The confirmed sunnah prayers are:
1- 4 rak’ahs before Zhuhr;
2- 2 rak’ahs after Zhuhr;
3- 2 rak’ahs after Maghrib;
4- 2 rak’ahs after ‘Isha; and
5- 2 rak’ahs before the Fajr.
Principles of Fiqh
Sunnah Prayers
Question: 1048
What are the confirmed sunnah prayers (Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib)? And when should they be performed?
Summary of answer
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The answer to your question about al-sunan al-rawatib is a Hadith by the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) in which he said:
"Allah will build a house in Heaven for whoever is diligent in observing 12 Sunnah Rak'at (as follows): 4 Rak'at before and 2 after the Zhuhr (Midday) Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib (Sunset Prayer), 2 after the ‘Isha (Evening) Prayer and 2 before the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer." (Hadith sahih narrated by at-Tirmidhi No. 379 and by others. Hadith No. 6183 in Sahih al-Jami’.)
Anbasah ibn Abi Sufyan quoted Umm Habibah as saying "Allah’s Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"A house will be built in Heaven for one who prays 12 Rak'at in a day and evening as follows: 4 Rak'at before and 2 after the Zhuhr Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib Prayer, 2 after the ‘Isha Prayer and 2 before the Fajr Prayer." (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi under No. 380. He said: The Hadith narrated by Anbasah quoting Umm Habibah in this chapter is a hassan and sahih hadith. It is under No. 6362 in Sahih al-Jami’.)
The ‘Asr (Late-Afternoon) Prayer has no routine Sunnah (basic recommended voluntary prayer). However, it is mustahab (preferable and recommended) that one prays 4 Rak'at before the ‘Asr Prayer. The 4 Rak'ahs are of less reward and significance in importance of adhering to them compared to the "sunan al-rawatib" described above. The 4 Rak'ahs are the ones intended by the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) in saying: "May Allah have mercy on one who prays 4 rak’at before the ‘Asr Prayer." (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi no. 395 and he declared it a hassan and gharib Hadith. Al-Albany rated the Hadith as hassan in Sahih al-Jami’ No. 3493.)
All the foregoing 4-Rak'ah voluntary prayers are to be prayed two at a time according to Imam ash-Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad.
For more about sunnah prayers, please see these answers: 65746 , 181043 , 150006 , 187769 , and 297
Allah, the Exalted, knows best.
Source:
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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