Observing al-Sunan al-Rawatib (Sunnah Mu'akkadah)¹

1- Narrated Ibn Omar (radya Allah anhu [may Allah be pleased with him]): "I offered with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) two rak'at before the Dhuhr and two rak'at after the Dhuhr prayer; two rak'at after Maghrib, Isha' and the Jumua prayers. Those of the Maghrib and 'Isha' were offered in his house."¹

2- Abdullah Ibn Shaqiq said: I asked 'Aisha (radya Allah anha [may Allah be pleased with her]) about Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him) voluntary prayers, and she replied: "Before the Dhuhr prayer, he used to pray four rak'at in my house; then would go out and lead the people in prayer; then come in and pray two rak'at. He would then lead the people in the Maghrib prayer; then come in and pray two rak'at. Then he would lead the people in the Isha prayer, and enter my house and pray two rak'at. He would pray nine rak'at during the night, including Witr. At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting, and 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 it was dawn he would pray two rak'at."²

3- Umm Habiba (ra) reported that Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A house will be built in Paradise for anyone who prays in a day and a night twelve rak'at (of sunnah prayers), four before and two after the Dhuhr prayer, two after the Maghrib prayer, two after the isha prayer and two before the Fajr prayer."³

4- 'Aisha (ra) said: "There are two prayers that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never neglected to pray in my house secretly or publicly: two rak'at before Fajr and two rak'at after 'Asr."⁴

5- 'Aisha narrated (ra): "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was never more regular and particular in offering any nawafil (voluntary prayers) than the two rak'at of  Fajr prayer."⁵

6- 'Aisha narrated (ra): "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never missed four the rak'at before the Dhuhr prayer and two rak'at before the Fajr prayer."⁶

7- 'Aisha (ra) reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The two (sunnah) rak'at of Fajr are better than this world and all what it contains."⁷

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([1]) al-Sunan al-Rawatib (supererogatory prayers that were stressed and regularly performed by Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him)

([2]) Sahih Muslim – Kitab Salatu Al-Musafreen (927), Sahih Al-Bukhari – Kitab Al-Jum'ah (739).

([3]) Sahih Muslim – Kitab Salatu Al-Musafreen (037).

([4])Sahih Muslim – Kitab Salatu Al-Musafreen (827).

([5]) Sahih Al-Bukhari – Kitab Mawaqeet Al-Salah (295), Sahih Muslim – Kitab Salatu Al-Musafreen (538)

([6])Sahih Al-Bukhari – Kitab Al-Jum'ah (3611).

([7])Sahih Al-Bukhari – Kitab Al-Jum'ah (2811).

([8]) Sahih Muslim – Kitab Salatu Al-Musafreen (527)