Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 370
Question:
How many Sunan al-Mu’akkadah (regular emphasized Sunnahs) are there? Please explain in detail with reference to authentic aḥādīth.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The number of Sunan al-Mu’akkadah according to authentic narrations is as follows:
① Report of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما
According to his narration, the Sunan al-Mu’akkadah are ten rakʿāt:
“I memorized ten rakʿāt from the Prophet ﷺ: two before Ẓuhr, two after it, two after Maghrib at home, two after ʿIshāʾ at home, and two before Ṣubḥ (Fajr).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Rakʿatayn Qabla al-Ẓuhr, 1/157)
② Report of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
She said:
“The Prophet ﷺ never left four rakʿāt before Ẓuhr and two before Fajr.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
Imām al-Ṭabarī explains: The Prophet ﷺ generally prayed four before Ẓuhr, but at times he prayed only two, showing that four was his regular practice.
③ Sunnahs After Ẓuhr
There are reports of four rakʿāt after Ẓuhr.
Umm Ḥabībah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever prays four rakʿāt before Ẓuhr and four after it, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.”
(Abū Dāwūd)
This narration is weak due to discontinuity, but scholars explain:
- The first two rakʿāt after Ẓuhr are Sunan al-Mu’akkadah.
- The remaining two are ghayr mu’akkadah (optional but recommended).
It is better to perform them in sets of two + two.
④ Sunnahs Before ʿAṣr
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“May Allah have mercy on one who prays four rakʿāt before ʿAṣr.”
(ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Sharḥ Abī Dāwūd, 1/491)
From ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, two rakʿāt before ʿAṣr are also reported. However, the better practice is to pray four.
⑤ Sunnahs Before Maghrib
ʿAbdullāh al-Muzanī narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Pray two rakʿāt before Maghrib.”
He repeated it twice, and the third time said:
“Whoever wishes may do so.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb al-Ṣalāh Qabla al-Maghrib, 1/157)
This shows it is recommended, not obligatory.
⑥ Sunnahs After Maghrib
- Two rakʿāt after Maghrib are confirmed Sunnahs.
- Narrations of six rakʿāt after Maghrib promising reward equal to 12 years of worship exist, but are weak.
- A narration of 20 rakʿāt after Maghrib is fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
Thus, two after Maghrib are Sunnah Mu’akkadah, while more may be prayed voluntarily.
⑦ Sunnahs After ʿIshāʾ
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها reported:
“Whenever the Prophet ﷺ prayed ʿIshāʾ and came to me, he would pray four or six rakʿāt after it.”
(ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Bāb al-Ṣalāh Baʿd al-ʿIshāʾ, 1/502)
Additional Sunnah Practices
✔ In every rakʿah of Sunnah or nafl, Sūrat al-Fātiḥah should be followed by another sūrah. (Ibn Ḥibbān)
✔ After Fajr Sunnahs, it is Sunnah to lie briefly on the right side. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1/155)
✔ After Fajr Sunnahs, the Prophet ﷺ recited this duʿāʾ:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا … وَأَعْظِمْ لِي نُورًا، وَاعْطِنِي نُورًا
(Muttafaq ʿalayh; Mishkāt, p. 106)
Conclusion
- The confirmed Sunan al-Mu’akkadah according to authentic aḥādīth are 10 rakʿāt.
- The Prophet ﷺ regularly prayed:
- 2 before Fajr
- 2 before Ẓuhr
- 2 after Ẓuhr
- 2 after Maghrib (at home)
- 2 after ʿIshāʾ (at home)
- Additional rakʿāt (such as 4 before Ẓuhr, 4 before ʿAṣr, or more after Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ) are recommended but not all are Mu’akkadah.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
