Sunnah and Nawafil Prayers
Total Hadiths 399
Authentic Hadiths on Sunnah and Nawafil Prayers
According to Islamic scholars, these authentic accounts outline the proper practices surrounding voluntary worship and timing. The Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged everyone to offer some voluntary prayers, like Nawafil, at home so their houses do not become dark like graves. The narrations also detail specific historical practices, such as combining Maghrib and Isha prayers at Muzdalifah just as the Prophet (ﷺ) did. Furthermore, several narrations emphasize the massive blessings of waiting for the Isha prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) regularly delayed this night prayer, explaining that the time spent waiting counts directly as active worship. He noted that this patience makes the community superior to other nations, though he balanced this by avoiding excessive delays out of consideration for the weak and sick.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي قَالَتْ، عَائِشَةُ ابْنَ أُخْتِي مَا تَرَكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم السَّجْدَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ عِنْدِي قَطُّ.
Narrated Hisham's father: `Aisha (addressing me) said, "O son of my sister! The Prophet (ﷺ) never missed two prostrations (i.e. rak`at) after the `Asr prayer in my house."
[1] See chapter No.33 after the Hadith No.589.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 591In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 66USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 565
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنْ كَهْمَسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُغَفَّلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " بَيْنَ كُلِّ أَذَانَيْنِ صَلاَةٌ " . قَالَهَا ثَلاَثًا قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ " لِمَنْ شَاءَ " .
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal said: “The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Between every two Adhans there is a prayer.’ He said it three times, and on the third time he said, ‘For those who wish.’”*
[1] Meaning Adhân and Iqâmah , see the explanation of Sindi .Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1162In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 360English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1162
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُطَّلِبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سَأَلَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ أُوتِرُ قَالَ أَوْتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ . قَالَ إِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ الْبُتَيْرَاءُ فَقَالَ سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ . يُرِيدُ هَذِهِ سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ .
A man asked Ibn ‘Umar: “How should I perform Witr?” He said: “Pray Witr with one Rak’ah.” He said: “I am afraid that the people will say that I am cutting the prayer short.” He said: “The Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger.” Meaning “This is the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1176In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 374English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1176
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفِرْيَابِيُّ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " الْوِتْرُ حَقٌّ. فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُوتِرْ بِخَمْسٍ. وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُوتِرْ بِثَلاَثٍ. وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُوتِرْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ " .
It was narrated from Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Witr is Haqq.* Whoever wishes let him pray Witr with five (Rak’ah), and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with three (Rak’ah), and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with one (Rak’ah).”
[1] They differ over whether it means 'a requirement' or 'true,' meaning that it is an established Sunnah , based upon the different views about its status. Haqq is sometimes used to mean 'a duty' like in the case of the 'right' of Allâh upon the worshipers, and, the 'right' of the Muslim upon the Muslim.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1190In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 388English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1190
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَنْبَأَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُصَلِّي فِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ. لاَ يَزِيدُ عَلَيْهِمَا. وَكَانَ يَتَهَجَّدُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ . قُلْتُ وَكَانَ يُوتِرُ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ .
It was narrated from Salim that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak’ah while traveling, and he did not do more than that. And he used to pray Tahajjud at night.” I asked: “Did he pray Witr?” He said: “Yes.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1193In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 391English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1193
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّوَارِبِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَسْلَمَةُ بْنُ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْجُرَشِيِّ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ صُمْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا شَيْئًا مِنْهُ حَتَّى بَقِيَ سَبْعُ لَيَالٍ فَقَامَ بِنَا لَيْلَةَ السَّابِعَةِ حَتَّى مَضَى نَحْوٌ مِنْ ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ السَّادِسَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا فَلَمْ يَقُمْهَا حَتَّى كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى مَضَى نَحْوٌ مِنْ شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَفَّلْتَنَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِنَا هَذِهِ . فَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْدِلُ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ " . ثُمَّ كَانَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا فَلَمْ يَقُمْهَا حَتَّى كَانَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا . قَالَ فَجَمَعَ نِسَاءَهُ وَأَهْلَهُ وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ . قَالَ فَقَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى خَشِينَا أَنْ يَفُوتَنَا الْفَلاَحُ . قِيلَ وَمَا الْفَلاَحُ قَالَ السُّحُورُ . قَالَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا شَيْئًا مِنْ بَقِيَّةِ الشَّهْرِ .
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “We fasted Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he did not lead us in praying Qiyam (prayers at night) during any part of it, until there were seven nights left. He led us in praying Qiyam on the seventh night until approximately one third of the night had passed. Then on the sixth night which followed it he did not lead us in prayer. Then he led us in praying Qiyam on the fifth night which followed it until almost half the night had passed. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, would that we had offered voluntary prayers throughout the whole night.’ He said: ‘Whoever stands with the Imam until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.’ Then on the fourth night which followed it, he did not lead us in prayer, until the third night that followed it, when he gathered his wives and family, and the people gathered, and he led us in prayer until we feared that we would miss the Falah.” It was asked: “What is the Falah?” He said: “Suhur.” He said: “Then he did not lead us in prayer at night for the rest of the month.”
[1] Since the month can either have 29 or 30 days, the meaning of 'the seventh night' could either be the night preceding the 23rd day, if the month that year had 29 days, or the night preceding the 24th day if the month had 30 days. Hence, seven nights remaining could be either of these two possibilities, which is not possible to determine from the Hadith . Similarly, the sixth night would be either the night preceding the 24th or the 25th; the fifth night would be either the night preceding the 25th or the 26th; the fourth night would be either the night preceding the 26th or the 27th; and the third night would be either the night preceding the 27th or the 28th. This means that the nights on which he prayed could have been either odd or even nights.[1] The predawn meal.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1327In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 525English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1327
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنِ الْمُسْتَوْرِدِ بْنِ الأَحْنَفِ، عَنْ صِلَةَ بْنِ زُفَرَ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ صَلَّى فَكَانَ إِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةِ رَحْمَةٍ سَأَلَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةِ عَذَابٍ اسْتَجَارَ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِآيَةٍ فِيهَا تَنْزِيهٌ لِلَّهِ سَبَّحَ .
It was narrated from Hudhaifah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed, and when he recited a Verse which mentioned mercy, he would ask for mercy; when he recited a Verse that mentioned punishment he would pray for deliverance from it; and when he recited a Verse that mentioned the Tanzih of Allah, he would glorify Him.
[1] Tanzih : To declare Allâh to be free of imperfection and everything falsely attributed to Him, such as having a son, partner of the trinity.[2] By saying Subhâna Rabbiyal-A'la ; etc.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1351In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 549English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1351
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ عَنْ قِرَاءَةِ النَّبِيِّ، ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ كَانَ يَمُدُّ صَوْتَهُ مَدًّا .
It was narrated that Qatadah said; “I asked Anas bin Malik about the recitation of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: ‘He used to elongate his voice.’”
[1] Some of them say that it is to elongate the pronunciation of the letter preceding a 'weak' letter, i.e., Alif , Waw , and Yâ . So he elongates the Lâm before the Ha in the majestic name Allâh , the Mim before the Nun in the name Ar-Rahmân , and the Ha before the Yâ in Ar-Rahim . This is the interpretation Ibn Hajar chose in Fathul-Bâri (no. 5045). Others said it means to elongate the 'weak' letters appropriately. Others said that it refers to those letters that are customarily elongated (this is the most popular view), and others add that it refers to raising and lowering the voice as well. See explanation by Sindi on Ibn Mâjah , An-Nisâ'i , and 'Awnul-Ma'bud .Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1353In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 551English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1353
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ طَارِقٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ خَرَجَ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لَهُمْ مِمَّنْ أَنْتُمْ قَالُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ . قَالَ فَبِإِذْنٍ جِئْتُمْ قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ فِي بَيْتِهِ . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ " أَمَّا صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَنُورٌ فَنَوِّرُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ " . حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْحُسَيْنِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عُمَيْرٍ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَحْوَهُ .
It was narrated that ‘Asim bin ‘Amr said: “A group from the people of ‘Iraq came to ‘Umar and when they came to him, he said to them: ‘Where are you from?’ They said: ‘From the inhabitants of ‘Iraq.’ He said: ‘Have you come with permission?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ Then they asked him about a man’s prayer in his house. ‘Umar said: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: “As for a man’s prayer in his house, it is light, so illuminate your houses.’”” Another chain with similar wording.
[1] Meaning: ‘with the permission of the chief of Kufah?’ (Explanation Sindî ).Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1375In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 573English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1375
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى قَطُّ . وَإِنِّي لأُسَبِّحُهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ وَهُوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَيُفْرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ .
Urwa reported 'A'isha to be sayidg: I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing the supererogatory prayer of the forenoon, but I observed it. And if the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) abandoned any act which he in fact loved to do, it was out of fear that if the people practised it constantly, it might become obligatory for them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 718In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 92USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1548
