Voluntary Prayer

Besides the prescribed obligatory prayers, a person may come up with as many voluntary prayers as is possible. 

Through voluntary prayers a person receives additional rewards and through then he draws closer to "Allah" Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala although a person will not be punished for neglecting to perform voluntary prayers.

However, the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  had set a  tradition of practicing certain voluntary prayers and before and/or after the obligatory prayers and every Muslim is strongly recommended to perform them. 

These are as follows:

a. Dhuhr (Noon) Prayer:

Four(4) rakaats before (with each two rakaats performed separately) and two(2) rakaats after.

b. Maghrib (Sunset) prayer

Two (2) rakaat after 

c. Isha (Evening) prayer

Two(2) rakaats after

d. Fajr (Dawn) prayers

Two(2) rakaats before.

These  voluntary pairs are known in Arabic language as (Rawatib) which may be construed to mean definite practices and the Prophet, Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam ,used to preserve their performance continuously whenever in residence. 

However, during his travel he used to omit their practice except two rakaats  before the Fajr prayer. Performance of these two rakaats is so important that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

"These two rakaats are more important to me than the whole world." (Reported by Imam Muslim)

While there is no objection to perform these optional prayers at the masjid, it is preferred to perform them at home in vieu of the following saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam :

"The best of the prayers are those which are fulfilled at one's home, with the exception of the obligatory prayers (which are to be performed with the congregation at the Masjid)." (Reported by Imam Abu Dawoud)

Fulfilling these twelve (12) voluntary prayers is a means to get admission to paradise as can be noted from the following saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

"Whoever prays optionally twelve rakaats every one day and night, Allah will reward him by an established dwelling in the paradise.,' (Reported by Imam Bukhari)

Besides the the above twelve definite   voluntary prayers, the person may also pray four optional rakaats before asr (Afternoon) prayer, and two before Isha (Evening) prayer, because these were also reported to have been practiced by the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam .

Times When The Performance Of Voluntary Prayers Is Prohibited

There are certain times when involuntary prayers are not allowed to be performed and these are as follows:

1. In between the Fajr prayer and the rising of the Sun.

2. In between when the sun is close to its Zenith and the Dhuhr prayer

3. In between the Asr prayer and until sunset.

However, a person can perform the two rakaats  prayed as salutation to the masjid whenever a person enters a masjid even though, the time of entering the Masjid may coincide with one of the above stated timings. 

This is in accordance with the following Prophetic sayings:

 "Anyone of you entering a Masjid, should not sit until after performing two rakaats.' (Reported by Imam Al- Bukhari)