Two Sunnahs before the obligatory Maghrib prayer: 29 evidences from the Companions and the Successors

«عن رغبان مولى حبيب بن مسلمة قال لقد رأيت اصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم هلال لعله يهبون اليهما كما يهبون الى المكتوبة يعنى الركعتين قبل المغرب»

“Raghban, the servant of Habib bin Muslimah, narrates that he saw the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) rising to pray two Rak’ahs before Maghrib prayer with such happiness and eagerness as if they were rising for the obligatory prayer.”
Explanation: From this tradition, the virtue and emphasis of this Sunnah is understood. It is also clear that all the noble Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) used to perform this Sunnah because the narrator did not exempt anyone by saying that he did not perform it.

«و عن عبد الرحمن بن ابى ليلى قال ادركت اصحاب محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم و هم يصلون عند كل تأذين»

“Abdur Rahman bin Abi Layla, a Tabi’i, says that I found the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, and they used to pray Sunnah after every Adhan (i.e., after it).”
Explanation: This narration mentions the general prayer, so there is Sunnah before every prayer, including Maghrib. The narrator Abdur Rahman bin Abi Layla is a famous Tabi’i who met 125 Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them

. Among them, twenty-eight names are mentioned in “Tahdhib”:
(1) His father Abu Layla, (2) Amir al-Mu’minin Umar Farooq, (3) Uthman Ghani, (4) Ali al-Murtadha, (5) Saad bin Abi Waqqas, (6) Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman, (7) Muadh bin Jabal, (8) Miqdad bin al-Aswad, (9) Abdullah bin Mas’ud, (10) Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, (11) Ubayy bin Ka’b, (12) Bilal bin Rabah (the Mu’adhdhin), (13) Sahl bin Hunayf, (14) Abdullah bin Umar, (15) Abdullah bin Abi Bakr, (16) Qais bin Sa’d, (17) Abu Ayyub Ansari, (18) Ka’b bin Ujrah, (19) Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, (20) Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, (21) Anas bin Malik, (22) Bara bin Azib, (23) Zaid bin Arqam, (24) Samrah bin Jundub, (25) Suhaib al-Rumi, (26) Abdur Rahman bin Samrah, (27) Asid bin Hudhayr, (28) Umm Hani bint Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them all.
It is established that all these Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to pray this Sunnah.

عن راشد بن يسار اشهد عن خمسة ممن بايع تحت الشجرة انهم كانوا يصلون ركعتين قبل المغرب

It is narrated from Rashid bin Yasar that I testify regarding five companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, who participated in the Pledge of Ridwan, that they used to pray two rak’ahs Sunnah before Maghrib prayer.

Explanation: This tree is the same under which the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which is called the Pledge of Ridwan. Regarding its status, Allah the Exalted says:

﴿لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اِذْ يُبَايِعُوْنَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ﴾

“Allah was pleased with the believers who pledged allegiance to you under the tree.” The fact that such exalted people performed this Sunnah shows its great importance.

«عن عبد الرحمن بن عوف قال كنا نركعهما إذا قمنا يعنى بين الاذان والاقامة فى المغرب»

It is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه that we (the companions) used to pray two units of Sunnah between the Maghrib Adhan and Iqamah.
Explanation: Abdur Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه is a distinguished personality behind whom the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم himself prayed

, and he is narrating not only his own practice but also that of the general companions.

«عن زر قال قدمت المدينة فلزمت عبد الرحمن بن عوف و ابي بن كعب فكانا يصليان ركعتين قبل صلوة المغرب لا يدعيان ذالك»

Zarbun Habeesh, a Tabi’i, says: I went to Madinah and stayed in the company of Abdur Rahman bin Awf and Ubayy bin Ka’b رضي الله عنهما; both of them used to pray two units before Maghrib and did not abandon them.
Explanation: Ubayy bin Ka’b رضي الله عنه was a famous Hafiz of the Qur’an and a scribe of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم.

عن عبد الله بن عمرو الثقفى رأيت جابر بن عبد الله يصلى ركعتين قبل المغرب

“Abdullah bin Umar wa Thaqafi, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that I saw Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, praying two rak’ahs before Maghrib prayer.”

عن ابن عباس قال صلوة الأوابين ما بين الاذان واقامة المغرب

“The commentator of the Quran, Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them, narrated that Salat al-Awwabin (the prayer of those who turn to Allah) is between the Adhan and Iqamah of Maghrib prayer.”

وسأل رجل عن ابن عمر فقال ممن انت قال من اهل الكوفة قال من الذين يحافظون على ركعتي الضحى فقال و انتم ممن تحافظون على الركعتين قبل المغرب فقال ابن عمر كنا نتحدث ان ابواب السماء تفتح عند كل اذان

Someone asked Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما a question, then Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه asked him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “Kufa.” Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه said, “You are the one who always prays the two Duha rak’ahs.” Then that person said to Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه, “Are you the one who prays the two rak’ahs before Maghrib?” Then Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه said, “According to us, this hadith was established that at every Adhan, the gates of the heavens open (for acceptance and mercy to descend).”
Explanation: From these two narrations, the virtue and importance of this Sunnah is understood, and also from the statement of Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما it is clear that the Companions رضي الله عنهم used to always pray this Sunnah.

9 عن خالد بن معد ان انه كان يركع ركعتين بعد غروب الشمس قبل صلوة المغرب ، لم يد عهما حتى لقى الله وكان يقول ان ابا الدرداء كان يركعهما ويقول لا ادعهما و ان ضربت بالسياط

Khalid bin Ma’dan, a Tabi’i, always prayed two rak’ahs before Maghrib and never abandoned this Sunnah. He narrated from Abu Darda رضي الله عنه who said that even if I were to be whipped, I would not leave this Sunnah, and he continued to pray it.

10و عن يحي بن سعيد انه صحب انس بن مالك إلى الشام فلم يكن يترك ركعتين عند كل اذان

Yahya bin Saeed Ansari was traveling with Anas bin Malik. He (Anas رضي الله عنه) never abandoned praying two rak’ahs after every Adhan (whether Maghrib or the other).

11 و سئل سعيد بن المسيب عن الركعتين قبل المغرب فقال ما رأيت فقيها يصليهما ليس سعد بن مالك

When Saeed bin Musayyib, a Tabi’i, was asked, he said that except for Sa’d bin Malik (Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri), he had not seen any other knowledgeable person praying it. In another narration, it is said that the Muhajirun did not pray it, but the Ansar did, and Anas رضي الله عنه prayed it.

12 و فى رواية كان المهاجرون لا ير كعون الركعتين قبل المغرب و كانت الانصار يركعونهما وكان انس يركعهما

It is narrated from Mujahid, a Tabi’i, that the Ansari said that when we heard the Adhan, we would stand and pray two rak’ahs.

13 و عن مجاهد قالت الا نصار لا نسمع اذانا الا قمنا فصلينا

Hasan bin Muhammad bin Hafita says that after every Adhan (whether Maghrib or the other), there are two rak’ahs.

14 وعن الحسن بن محمد بن الحنفيه انه يقول ان عند كل اذنين ركعتين

And when Qatadah Tabi’i was asked about this, he said Abu Burzah Fudalah bin Ubaid used to recite

15 و سئل قتادة عن الركعتين قبل المغرب فقال كان ابو برزة يصليهما

And Suwaid bin Ghaflah says that we established this during the caliphate of Uthman

16 وعن سويد بن غفلة كنا نصلى الركعتين قبل المغرب و هي بدعة ابتدعناها فى امرة عثمان

Abdullah bin Buraidah Tabi’i says that (among the Companions and Tabi’in) it was said that صلاة الا وابين (the prayer of those who turn to Allah) is the Sunnah of Fajr, and صلوة المنيبين (the prayer of those who bow before Allah) is the Duha prayer, and صلوة التوابين (the prayer of those who are near to Allah) are the two Rak’ahs before Maghrib

17 و عن عبد الله ابن بريدة، كان يقال ثلث صلوات صلوة الأوابين وصلوة المنيبين و صلوة التوابين و صلوة الأوابين ركعتين قبل صلوة الصبح وصلوة المنيبين صلوة الضحى وصلواة التوابين ركعتين قبل المغرب

19, 18 و كان عبد الله بن بريدة و يحي بن عقيل يصليان قبل المغرب ركعتين

20 و عن الحكم رأيت عبد الرحمن ابن ابي ليلى يصلى قبل المغرب ركعتين

21 وسئل الحسن عنهم فقال حسنتين و الله جميلتين لمن اراد الله بهما

22 و عن سعيد بن المسيب حق على مؤمن اذا اذن ان يركع ركعتين

23 و كان الاعرج و عامر ابن عبد الله بن الزبير يركعهما

The meaning of 17 to 23 and Abdullah bin Buraidah, Yahya bin Aqil, Abdur Rahman bin Abi Layla, Amir bin Abdullah bin Zubair, Alq bin Malik, and Abdur Rahman bin Harmzal Al-Arj, Al-Ba’ from Ahmad Al-Yashkiri—all these Tabi’in used to recite this Sunnah

24 و اوصى انس بن مالك ولده ان لا يدعوهما وعن مكحول على المؤذن ان لا يركع ركعتين على اثر التاذين

And when Hasan Basri was asked about this Sunnah, he said by Allah, these two Rak’ahs are two good deeds and two excellent qualities, but! only if they are performed for Allah

25 و عن الحكم ابن الصلت رايت عراك بن مالك اذا اذن المؤذن بالمغرب قام فصلى سجدتين قبل الصلوة

And Saeed bin Musayyib and Makhool Al-Shami say that it is the right of every Muslim to pray two rak’ahs after every Adhan.

26 و عن السكن بن حكيم رأيت علباء بن احمر اليشكري اذا غربت الشمس قام فصلى ركعتين قبل المغرب

And Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) advised his children not to abandon these two rak’ahs.

27 و عبيد ابن عبد الله بن بن عمر ان كان المؤذن ليؤذن بالمغرب ثم تقرع المجالس من الرجال بقومون يصلو نهما

The grandson of Amir al-Mu’minin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), Ubaidullah bin Abdullah bin Umar, says that as soon as the Maghrib Adhan was called, the people sitting in the mosque would stand up and pray two rak’ahs until the gatherings and sitting places became empty, meaning no one lagged behind in praying.

28 وعن الفضل بن الحسن انه يقول الركعتان اللتان تصليان بين يدى المغرب صلوة الأوابين

And Fazl bin Hasan said that the two rak’ahs before Maghrib are the Sunnah of Salat al-Awwabin.

Explanation: From these evidences and narrations, it is well established that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Followers (may Allah have mercy on them) commonly practiced this Sunnah, and it was considered emphasized by them because they would advise their children to observe it so that this Sunnah would not be abandoned. They accepted being whipped but were not willing to leave this Sunnah and praised it. They also mentioned its reward to promote and propagate it.

Question: Saeed bin Musayyib says that I have not seen any other scholar besides Abu Saeed Khudri reciting (this two Rak’ah)?

Answer: This is based on Saeed bin Musayyib’s observation, although there is evidence from many other scholarly Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), such as Abdur Rahman bin Awf, Ali bin Ka’b, Abu Ayyub Ansari, Ibn Umar, Jabir bin Abdullah, Abu Darda, Ibn Abbas, Anas bin Malik, Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with them all) — all these were scholars and jurists. Moreover, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) is mentioned in Hadith number 8 that the elite Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to recite it, and in Evidence number 3 it is mentioned that those who pledged at

used to recite it.

فمن عرف الشئي حجة على من لم يعرفه

Secondly: Saeed bin Musayyib himself also supports this Sunnah because he says that reciting this Sunnah is a right upon the Muslims.

Question: Ibn Musayyib says that the Muhajireen did not recite (this Sunnah)?

Answer: This is based on his knowledge, although Abdur Rahman bin Awf and Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) were Muhajireen, and evidence from them has already been mentioned above. Also, Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was a Muhajir, and it was mentioned above that during his caliphate this Sunnah was recited. Furthermore, in Evidence number 2 of Abdur Rahman bin Al-Layli, among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) from whom evidence has been cited, are also these names: Ali Al-Murtadha, Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas, Miqdad bin Aswad, Ibn Mas’ud, Bilal (the Mu’adhdhin), Abdullah bin Abli Bakr, Abu Musa, Suhaib al-Rumi, Abdur Rahman bin Samrah — all of whom were Muhajireen. Also, “Bayhaqi”

narrates from Abu Ayyub that during the caliphate of Abu Bakr Siddiq and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them), this Sunnah was recited; they were also Muhajireen.

Question: From Suwaid bin Ghaflah’s statement, it appears that this Sunnah became widespread during Uthman’s caliphate and was not practiced before?

Answer: Evidence of this Sunnah has been found from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and during the caliphates of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Also, there is proof from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that they practiced this Sunnah, so its origin is established.

However, Amir Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was strict with those who prayed after the sun had turned red and used to whip them. Because of this fear, people did not even pray the Rak’ahs before Maghrib. But once, Zaid bin Wahb recited this Sunnah in front of Amir Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he did not object

.

But during Uthman’s caliphate, most people performed this Sunnah, and on this basis, Suwaid bin Ghaflah said that this Sunnah became widespread during Uthman’s time. Imam Bayhaqi also pointed to this in

.

In short, this Sunnah is well-known and established.

عن ابن بريدة لقد ادركت عبد الله بن عمر يصلى تينك الركعتين لا يد عهما على حال

It is narrated from Ibn Buraydah that Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to pray two rak’ahs before Maghrib and never omitted them.