NON-OBLIGATORY (SUPEREROGATORY) PRAYERS

There are numerous non-obligatory prayers.  One example is the Rawatib prayers, which are the supererogatory prayers performed before and after the obligatory (fardu) prayers. There are a total of 22 raka'at of Rawatib prayers:

-       2 raka'at before the Fajr prayer

-       4 raka'at before the Zuhr (or Jum'ah) prayer.

-       4 raka'at after the Zuhr (or Jum'ah) prayer.

-       4 raka'at before the Asr prayer.

-       2 raka'at before the Maghrib prayer.

-       2 raka'at after the Maghrib prayer.

-       2 raka'at before the Isya' prayer.

-       2 raka'at after the Isya' prayer.

Several of the mentioned Rawatib prayers are ruled as Sunat Mu'akkad (supererogatory restrictive acts) i.e. highly recommended. They are:

-       the 2 raka'at before the Fajr prayer.

-       the 4 raka'at before the Zuhr (or Jum'ah) prayer.

-       the 4 raka'at after the Zuhr (or Jum'ah) prayer.

-       the 2 raka'at after the Maghrib prayer.

-       the 2 raka'at after the Isya' prayer.

The Rawatib prayers which are performed before the obligatory prayer is called Qabliyah while those performed after it is called Ba'diyah.