What Nafl and Sunnat Prayers Are
After the five daily fard prayers — gathered in the three Bohra sittings of Fajr, Zohrain (Zohr with Asr) and Maghribain (Maghrib with Isha) — a believer is encouraged to offer extra, voluntary rak’at. These are the nafl (literally ‘surplus’ or ‘extra’) prayers, also spoken of as sunnat because they follow the practice of the Prophet and his Ahl al-Bayt. The key thing to remember is their status: they are recommended (mustahab), not obligatory. Leaving them out is never a sin, and there is no qada’a (make-up) owed for a missed nafl the way there is for a missed fard. What they bring instead is closeness to Allah and abundant reward.
A beautiful teaching, reflected in Da’a’im al-Islam, is that nawafil ‘make up’ or perfect the fard. If a believer’s obligatory prayer fell short in attention or quality, the voluntary prayers offered around it help complete it on the Day of Reckoning. This is why the pious never abandon their nawafil: they are a gift and a safeguard at once.
In niyyat, you intend the prayer specifically as nafl or sunnat (e.g. ‘nafl of the night’) rather than as fard, so that its status is clear. Most nafl are offered two rak’at at a time, with the same recitation and postures as any namaz.
The Nawafil Around the Daily Prayers and Salat al-Layl
Recommended rak’at accompany the daily fard, offered before or after it, and additional nawafil cluster around the Maghribain sitting in the early night. The community Mansak lays out exactly which nawafil attach to each sitting and how many rak’at each carries; because these counts and their arrangement are detailed and can vary in how they are described, this guide does not fix specific numbers — look them up in your Mansak.
The most emphasised standalone nafl is salat al-layl, the night vigil (also called tahajjud or qiyam al-layl). It is offered in the latter part of the night, after sleep and before the dawn of Fajr, and is among the most beloved acts of worship. The Quran praises those who rise at night for it (see 17:79 and 73:1–6). It is prayed in pairs of two rak’at and is traditionally completed with the witr prayer, the ‘odd’ closing prayer that seals the night’s worship. Other cherished nawafil include voluntary prayers tied to special days and nights, and du’a-rich vigils during Ramadan.
None of these is obligatory. They are offered freely, for love and reward, and may be shortened or set aside when one is tired, travelling or unwell, without any blame.
Keeping It Practical — and Confirming the Method
If you are beginning, a gentle path is to add nafl gradually: perhaps the rak’at after Maghrib first, then reach for salat al-layl when you can rise for it. Consistency in a small amount is more beloved than a large amount abandoned. Pray each nafl with a clear niyyat naming it as nafl or sunnat, two rak’at at a time, and close your night worship with witr.
Because the precise rak’at counts, the exact nawafil attached to each of the three sittings, their order, and the recommended surahs and du’a are all set out fully in the community Mansak — and details can differ from general descriptions — please treat this guide as a study aid only. The authoritative method is the Dawoodi Bohra Mansak, and you should confirm the specifics with your aamil saheb so that your worship follows it faithfully.
See also: Rakat Counts Of Salat, Witr Prayer, Nafl, Niyyat Of Salat