Is It Permissible to Pray More than Eleven Rakʿahs of Nafl?
Taken from: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 226
Question
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not exceed eleven rakʿahs in night prayer (whether in Ramadan or outside of Ramadan). So, apart from Tahajjud or Tarāwīḥ, can one perform additional nafl prayers as people commonly do? What is their Sharʿi status?
✔ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, which mentions that the Prophet ﷺ did not exceed eleven rakʿahs in Ramadan or outside Ramadan, refers specifically to the rakʿahs of Ṣalāt al-Layl (Tahajjud) which the Prophet ﷺ performed as his regular habit.
This does not mean that praying more than eleven rakʿahs in total is absolutely prohibited or invalid.
In fact, regarding the night prayer of the Prophet ﷺ:
❀ He would sometimes perform two light opening rakʿahs before Tahajjud.
❀ He would also perform two rakʿahs after Witr, as proven in some narrations.
Thus, these extra four rakʿahs show that the restriction to eleven rakʿahs was only with regard to the main Tahajjud rakʿahs, not including additional voluntary prayers.
Moreover, the statement of Umm al-Muʾminīn ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها), which mentions eleven rakʿahs, clarifies that this was the Prophet’s ﷺ regular routine, both in Ramadan and outside it.
Hence, praying more than eleven rakʿahs in total is permissible, though the Sunnah and regular practice of the Prophet ﷺ was eleven rakʿahs for night prayer.
For detailed understanding, one may refer to Mishkāt (Bāb Ṣalāt al-Layl) and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
