Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
It is narrated from Hafs bin Asim bin Umar rahimahullah that he said: "I was on a journey with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar radi Allahu anhuma. He led us in prayer; when we finished the prayer and he too had finished, he looked up and saw some people praying. He said: What are these people doing? I said: They are performing voluntary (nafl) prayers. He said: If I wanted to perform voluntary prayers, I would have completed my obligatory prayer. Nephew! I accompanied the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam on journeys until his passing. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never prayed more than two rak‘ahs during travel. Then I accompanied Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, and he did not pray more than two rak‘ahs. Then I accompanied Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu, and he too did not pray more than two rak‘ahs. Then I was with Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu, and he also did not pray more than two rak‘ahs. This remained their practice until their deaths." (Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin, no. 689; Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 1071)

In the first hadith, it is stated: It is permissible to perform voluntary (nafl) prayers before and after the obligatory prayer. In the second, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not perform them. However, there is a concession for performing voluntary prayers during travel; whoever wishes may perform them. As is established from the hadith, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would perform voluntary prayers while riding during travel. Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu said: "The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would perform (nafl) prayers on his mount, whichever direction it faced, but when he wished to perform the obligatory prayer, he would dismount and face the qiblah to pray." (Bukhari, Kitab al-Salat, no. 400)