Book 8: The Book of Virtues

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha prayer, he would perform eleven Rak'ah before the Fajr prayer, concluding each two Rak'ah with Taslim (i.e., saying As-Salamu 'Alaikum) and observing the Witr (odd) at the end. When the Mu'adhdhin finished proclaiming Adhan for the Fajr prayer and it was dawn, he would rise and perform two short Rak'ah, and then would lie down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to (inform) him about Iqamah.

[Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When anyone of you has performed two of Sunnah before the Fajr prayer, he should lie down on his right side."

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I performed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two Rak'ah before and two after Zuhr prayers.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four Rak'ah supererogatory prayer before Zuhr prayers.

[Al-Bukhari].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) stayed in my house, he would perform four Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer) before Zuhr prayer. Then he would go out and lead Salat. He (ﷺ) would then come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). He would lead the Maghrib prayer and come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). When he (ﷺ) had led the 'Isha' prayer, he would enter the house and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer).

[Muslim]

Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer and four after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will shield him against the Fire (of Hell).

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

'Abdullah bin As-Sa'ib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak'ah prayer after the declining of the sun before Zuhr prayer and would say, "This is an hour at which the gates of heaven are opened, and I like that my good deeds should rise to heaven at that time."

[At- Tirmidhi].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: If the Prophet (ﷺ) could not perform four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer, he would perform them after it (i.e., after the obligatory prayer).

[At-Tirmidhi].

'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer, separating them with Taslim (i.e., offering blessings) on the favourite angels who are near Allah's proximity and the Muslims and the believers who come after them.

[At- Tirmidhi].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "May Allah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform two Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer.

[Abu Dawud].

'Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform two Rak'ah before Maghrib prayer." He (ﷺ) repeated it twice; when repeating it for the third time he added: "He who may so wish."

[Al- Bukhari].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the principal Companions of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rushing to the pillars (of the mosque) to perform two Rak'ah prayers behind them before the Maghrib prayer.

[Al-Bukhari].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: In the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we used to perform two Rak'ah (optional prayer) after sunset before the Maghrib prayer. It was asked: "Did Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform them?" He replied: "He saw us performing it, but he neither ordered us to perform them nor did he forbid us from doing so."

[Muslim].

Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When we were in Al-Madinah, the moment the Mu'adhdhin finished the Adhan of the Maghrib prayer, the people hastened to the pillars of the mosque and performed two Rak'ah prayer behind them. A stranger coming into the mosque would think that the obligatory prayer had already been performed because of the number of people performing them.

[Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you performs the Friday prayer, he should perform four Rak'ah (Sunnah) after it."

[Muslim].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) would not perform any Salat (in the mosque) after the Friday prayer till he had returned to his house. He would then perform two Rak'ah there.

[Muslim].

Zaid bin Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O people! perform your (voluntary) Salat (prayers) in your homes because the best Salat of a man is the one he performs at home, except the obligatory Salat."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Observe part of the [Nawafil (voluntary)] Salat (prayers) in your homes. Do not turn your homes into graves."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When you have finished your (Fard) Salat (prayer) in the mosque, you should observe some of your (Sunnah and Nawafil) Salat at home; Allah will bless your homes because of your Salat (in your homes)."

[Muslim]