Legitimacy of Nawāfil: Ruling on Praying Between Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ
Taken from: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 227
Question
A friend says that apart from Qiyām al-Layl (which consists of eleven rakʿahs), one may also perform as many nafl prayers as desired, such as after Maghrib or before ʿIshāʾ. What is the Sharʿi ruling on this? Can a person pray voluntary prayers at will, or are only those nawāfil valid which are proven from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?
✔ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Whenever any action is established from the words, deeds, or approvals of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that action becomes legitimate (mashrūʿ) and is considered permissible in Sharīʿah.
So, ask your friend:
Is there any ṣaḥīḥ or ḥasan marfūʿ hadith that proves the legitimacy of performing unlimited nafl prayers after Maghrib and before ʿIshāʾ?
If he produces such a hadith, you should accept it gladly without argument and act upon it.
But remember: The burden of proof lies upon him. Until a ṣaḥīḥ or ḥasan narration is established, no act can be deemed mashrūʿ (legitimate in Sharīʿah).
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
