6/15. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 728c — Daily Sunnah Prayers
The virtue of the regular sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory prayers, and their numbers
Daily Sunnah Prayers Hadith: Twelve Rak‘ahs for the Sake of Allah
Sahih Muslim : 728c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 728c
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يُصَلِّي لِلَّهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تَطَوُّعًا غَيْرَ فَرِيضَةٍ إِلاَّ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَوْ إِلاَّ بُنِيَ لَهُ بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ " . قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ فَمَا بَرِحْتُ أُصَلِّيهِنَّ بَعْدُ . وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو مَا بَرِحْتُ أُصَلِّيهِنَّ بَعْدُ . وَقَالَ النُّعْمَانُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ .
Umm Habibah Narrated from:
Umm Habiba, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If any Muslim servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of Allah twelve rak'ahs (of Sunan) every day, over and above the obligatory ones, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise, or a house will be built for him in Paradise; and I have not abandoned observing them after (hearing it from the Messenger of Allah). (So said also 'Amr and Nu'man.)
Reference : Sahih Muslim 728cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 126USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1581
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 728c
This daily Sunnah prayers hadith gives more detail about the twelve rak‘ahs. Umm Habiba reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that any Muslim servant who prays twelve voluntary rak‘ahs every day for the sake of Allah, other than the obligatory prayers, will have a house built for him in Paradise. The phrase “for the sake of Allah” keeps the focus on sincere worship, while “other than the obligatory ones” makes it clear that these are voluntary prayers. Umm Habiba also said that she did not abandon them after hearing this. This hadith is often searched as the twelve Sunnah rak‘ahs hadith, 12 rakats Sunnah prayer, and house in Jannah hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The twelve rak‘ahs are voluntary prayers beyond the obligatory prayers.
- The hadith connects these daily prayers with a house in Paradise.
- The act is described as prayer for the sake of Allah.
- Umm Habiba’s response shows steady care for this practice.
