The Daily Sunnah Prayers and Other Recommended Voluntary Prayers

The Daily Sunnah Prayers and Other Recommended Voluntary Prayers

Question

As-salamu alaykum.

What are the outlined Sunnah prayers and the hadith that report them? Are there any other prayers not considered Sunnah that one should pray daily?

Answer

Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma’in.

1. The Shari Context

After the five obligatory daily prayers, Islam encourages Muslims to perform voluntary prayers (nawafil), which increase one’s reward, compensate for shortcomings in the obligatory prayers, and bring a person closer to Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete. If there is any deficiency, Allah will say: ‘Look and see whether My servant has any voluntary prayers by which the deficiencies in his obligatory prayers may be completed.'”

Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al Tirmidhi, Sunan al Nasa’i

2. The Confirmed Sunnah (Rawatib) Prayers

The most emphasized voluntary prayers are the Sunnah Rawatib, which the Prophet ﷺ regularly observed alongside the obligatory prayers.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever prays twelve rak’ahs during the day and night, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Sahih Muslim

These twelve rak’ahs are explained in another narration:

  • 2 before Fajr
  • 4 before Dhuhr
  • 2 after Dhuhr
  • 2 after Maghrib
  • 2 after Isha

This totals 12 rak’ahs.

There are also authentic narrations encouraging:

  • 2 additional rak’ahs before Asr, although they are not from the emphasized Rawatib.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“May Allah have mercy on the person who prays four rak’ahs before Asr.”

Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al Tirmidhi

Besides the Rawatib, there are several voluntary prayers that the Prophet ﷺ strongly encouraged.

The Witr Prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah is One and He loves what is odd, so pray Witr, O people of the Qur’an.”

Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al Tirmidhi

The majority of scholars consider Witr to be a highly emphasized Sunnah, while the Hanafi school considers it wajib.

Duha Prayer

Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said:

“My beloved ﷺ advised me to fast three days every month, to pray two rak’ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before sleeping.”

Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

The Duha prayer begins shortly after sunrise and continues until shortly before Dhuhr.

Its minimum is 2 rak’ahs, with no fixed maximum according to the majority of scholars.

Tahajjud (Night Prayer)

Allah says:

“And during part of the night, pray Tahajjud as an additional act of worship for you.”

Surat al Isra (17:79)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.”

Sahih Muslim

Tahajjud is among the greatest acts of worship and may be prayed in sets of two rak’ahs.

The Prophet ﷺ also encouraged:

  • Two rak’ahs after making wudu.

The Prophet ﷺ said to Bilal (رضي الله عنه):

“I heard your footsteps ahead of me in Paradise. Tell me the deed you hope for the most.”

Bilal replied that whenever he made wudu, he prayed whatever Allah had written for him.

Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

  • Two rak’ahs upon entering the masjid (Tahiyyat al Masjid).

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two rak’ahs.”

Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

  • Prayer between the adhan and iqamah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Between every two calls (adhan and iqamah) there is a prayer.”

Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

5. A Practical Daily Routine

A Muslim seeking to regularly perform voluntary prayers may aim for:

  • 2 rak’ahs before Fajr
  • 4 before Dhuhr
  • 2 after Dhuhr
  • 2 before Asr (recommended)
  • 2 after Maghrib
  • 2 after Isha
  • Witr before sleeping or at the end of the night
  • 2 or more rak’ahs of Duha
  • Tahajjud whenever able

This combines the most emphasized voluntary prayers reported from the Prophet ﷺ.

6. Relevant Usul Principle

الأمر إذا تجرد عن القرائن حمل على الوجوب، وإذا دلت القرينة على عدم الإلزام حمل على الندب

A command is generally understood as obligatory unless evidence indicates that it is not binding, in which case it is understood as recommended.

The Prophet ﷺ commanded and encouraged many voluntary prayers while also making clear through his practice and other narrations that they are not obligatory. Therefore, these commands are understood as recommendations, not obligations.

Final Ruling

The most emphasized daily Sunnah prayers are the twelve Rawatib rak’ahs surrounding the obligatory prayers: two before Fajr, four before Dhuhr, two after Dhuhr, two after Maghrib, and two after Isha. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to pray Witr every night, the Duha prayer during the morning, Tahajjud during the night, two rak’ahs after wudu, Tahiyyat al Masjid upon entering the mosque, and voluntary prayers between the adhan and iqamah. These voluntary prayers strengthen one’s relationship with Allah and compensate for deficiencies in the obligatory prayers.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by:
Dr. Mahmoud A. Omar
Islamic Jurist and Mufti
Al-Azhar Fatwa Council Member

Methodology:
This fatwa is based on the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the established principles of Islamic jurisprudence (Usool), with consideration of contemporary circumstances.