The Regular Voluntary Prayers Before and After the Obligatory Prayers
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Question:
He asks another question, Your Eminence the Shaykh, saying: Tell us about the voluntary prayers—the regular ones—about their number, and draw our attention to their importance. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The regular voluntary prayers preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which he used to maintain and be consistent with, are twelve rak'ahs by night and day. These are called the regular prayers attached to the obligatory prayers: four before the midday prayer, two after it, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. This is how the hadiths indicating this came, from the hadith of Aishah, Ibn 'Umar, Umm Habibah, and others.
The four before the midday prayer are two salam, and the two after the midday prayer are one salam. If one prays four after the midday prayer, that is better, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever maintains four before the midday prayer and four after it, Allah will protect him from the Fire.” Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan collections reported this with a good chain from Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her). And two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. Ibn 'Umar mentioned this in the two Sahihs, and it is agreed upon from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar. Others besides Ibn 'Umar, such as Aishah and others, also mentioned this.
It is also recommended to pray four before the afternoon prayer, as in the hadith:Bulugh al-Maram 2:263 It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did so, and it is established that he did so on some occasions, peace and blessings be upon him.
The point is: it is recommended to pray four before the afternoon prayer with two salam, even if they are not named as regular prayers. Likewise, between the two calls to prayer: two after the call to the sunset prayer, and two after the call to the night prayer. These are recommended if the call is made and he is in the mosque; he stands and prays two rak'ahs. Likewise with the call to the night prayer, or if he enters the mosque after the call and prays two rak'ahs as the greeting of the mosque. If he adds to them, there is no harm before the prayer.
As for the dawn prayer, the recommended practice is only two rak'ahs before it, with no addition. Two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer; if he prays them at home, that is better. And if he comes to the mosque, he prays the two rak'ahs of the greeting before the prayer. If he arrives and the imam has not yet stood for the prayer, he prays two rak'ahs as the greeting of the mosque. If he prays them in the mosque, they suffice for the greeting of the mosque. If he prays them in the mosque, they suffice for the greeting of the mosque, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:28 If they are missed, he prays them after the prayer. If they are missed and it does not facilitate for him to perform them before the dawn prayer, he prays them after the dawn prayer, or after the sun rises. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
He asks another question, Your Eminence the Shaykh, saying: Tell us about the voluntary prayers—the regular ones—about their number, and draw our attention to their importance. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The regular voluntary prayers preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which he used to maintain and be consistent with, are twelve rak'ahs by night and day. These are called the regular prayers attached to the obligatory prayers: four before the midday prayer, two after it, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. This is how the hadiths indicating this came, from the hadith of Aishah, Ibn 'Umar, Umm Habibah, and others.
The four before the midday prayer are two salam, and the two after the midday prayer are one salam. If one prays four after the midday prayer, that is better, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever maintains four before the midday prayer and four after it, Allah will protect him from the Fire.” Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan collections reported this with a good chain from Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her). And two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. Ibn 'Umar mentioned this in the two Sahihs, and it is agreed upon from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar. Others besides Ibn 'Umar, such as Aishah and others, also mentioned this.
It is also recommended to pray four before the afternoon prayer, as in the hadith:
May Allah mercy on a person who prays four Rak'at before the 'Asr prayer.
رحم الله امرأً صلى أربعًا قبل العصرThe point is: it is recommended to pray four before the afternoon prayer with two salam, even if they are not named as regular prayers. Likewise, between the two calls to prayer: two after the call to the sunset prayer, and two after the call to the night prayer. These are recommended if the call is made and he is in the mosque; he stands and prays two rak'ahs. Likewise with the call to the night prayer, or if he enters the mosque after the call and prays two rak'ahs as the greeting of the mosque. If he adds to them, there is no harm before the prayer.
As for the dawn prayer, the recommended practice is only two rak'ahs before it, with no addition. Two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer; if he prays them at home, that is better. And if he comes to the mosque, he prays the two rak'ahs of the greeting before the prayer. If he arrives and the imam has not yet stood for the prayer, he prays two rak'ahs as the greeting of the mosque. If he prays them in the mosque, they suffice for the greeting of the mosque. If he prays them in the mosque, they suffice for the greeting of the mosque, due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no Salat (voluntary prayer) after the break of dawn ecept the two (Sunnah) Rak'a of Fajr.
لا صلاة بعد طلوع الفجر إلا ركعتي الفجرThe presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.