format_quote Originally Posted by
SBK786
Assalam Alaikum,
I have always been thinking about the voluntary prayers (Nafl).
What I wanted answered, inshallah, is can you pray Nafl anytime?
What is the ruling on the timings of Nafl prayer?
Jazakallah Khayr.
If you don't know, Nafl prayers are not obligatory, they are those prayers which you draw closer to Allah swt.
He SWT says: "My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I will love him.When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, hishand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] ofMe, I would surely give it to him; and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it''
Jazakallah Khair.
Allah knows best.
:sl:
Nafil prayers are a means of gaining closeness to Allah as we are the closest to Allah during prostration and in prayer we have a direct connection with our lord. Therefore praying Nafils prayers are very much encouraged especially during this blessed month whereby we are rewarded like we prayed a fard prayer for each nafil prayer we pray. Nafil prayers can be prayed anytime except:
1. After praying Fajr until 20 minutes after sunrise.
2. 20 minutes before Dhuhur begins (Zawwal-when the sun is at its highest)
3. After Asr prayer up until Maghrib
Apart from these times Nafil prayers are very much encouraged.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “...And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.”
[Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887]
Pray 12 Raka'ahs of Sunnah daily: - 2 Sunnah of Fajr, 4 Sunnah & 2 Sunnah of Dhuhr and 2 Sunnah of Maghrib
Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan (RA) narrated she heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying: “A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve units of Prayers other than the obligatory ones in day and night, to seek pleasure of Allah.”
[Muslim]
Salaatul Duhaa (Can be prayed from 20 mins after sunrise up until 20 minutes before Dhuhr begins)
So we should remain seated after Fajr prayer & recite the Qur'an or do Dhikr up until 20 minutes after Sunrise and pray Salaatul Duhaa. If not then we can pray it anytime before midday.
'Salat al-Dhuhaa consists of 2 - 12 Rakaats and it is preferable to perform 8 Rakaats.' [
Raddul Mukhtaar vol.1 pg.505]
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: Whoever prayed twelve rakaats (before midday), then Allah will, as a reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise.
[Mishkat, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]
4 Sunnah, 2 Sunnah & 2 Nafil of Dhuhr
Umm Habibah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever sticks to the habit of offering four rak`ahs before Noon Prayer and four rak`ahs after it, Allah will shield him against the Hell-Fire.”
[Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi]
Raka'ahs Sunnah of Asr
The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa sallam) said: "May Allaah have Mercy on the one who offers four (Raka'ahs) before 'Asr prayer."
[Abu Dawud]
Two Raka'ahs Sunnah after entering Masjid
Abu Qatadah (RA) narrated the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as saying: “If any one of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak`ahs before sitting.”
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Tahiyyatul Wudu - 2 Raka'ahs Voluntary prayer after doing Wudu (Ablution)
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying to Bilal (RA): “Tell me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (RA) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me to do.”
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Tahajjud - The Night Vigil Prayer
The MOST REWARDING Voluntary prayer after the Obligatory prayers is Tahajjud:
Abu Hurairah (Ra) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “The best fast after the fast of Ramadan is the fast of Muharram and the best Salaah after the obligatory prayers is the prayer performed at night.”
[Muslim]
Allah listens to the prayers at night:
Jaabir (RA) says that he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying,
“Certainly in the night, there is a moment in which, if coincided by a
submissive person asking Allah of the good of this world and the hereafter, Allah gives him whatever he asks for, and that is the entire night.
[Muslim]
Those who had the habit of praying Tahajjud will enter Paradise:
Asmaa binte Yazeed (Ra) narrates that The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “On the day of resurrection, the people will be gathered upon one plain field
and an announcer will proclaim saying, “Where are those who separated their sides from their beds? A little amount of people will stand up. They will enter
paradise without reckoning, and then it will be ordered that the remaining people be taken to reckoning”.
[Baihaqi]
The Tahajjud prayer can be prayed After Isha but is best to pray it after sleeping and then awakening in the third part of the night before Fajr begins. It is between 2 - 12 Raka'hs.
Then let us pray all of our Obligatory prayers on time (congregation for men) and increase in doing volntary prayers especially during this blessed month for every voluntary prayer is rewarded like that of an Obligatory prayer! Subhanallah how generous is Allah!