Voluntary Prayers: How Do We Perform Them, How Many Are There, and Is It Better to Pray Them at Home or in the Mosque?
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The questioner : How do we perform the voluntary prayers? How many are there? Is it better to pray them at home or in the mosque?
The Shaykh : A person performs the voluntary prayers in the same manner as he performs the obligatory prayer, because the principle for a voluntary prayer is that it is like the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence to the contrary. The voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayers, which are called the rawatib, are twelve rak'ahs: four rak'ahs before the midday prayer, after the adhan, but one should say the taslim after every two rak'ahs; two rak'ahs after the midday prayer; two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer; two rak'ahs after the night prayer; and two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer. This last one is the most emphasized of the rawatib, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not leave them, whether resident or traveling. As for the rawatib of the midday, sunset, and night prayers, they are not prayed while traveling. As for the afternoon prayer, it has no regular voluntary prayer attached to it. These are the rawatib attached to the obligatory prayers, and a person should not leave them, because they complete the obligatory prayers on the Day of Resurrection. They are like patches that are sewn onto a garment. It is well known that most of those who pray have defects and shortcomings in their prayers, and they need these rawatib to compensate for them. Know that the rawatib of the dawn prayer has specific characteristics, among which is that it is the best of the rawatib. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 416Sahih (Darussalam) Also, it has a specific recitation: in the first rak'ah, one recites and in the second, [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] along with al-Fatihah, or one recites in the first rak'ah: [Al-Baqarah 2:136] to the end of the verse in al-Baqarah, and in the second rak'ah: [Ali 'Imran 3:64]
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.
The Shaykh : A person performs the voluntary prayers in the same manner as he performs the obligatory prayer, because the principle for a voluntary prayer is that it is like the obligatory prayer unless there is evidence to the contrary. The voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayers, which are called the rawatib, are twelve rak'ahs: four rak'ahs before the midday prayer, after the adhan, but one should say the taslim after every two rak'ahs; two rak'ahs after the midday prayer; two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer; two rak'ahs after the night prayer; and two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer. This last one is the most emphasized of the rawatib, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not leave them, whether resident or traveling. As for the rawatib of the midday, sunset, and night prayers, they are not prayed while traveling. As for the afternoon prayer, it has no regular voluntary prayer attached to it. These are the rawatib attached to the obligatory prayers, and a person should not leave them, because they complete the obligatory prayers on the Day of Resurrection. They are like patches that are sewn onto a garment. It is well known that most of those who pray have defects and shortcomings in their prayers, and they need these rawatib to compensate for them. Know that the rawatib of the dawn prayer has specific characteristics, among which is that it is the best of the rawatib. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:
The two Rak'ah of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.
ركعتي الفجر، خير من الدنيا وما فيهاSay: O you disbelievers!
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌSay, [O believers], "We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَSay, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]."
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.