Ṣalāt al-Maktūbah—the obligatory (Farḍ) prayers—and Ṣalāt al-Taṭawwuʿ—the voluntary (Nafl) prayers

During the time of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, prayers were essentially of two kinds: Ṣalāt al-Maktūbah—the obligatory (Farḍ) prayers—and Ṣalāt al-Taṭawwuʿ—the voluntary (Nafl) prayers. There was no separate category known as “Sunnah prayers.”

 The Prophet ﷺ regularly performed certain voluntary prayers alongside the obligatory prayers and encouraged his companions to do the same. Because of this consistent practice, Muslims later came to refer to these particular voluntary prayers as “Sunnah” prayers.

 In reality, however, they remain voluntary (Nafl) prayers. If a person offers them, they become a great means of drawing closer to Allah. If a person does not offer them, he has not neglected an obligation.

 This is why the Prophet ﷺ gave glad tidings that whoever regularly performs these voluntary (Nafl) prayers (12 rakʿahs of regular voluntary prayers) along with the obligatory prayers will be rewarded by Allah with a house in Paradise. The 12 rakʿahs are:

•  2 before Fajr
• 4 before Dhuhr
• 2 after Dhuhr
• 2 after Maghrib
• 2 after Isha

Total = 12 rakʿahs (Note there are no Nafals with Asar)

 The hadith states: “Whoever prays twelve rakʿahs during the day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.” This narration is found in Sahih Muslim.

 [Some narrations mention 2 before Dhuhr instead of 4 before Dhuhr, but the commonly cited total that reaches twelve is: 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12 rakʿahs.]

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 Aamir I. Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Thought & Civilization (Pakistan)
MSc Irrigation Engineering (UK)