the night’s nafl prayers. It is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak’at — the defining feature is the odd number.
Ruling debate:
- Hanafi: Witr is wajib (strongly obligatory sub-obligatory)
- Other three madhabs: Witr is sunnah mu’akkada
The Prophet: “Make witr the last of your night prayers.” (Bukhari)
Nafl as the Ladder to Divine Love
The hadith qudsi places nafl worship in a unique theological position: the faraidh (obligations) are the foundation and the covenant; the nawafil (voluntary acts) are the approach. The faraidh establish the relationship; the nawafil deepen it to the point where the divine becomes the believer’s very senses — the hearing, sight, grasp, and movement. This is the Islamic equivalent of what mystics across traditions call union.
See also: Understanding Namaz, Fiqh Overview, Fiqh Madhabs, Adhkar, Dhikr, Sulook