Number and Details of Sunan al-Mu’akkadah (Rawātib) in Light of Authentic Aḥādīth

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