" Sunnah and Nawafil Prayers ":
Nawafil, including Sunnah prayers prepare us for our fardh, and optional prayers like tarawih and Tahajjud and Tahajjud give us a different experience of Salah: of heightened Khushu ( devotion, humility, emotion and concentrate) that is different to the experience of fardh Salah which is surrounded by daily life and distractions.
Sunnah means the way or practice of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. These are the acta that he performed regularly and encouraged his followers to do as well. There are total of 12 daily sunnah prayers. Nafil means additional or extra. These are the acta they go beyond what is required or recommended.
Nawafil Prayer:
In Islam, a Nafl prayer or optional prayer, is a type of non- obligatory prayers. They are believed to give extra rewards to the person performing them, similar to Sunnah prayers.
Sunnah and Nawafil for each prayer:
Each daily prayer has a different number of Rakats per prayer: Fajr: 2 rakah Sunnah then 2 rakah fardh, Dhuhr: 4 Rakah Sunnah the 4 Rakah farz then 2 rakah Sunnah and then 2 rakah nafl.
Sunnah means:.
The word Sunnah is an arabic word meaning "tradition or way". For Muslims Sunnah means " the way of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Sunnites try to follow his words, actions, and teachings. Muslim scholars learn about the Sunnah by studying thousands of stories about Muhammad SAW and hua family and his first followers.
Types of Nawafil:
Nawafil Prayers are as follows: Right rakah of Tahajjud. Two rakah after the two rakah of Sunnah at the end is zuhr prayer. Four rakah's before fard or Asr prayer.
Benefits of Nawafil:
It strengthened one's faith and a means to earn Allah's pleasure: Respected acts of worship like observing Nawafil fortify one's Faith , making the heart more respective to guidance, and bringing a believer closer to Allah SWT while elevating one's rank in paradise.
Why is Sunnah prayer important:
Sunnah prayers are voluntary acts of worship that bring immense rewards and strengthen a believer's connection with Allah SWT. Including this Sunnah in your daily routine can enhance focus, devotion, and consistency in Salah.
Sunnah and Nafl prayer:
The different types of Salah consist of farz obligatory, Sunnah( the regular practice of the Prophet Muhammad SAW) and Nafl (optional/ prayers.
Sunnah and it's types:
There are three types of Sunnah. The first is the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Sunnah Qawliyyah/Hadith. The second is the actions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW -Sunnah AlFiliyya. The final type of Sunnah is the practices prevailing during Muhammad's SAW time which he did not oppose- Sunnah Taqririyyah.
Sunnah in Islam refers to the teachings, practices, and examples set by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It includes his sayings, actions, approvals, and personal habits. The Sunnah complements the Qur'an and serves as a practical guide for Muslims on how to live a righteous life.
Definition of Sunnah:
The word Sunnah (سنة) in Arabic means “way,” “method,” or “path.” In Islamic terminology, it refers to:
"The sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and characteristics of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ."
Types of Sunnah:
Sunnah can be categorized from different perspectives. The two main classifications are:
1. Based on Its Source and Nature:
a) Sunnah Qawliyyah (Saying)
These are the words or sayings of the Prophet ﷺ.
Example: The Prophet ﷺ said,
"Actions are judged by intentions..." (Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim)
b) Sunnah Filiyyah (Action)
These are the actions or practices the Prophet ﷺ performed.
Example: The method of performing Salah (prayer)
c) Sunnah Taqririyyah (Approval or Consent)
These are actions done by others in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, which he approved of (either explicitly or by remaining silent).
Example: A companion did something in the Prophet’s presence, and the Prophet did not object, indicating approval.
2. Based on Its Legal Ruling (Importance in Practice):
a) Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Emphasized Sunnah)
These are strongly recommended actions that the Prophet ﷺ regularly performed and encouraged others to do.
Not doing them regularly without excuse may be blameworthy.
Example: Sunnah prayers before/after obligatory prayers, using a miswak, saying Bismillah before eating.
b) Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah (Non-emphasized Sunnah)
These are actions the Prophet ﷺ did occasionally and did not insist on.
Rewardable, but no blame for not doing them.
Example: Additional voluntary prayers, certain manners of dress or eating.
c) Sunnah ‘Aadah (Habitual Practices)
These refer to the personal habits or customs of the Prophet ﷺ that were not religious in nature.
Following them is not obligatory or even recommended unless they serve a purpose.
Example: His favorite food, style of riding, or sleeping posture.
Importance of Sunnah:
Serves as a second source of Islamic law after the Qur’an. Provides a complete model for Muslims to follow. Helps in understanding the context of Quranic revelations.The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the second most important source of Islamic guidance after the Qur'an. It plays a vital role in the faith (īmān) and practice (ʿamal) of a Muslim. The Sunnah helps explain, clarify, and implement the teachings of the Qur'an in everyday life.
Why the Sunnah is Important:
1. Complements and Explains the Qur'an
The Sunnah provides detailed explanations and practical applications of the Qur'anic commands.
Example: The Qur'an commands Muslims to pray (Salah), but the Sunnah explains how to perform it.
“And We revealed to you the Reminder (Qur’an) so that you may explain to mankind what has been revealed to them...”
— [Surah An-Nahl 16:44]
2. Source of Islamic Law (Shari’ah)
Along with the Qur’an, the Sunnah is a primary source of Islamic law.
It addresses matters not explicitly covered in the Qur’an.
Example: Rules on inheritance, marriage, and business ethics are clarified through the Sunnah.
3. A Model for Daily Life
The Prophet ﷺ is the perfect example for Muslims to follow in character, worship, and social conduct.
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow...”
— [Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21]
His Sunnah guides Muslims in personal behavior, family life, community relations, and more.
4. Interprets the Spirit of Islam
The Sunnah helps Muslims understand the spirit and wisdom behind the rules of Islam, promoting values like mercy, justice, honesty, and compassion.
5. Source of Reward (Thawab)
Following the Sunnah brings spiritual reward and closeness to Allah.
Small acts like using the miswak, greeting with salam, or eating with the right hand carry rewards because they emulate the Prophet ﷺ.
6. Ensures Unity of the Ummah
A shared commitment to the Sunnah unites Muslims around common beliefs and practices.
Without the Sunnah, there would be differences in how Muslims interpret and practice Islam.
7. Preserved and Authenticated
The Sunnah has been meticulously recorded in authentic books of Hadith such as:
Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih Muslim
Sunan Abu Dawood
Jami' at-Tirmidhi, etc.
The Sunnah is essential to understanding and practicing Islam. Ignoring the Sunnah leads to incomplete faith and incorrect practice. To truly follow Islam, one must follow both the Qur’an and the Sunnah:
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah…”
— [Surah An-Nisa 4:80]
Hadith of Nawafil:
The Hadith of Qurb al- Nawafil is a Qudsi hadith addressed by God to the Prophet Muhammad SAW in the night of Miraj. The Hadith is indeed an answer to a question asked by the Prophet Muhammad SAW about the place of the believer before God.
Is taraweeh Sunnah of Nafl:
Taraweeh prayer are considered Sunnah, or meritorious but not obligatory, However, it is believed that the reward for them is great, as it is Sunnah of Muhammad SAW is reported in multiple authentic hadiths.
Is Tahajjud Sunnah or Nafl:
It is a Nafl( voluntary) prayer that holds immense blessings and is highly recommended for people who are seeking closeness to Allah SWT and inner peace.
Parts of Sunnah:
The Sunnah contains three elements, sayings, deeds( collectively called Hadith) and approval of others acta by the Prophet Muhammad SAW. There is a difference in Islam between the Quran Kareem and Hadith in that the Quran Kareem is the word of Allah SWT while the Prophet's sayings are not.
Uses of Sunnah:
The significance and purpose of the Sunnah and Hadith refers to the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and ja the second source of knowledge for Muslims. Muhammad SAW us considered to be a perfect model. This can be seen at prayer time or Salat.
How does Sunnah prayer works:
Sunnah prayers are voluntary prayer that the Prophet Muhammad SAW regularly performed. They are not compulsory like the five daily obligatory prayers, but they carry immense spiritual weight. By performing Sunnah prayers, Muslims follow the beautiful example of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and seek to earn Allah's blessings.
How important is the Sunnah:
Following the Sunnah is a say to honor and preserve the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad SAW maintaining his teaching for future.
Difference between Sunnah and Nafl prayer:
Scholars have different opinions when it comes to this question. Some say that Nafl and Sunnah are both the same. While others say that Sunnah refers to what the Prophet Muhammad SAW say that Sunnah refers to what the Prophet Muhammad SAW did persistently. While Nafl is that the Prophet Muhammad SAW did sometimes not always.
Why do Muslims do Sunnah:
Doe Muslims, male circumcision is performed for religious reasons, mainly to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Moreover there are attempts to label it as contributor to cleanliness/ personal hygiene. These are done largely to grant the practice scientific legitimacy and a moral foundation.
Nawafil before Fajr:
Fajr Nafl prayer dawn, supererogatory prayer is an Islamic prayer salat that is performed after the second adhan of dawn and before fajr . A Muslim prayer offered to Allah SWT before fajr prayer.
Sunnah and Nawafil are in Magrib:
The formal duty prayers of Islam comprise different numbers if units, called rakat. Ghr magrib prayer has the three obligatory Rakat and two Sunnah and two obligatory nafls.
Understanding the difference between Sunnah and Nafl prayer:
The best manner to show our gratitude to Allah SWT is to pray. However, our prayers are not just limited to the 5 daily obligatory prayers. There are also the Sunnah and Nafl prayers, which are very wah to get close to Allah SWT.
However, many find in confusing to differentiate between tha Sunnah and Nafl prayers. Therefore, in this blog, we will be diving into the differences between these two sets of prayers.
What are Sunnah prayers:
- The Sunnah prayers are those that the Prophet Muhammad SAW used to pray throughout tha Day in addition to the 5 obligatory prayers. There are a total of 12 Sunnah prayers which the Prophet Muhammad SAW used to pray without fail, unless he was travelling. These 12 Sunnah prayers are :
- 2 rakahs before Fajr.
- 4 rakah's before Dhuhr.
- 2 rakahs after Dhuhr
- 2 rakahs after maghrib
- 2 rakahs after Isha...
These Sunnah prayers are also called Rawatib, which means " regularly observed", and all of them are highly recommended and have many rewards.
The Prophet Muhammad SAW said,
" Whoever prays twelve rakah's of voluntary prayer in a day and night, a house house will be built for him in Paradise: dour before Dhuhr, two after Dhuhr , two after Maghrib, two after Isha and two before fajr.
This Hadith serves as a motivation fir many Muslims to regularly pray the 12 Sunnah prayers consistently in addition to the 5 obligatory prayers.
What are Nafil prayer:
Nafil prayers are the extra prayers that you can perform at any time of that day or night, except for the times when prayer is forbidden. They are also " supererogatory" prayers.
Nafil prayers are optional and have great rewards, but they are not as emphasized as the Sunnah prayers. However, nafil prayers are another great way to get closer to Allah SWT throughout the day.
One of the most important nafil prayers is the Tahajjud prayer, which is performed in the last part of the night. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
" In the night there is a moment when a Muslim will ask for good for the matters of this world and the hereafter,it will be given to him; and that happens every night."
This Hadith highlights the importance of praying the Nafil Tahajjud prayer in the special portion of the night when supplications are most likely to be answered by Allah SWT.
Difference between Sunnah and Nafl prayers:
Here are the main difference between the Sunnah and Nafl prayers:
1. Number and timing:
One of the main differences between Sunnah and Nafl prayers is that Sunnah prayers have a fixed number and timing, whereas nafil prayers have no limit and can be performed at any time.
For instance, there are two rakah of Sunnah prayers before fajr , four rakah's before Dhuhr, two rakah after Dhuhr, four rakah before Asr, two rakah's after maghrib, and two rakah After Isha . These Sunnah prayers were performed by the Prophet Muhammad SAW at the prescribed timings before and after reach obligatory prayer.
On the other hand, there are no fixed nafil prayers for any of the five daily prayers as it is with the Sunnah prayers, which are 12 in number per day. When it comes to the Nafil prayers, you can pray as many Rakah's as you want, whenever you want.
2. Reason for praying:
Another difference between the two lies in the fact that Sunnah prayers are derived from the habitual practices of the Prophet Muhammad SAW whereas nafil prayers are voluntary and stem from the occasional practices of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. This means that people have the discretion to perform Nafl prayers according to their professional inclinations.
Therefore, this also implies that Sunnah prayers are relatively highly recommended for muslims to adhere to, as the emulate the strict practice of the best of Allah's creation.
Where nafil prayers are optional for muslims to perform, they too are very rewarding and beneficial as they show our sincerity and gratitude to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said: " The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer."
This Hadith highlights how important the Nafil prayers can be, especially if they are performed during the solitude of the night.
3. Reward:.
Since the Sunnah prayers were strictly observed by the Prophet Muhammad SAW they have more reward and virtue than the Nafil prayers. However, this should not diminish the importance of Nafil prayers in any way.
Rabi'ah ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad SAW said: " Ask anything. Rabi'ah said, " I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet Muhammad SAW said, "O anything else"? Rabi'ah said: " that is it" The prophet Muhammad SAW said to him, " then help me by making many prostrations".
This Hadith highlights the great virtue of Sunnah prayers. Nafil prayers are a beautiful and flexibility way for Muslims to engage in additional acts of worship ana to seek closeness to Allah SWT at any time and in any situation.
However if an occasion arises where you can either perform the Sunnah prayers or the Nafil, it would be advisable to pray to Sunnah due to its significant rewards highlighted by the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
How many Sunnah and Nafl are there in each prayer:
Fajr:
There are two Sunnah prayers before the Fard prayer of Fajr. There is no nafil prayer after fajr as the prophet Muhammad SAW said, " There is no prayer after fajr until the sun has risen fully, and ni prayer after Asr until the sun has set."
Ishraq(Sunrise):
This is a nafil prayers that ja performed 15 minutes after sunrise. Although it is optional, there are many virtues associated with the ishraq nafil prayer.
Dhuhr:
There are four Sunnah prayers before the farz prayer of Dhuhr and two Sunnah prayers after it. There is also an optional nafil prayer of two rakah's after the sunnah prayer.
Asr:
There are four Sunnah prayers before the farz prayer of Asr. There is no Sunnah or nafil prayer after Asr.
Magrib:
There are three farz prayers in Maghrib. There are two Sunnah prayers after the far prayer. There is also an optional nafil prayers of two rakahs after the Sunnah prayer.
Isha:
There are four farz prayers in Isha. There are two Sunnah prayers after the fard prayer and three wajib prayers ( witr) after that. There is also an optional nafil prayer of two rakah's before the witr prayer.
Where the number of Sunnah prayers with each obligatory prayers is clearly prescribed from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW the number nafil prayer can be adjusted based on your own preference.
Difference between farz, wajib, Sunnah, and nafil:
- Farz means obligatory. These are the 5 daily prayers that are compulsory doe every Muslim to perform. These are Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha.
- Wajib means necessary. These are the acta that are very close to being obligatory, but not quite. They are also binding on every Muslim, but their omission is not sinful unlike the farz prayers. Some example of wajib, acts are the Eid prayer's, the witr prayer and the funeral prayer.
- Sunnah means the way of practice of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. These are the acta they he performed regularly and encouraged his followers to do as well. There are a total of 12 daily sunnah prayers.
- Nafil means additional or extra. These are the acta that go beyond what is required or recommended. They are also not obligatory, but they are very virtuous and beneficial. Some examples of Nafil acts are the Tahajjud prayer at night and the ishraq.
Conclusion:
We can see that Sunnah and nafil prayers are both optional but highly recommended forms of worship that enhance our relationship with Allah SWT and increase our rewards in the hereafter.
If you happen to face difficulty in being consistent with your Sunnah and nafil prayers, there are always certain tips you can follow to get better.We should also remember that Allah SWT loves those who are consistent in their deeds, even if they are small. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said: " the most beloved deeds to Allah SWT is the most regular and constant even if it were little."