Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Thanks for your answer about Taubah Prayers which is not a sunnah of Rasulllah (SAW). Please give me all the sunnah prayers which was done by Rasullah (SAW). I really like to follow every step in my life all what Rasullah (SAW) did.INSYA ALLAH.

Actually I like to know about solat sunnah after and before the 5 prayers. Which is advisible to follow first. The tahjud and tasbih or solat sunnah befor and after the 5 prayers. Please help me. 

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Answer:

List of all Sunnah Prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: I really like to follow every step in my life all what Rasullah (SAW) did.INSYA ALLAH.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32:

O Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love those, who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, it should be the intention of every believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws) in every aspect of their life; for that alone is the straight path which leads to the Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness of Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: Please give me all the sunnah prayers which was done by Rasullah (SAW).

Firstly, please allow us to clarify the difference between Fard (obligatory), Sunnah (voluntary prayers performed by the Prophet (saws)) and Nafl (voluntary) prayers.

Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary prayers. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.

Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his (saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does not pray the Sunnah prayers is that he lost a great opportunity to earn huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

Any ‘Nafl’ or voluntary prayer offered by the Prophet (saws) are known as Sunnah prayers. The Prophet (saws) offered these ‘nafl’ prayers on a regular basis:

1. Two rakahs before the obligatory Fajr prayers
2. Four rakahs before the obligatory Dhuhr prayers
3. Two rakahs after the obligatory Dhuhr prayers
4. Two rakahs after the obligatory Magrib prayers
5. Two rakahs after the obligatory Isha prayers
6. The tahajjud or late night prayers ending with the ‘witr’ prayer.
7. The ‘Ishraaq’ prayers after the sun has risen completely.
8. The ‘Duha’ prayers which are prayed an hour or two after the ‘Ishraaq’ prayers.

The above are only the list of Sunnah prayers the Prophet (saws) used to offer on a regular basis. There are many other prayers which the Prophet (saws) offered on specific occasions like the eclipse prayer, or prayer for rain, or prayer upon entering the mosque (tahiyatul-masjid), etc. which are all considered amongst his Sunnah.

Apart from these Sunnah prayers, one may offer as many ‘nafl’ or supererogatory prayers as one wishes or is easy for them; for there is absolutely no limit on how many ‘nafl’ prayers one may offer in Islam.

Your Question: Which is advisible to follow first. The tahjud and tasbih or solat sunnah befor and after the 5 prayers

Although every ‘nafl’ or voluntary prayer offered by the Prophet (saws) is absolutely recommended for the believers, the Prophet (saws) was especially observant of some voluntary prayers like the twelve rakahs before and/or after the five obligatory prayers and the witr prayer; thus at a minimum the believers are strongly advised to at least offer these Sunnah prayers.

It is best to delay the Tahajjud prayers to the last third portion of the night. Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: 'Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?"'

Related by Bukhari and Muslim. .

Amr ibn Abasah reports that he heard the Prophet (saws) say: "The closest that a slave comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah, the Exalted One, at that time then do so."

Related by al-Hakim, AnNasa'I, and Ibn Khuzaimah.

Because of his special status and rank in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, the ‘Tahajjud’ or late night prayers were obligatory upon the Prophet (saws) in addition to the five obligatory prayers; but for the believers the ‘Tahajjud’ prayers are voluntary.

'Ikrimah reports from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said to 'Abbas ibn 'Abdal-Mutalib: "O 'Abbas, O Uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not present to you, shall I not donate to you, shall I not tell you ten things which, if you do, Allah will forgive your first and last sins, past and present sins, intentional and unintentional sins, private and public sins? The ten actions are: pray four rak'at, reciting in every rak'ah al-Fatihah and a surah. And when you finish the Qur'anic recitation of the first rak'ah, say, while standing, 'Subhanallah, al-hamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu Akbar' ['Glory be to Allah. All praise is due to Allah. There is no God except Allah. Allah is the greatest.'] fifteen times. Then make ruku', and while you are in ruku', say the same ten times; then stand, and say the same ten times. Then go down and make sajdah, and while you're in sajdah, say the same ten times. Then sit after the sajdah, and say the same ten times. Then make sajdah, and say the same ten times. Then sit after the second sajdah, and say the same another ten times. That is seventy-five [repetitions of the phrases] in each rak'ah. Do that in each of the four rak'at. If you can pray it once a day, do so. If you cannot, then once every Friday. If you cannot do that, then once a year. And if you cannot do that then once in your life."

Related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah, and at-Tabarani.

The above narration by Ikrimah is quoted as ‘sahih’ or authentic by many recorders of ahaadiths. Some scholars however have a difference of opinion and say that the above narration is not authentic, and there is no mention of the Prayer of Tasbih or ‘Salaat ul Tasbih’ in any of the four major schools of thought in Islam.

The prayer of ‘tasbih’ is voluntary and optional, and if one prays the prayer and his intention is to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), he will have his due reward from Allah Subhanah, Insha Allah; and if one does not pray them, there is absolutely no obligation or sin upon him.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan