Are the four rak'ahs after Maghrib the prayer of the repentant or the regular voluntary prayer of Maghrib?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good: I have been praying four rak'ahs after Maghrib for a long time. I am about twenty years old now, and I have been doing this until I am now about sixty years old. Some people interpret it and say that these four rak'ahs are part of the prayer of the repentant. Some of them say: What is the benefit of them? If I leave them, is there anything required of me regarding the four rak'ahs after the Maghrib prayer? I saw the scholars praying them when I was young, and the scholars were praying them when I was young, and then I prayed them myself. I ask you about their ruling, their benefit, and their name. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : As for the regular voluntary prayer, it is only two rak'ahs. The regular voluntary prayer is only two rak'ahs.
The questioner : Two rak'ahs?
The Shaykh : Only two rak'ahs, do not increase. As for what is other than the regular voluntary prayer, pray as much as you wish. If you pray six rak'ahs, or ten rak'ahs, or twenty rak'ahs, the more you increase, the better it is.
The questioner : I mean, if I leave it, I mean, as a voluntary prayer?
The Shaykh : No, do not leave it as a regular voluntary prayer. Do not make the regular voluntary prayer anything but two rak'ahs only.
The questioner : Only two?
The Shaykh : Absolutely.
The questioner : I mean, I do not make it a regular voluntary prayer.
The Shaykh : Do not make it a regular voluntary prayer always. Make it a voluntary prayer, a purely voluntary prayer. Whenever you see yourself able and energetic, pray.
The Shaykh : As for the regular voluntary prayer, it is only two rak'ahs. The regular voluntary prayer is only two rak'ahs.
The questioner : Two rak'ahs?
The Shaykh : Only two rak'ahs, do not increase. As for what is other than the regular voluntary prayer, pray as much as you wish. If you pray six rak'ahs, or ten rak'ahs, or twenty rak'ahs, the more you increase, the better it is.
The questioner : I mean, if I leave it, I mean, as a voluntary prayer?
The Shaykh : No, do not leave it as a regular voluntary prayer. Do not make the regular voluntary prayer anything but two rak'ahs only.
The questioner : Only two?
The Shaykh : Absolutely.
The questioner : I mean, I do not make it a regular voluntary prayer.
The Shaykh : Do not make it a regular voluntary prayer always. Make it a voluntary prayer, a purely voluntary prayer. Whenever you see yourself able and energetic, pray.