Al-Sunan al-Rawatib: The Regular Sunnah Prayers
The rawatib (رَوَاتِب — regular, consistent) are the Sunnah prayers that the Prophet (SAW) prayed consistently alongside the five fard prayers. They are subdivided into:
Al-sunan al-mu’akkada (السُّنَنُ المُؤَكَّدَة — the emphasized Sunnahs): Those the Prophet never abandoned except when traveling. Missing them without valid reason is blameworthy but not sinful.
Al-sunan ghayr mu’akkada (السُّنَنُ غَيرُ المُؤَكَّدَة — the non-emphasized Sunnahs): Additional voluntary prayers the Prophet prayed but not as consistently.
The Twelve Rak’at of Rawatib (Emphasized)
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever regularly prays twelve rak’at of voluntary prayer, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise: four rak’at before Zuhr and two after it, two after Maghrib, two after Isha, and two before Fajr.” (Muslim, Tirmidhi)
| Prayer | Before Fard | After Fard | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 (emphasized) | — | 2 |
| Zuhr | 4 (emphasized) | 2 (emphasized) | 6 |
| Asr | — or 4 (non-emphasized) | — | 0-4 |
| Maghrib | — | 2 (emphasized) | 2 |
| Isha | — | 2 (emphasized) | 2 |
| Total emphasized | 12 |
The 2 before Fajr (rak’atayi al-fajr): The Prophet (SAW) gave special status to these two rak’at: “The two rak’at of Fajr Sunnah are better than the world and everything in it.” (Muslim) He never abandoned them, even when traveling. They are prayed as two quick rak’at immediately before the Fajr adhan or between the adhan and fard.
The 4 before Zuhr: The Prophet said: “Whoever is consistent in four rak’at before Zuhr and four after, Allah forbids the fire from touching him.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) These are prayed in sets of two, with a salam between if praying as 2+2, or as four with one salam in the Hanafi approach.
The 2 after Maghrib: These are among the fastest-prayed Sunnahs — the Prophet prayed them at home immediately after Maghrib. Aisha (ra) said he never missed them.
The 2 after Isha: These close the day’s prayers. Combined with the Witr prayer (which follows), they form the end of the daily prayer cycle.
Salat al-Duha: The Forenoon Prayer
When: Between sunrise (approximately 20 minutes after sunrise, when the sun has fully cleared the horizon) and slightly before Zuhr time. The optimal time is midway between sunrise and Zuhr (when the sun is at one-quarter of its journey).
How many: Minimum 2 rak’at; maximum unlimited. The Prophet mentioned 8 rak’at for the conquest of Mecca; some hadith indicate 12 as particularly meritorious.
The reward: “Charity from every joint is required of every person each day. Every utterance of ‘SubhanAllah’ is charity, every utterance of ‘Alhamdulillah’ is charity, every utterance of ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ is charity, every utterance of ‘Allahu Akbar’ is charity, commanding good is charity, forbidding evil is charity — and two rak’at of Duha suffices for all of this.” (Muslim)
In Bohra tradition: Salat al-Duha (also called Salat al-Ishrak in some terminology, though scholars distinguish between the two) is encouraged. It is prayed individually, at home or at the masjid.
Salat al-Tahajjud: The Night Prayer
The night prayer in the Quran: “And from the night, pray with it as additional worship for you — perhaps your Lord will resurrect you in a praised station.” (17:79) This verse singles out the Prophet for the night prayer as a nawafil — additional worship beyond the fard — and promises the Maqam Mahmud (the praised station of intercession on the Day of Judgment).
When: After Isha and before Fajr — the last third of the night is optimal. The Prophet (SAW) said: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Muslim)
How many: Minimum 2 rak’at; the Prophet’s practice varied from 8 to 13 rak’at, including Witr. He often prayed long rak’at standing for extended periods reciting lengthy portions of the Quran.
Waking for Tahajjud: The night prayer’s reward is partly connected to the effort of waking — “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and says: ‘Who calls upon Me that I may answer them? Who asks of Me that I may give to them? Who seeks My forgiveness that I may forgive them?’” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Salat al-Witr: The Closing Odd-Rak’at Prayer
Status: The Prophet (SAW) said: “Witr is a right upon every Muslim.” (Abu Dawud) This makes Witr stronger than the ordinary rawatib — some scholars consider it wajib (obligatory, not just Sunnah) based on the emphatic hadiths.
Time: After Isha prayer until just before Fajr. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Make Witr your last prayer of the night.” (Bukhari) Those who are confident they will wake for Tahajjud pray Witr at the end; those who are not confident pray it before sleeping.
How many rak’at: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 rak’at — always an odd number. The minimum is one rak’a. Three is the most common form — either three continuous rak’at (Hanafi) or two rak’at with salam then one rak’a (Shafi’i/Maliki/Hanbali).
Du’a al-Qunoot in Witr: In Witr’s odd rak’a, the qunoot supplication is recited (see [[dua-qunoot]] for full text and explanation).
Salat al-Tawba: The Prayer of Repentance
“Whoever commits a sin, then performs ablution, prays two rak’at, and seeks Allah’s forgiveness — Allah will forgive him.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
Two rak’at prayed with the specific intention of repentance (tawba) from a sin committed. This is among the most practical of the nafl prayers — available at any time of day, prayed privately, and connected to the process of sincere repentance. After praying these two rak’at, one asks Allah’s forgiveness sincerely, intends not to return to the sin, and trusts in Allah’s mercy.
Salat al-Hajat: The Prayer of Need
“Whoever has a need from Allah or from any person, let him perform wuzu and pray two rak’at, then praise Allah, then send salawat on the Prophet, then pray: ‘La ilaha illa Allah al-halim al-karim, subhana Allah rabb al-‘arsh al-‘azim…’ then ask for his need.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja)
Two rak’at prayed when one has a specific need or request from Allah — asking for guidance on a decision, asking for removal of a difficulty, or asking for a specific blessing. Combined with sincere du’a after the prayer, this is one of the Prophetic prescriptions for turning need into worship.
Prayer Schedule: What a Day of Full Sunnah Looks Like
For a Muslim who prays the fard plus the emphasized rawatib plus selected nafl:
- Before Fajr: 2 rak’at Sunnah (pre-Fajr)
- Fajr: 2 rak’at fard
- After sunrise: 2-8 rak’at Duha
- Before Zuhr: 4 rak’at Sunnah
- Zuhr: 4 rak’at fard
- After Zuhr: 2 rak’at Sunnah
- Asr: 4 rak’at fard
- Maghrib: 3 rak’at fard
- After Maghrib: 2 rak’at Sunnah
- Isha: 4 rak’at fard
- After Isha: 2 rak’at Sunnah + Witr (1-11 rak’at)
- Night (if waking): Tahajjud (2-8+ rak’at)
This is the life of prayer the Prophet (SAW) modeled — not the five prayers as an isolated minimum but as anchors in a day saturated with connection to Allah.
See also: Understanding Namaz, Salat Al Witr, Dua Qunoot, Tahajjud, Post Namaz Routine, Tawakkul Trust In Allah