The Ruling on the Sunnah Before the Night Prayer

Question:
From the Syrian Arab Republic, this is a message sent by one of the brothers from there. He says: The narrator, Abdullah from Deir al-Zor, our brother, has a set of questions. In his first question, he says: Many people in our village are arguing about the Sunnah before the night prayer. Some say it is confirmed, and others say it is not confirmed. So I ask Your Eminence, the Shaykh, to clarify this matter.

Answer:
It is not confirmed, and praise be to Allah. Whoever wishes may pray it, and whoever wishes may leave it off, between the adhan and the iqamah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So whoever wishes may pray them, and whoever wishes may leave them off, between the adhan and the iqamah in the night prayer, and likewise in the sunset prayer.
As for between the adhan and the iqamah in the midday prayer, it is confirmed. One prays four rak'ahs with two taslims; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray four rak'ahs before the midday prayer, praying two and two—(peace and blessings be upon him)—and these are among the rawatib. Four rak'ahs before the midday prayer are among the rawatib.
As for the afternoon prayer, it is recommended, and it is not confirmed. In the hadith: And the Sunnah is to pray two and two , as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. And one should not argue about this. These are recommended matters and voluntary acts; one should not argue about them. Rather, one should engage in discussion and research among the brothers, with the students of knowledge, so that they may benefit. So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If one prays two rak'ahs between the adhan of the sunset prayer and the sunset prayer, between the adhan of the night prayer and the night prayer, between the adhan of the afternoon prayer and the afternoon prayer, or prays four, all of that is permissible.
As for the midday prayer, it has a rawatib before it, which is four rak'ahs. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave off four before the midday prayer," meaning: with two taslims. And as for after the midday prayer, it is two rak'ahs of rawatib that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain. And whoever prays four after the midday prayer, that is better. And likewise after the night prayer, two rak'ahs, and after the sunset prayer, two rak'ahs, and before the dawn prayer, two rak'ahs, meaning: one prays two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer. These are all rawatib. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain them. So the total is twelve rak'ahs. These are the rawatib that the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) used to maintain. They are four before the midday prayer and two after it, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. And it is better to perform them in the house, and if one performs them in the mosque, there is no harm. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah bless you.