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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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What are the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib)? And what is the number of their rak'ahs?

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I heard that there are regular voluntary prayers (rawatib) consisting of twelve rak'ahs, including two before the midday prayer, two after it, and two after the sunset prayer. The question is: does "before the midday prayer" mean after the call to prayer for the midday prayer, or before I pray, or before the call to prayer? Please advise me about the specific time for them and about these voluntary prayers. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The rawatib are as the questioner mentioned. The correct view is that they are twelve rak'ahs: four before the midday prayer and two after it, two after the sunset prayer and two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. These are called the rawatib. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to be consistent in performing them. It is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
A house will be built in Paradise, for anyone who prays in a day and a night twelve rak'ahsمن صلى ثنتي عشرة ركعة في يوم وليلة بني له بهن بيت في الجنة
Sahih Muslim 728a
, and in another narration: (voluntarily). Al-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) added an explanation of this by these rawatib:
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.أربعاً قبل الظهر وثنتين بعدها، ثنتين بعد المغرب، ثنتين بعد العشاء، ثنتين قبل صلاة الصبح
. So it is prescribed for the believing man and woman to be consistent in performing these rawatib so that they follow the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in this and emulate him (peace and blessings be upon him). Four before the midday prayer means after the sun has passed its zenith, even if before the call to prayer. As long as the sun has passed its zenith, if he prays them, the requirement is fulfilled. Or if he prays them after the call to prayer, it is prescribed that they be before the obligatory prayer; he prays them before the obligatory prayer with two taslims, and one taslim after. And he prays two after the sunset prayer and two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer. These are the rawatib. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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