Sunnah Prayers

[Tomtom]

As'alaamu Alaikkum


It was narrated from Aishah that:

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Whoever persists in praying twelve rak'ahs each day and night, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will build for him a house in Paradise: Four before Zuhr and two after Zuhr, two rak'ahs after Maghrib, two rak'ahs after Isha' and two rak'ahs of Fajr." (Hasan)
Sunan An Nasai
English reference: Book 10, Hadith 1796
Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 1806

As far as I understand it the Sunnah prayers are two raka’ah before Fajr, four before Zuhr and two after, no sunnah prayers before or after Asr, two after Maghrib, two after Isha and any number after Isha finishing off with Witr.
The reason sunnah prayers are not supposed to be prayed at Asr, after Fajr and before Maghrib is due to the rising and setting of the sun. This was the time the people who worshipped the sun used to pray. So my question is why do most people pray before and after Asr, before Maghrib? Is it ignorance or can we pray any time we like?

 

[thariq2005]

Wa `alaykum salaam wa rahmatullaah

Maa shaa'Allaah your understanding is spot on, apart from one thing that you forgot. That it is not permissible to pray like 10-15 minutes before Dhuhr time. This is when the sun is at the meridian and it is not permissible to pray at this time untill the sun has passed the zenith.

The actual prohibited times are three: 1) about 15 Minutes before sunrise. 2) About 15 minutes before Dhuhr and 3) About 15 minutes before Maghrib.

However, the scholars do mention that the other times are included like: 1) After Fajar till about 15 minutes before sunrise 2) After `Asr till about 15 minutes before maghrib.

The main reason why the Sharee`ah has bought the latter two prohibited timings is because the sharee`ah does not want us to go even close to praying at the times when the disbelievers prostrate. Just like how the sharee`ah commands the men to lower the gaze- and the main reason why even something small like that is prohibited (i.e. looking at women) is because the sharee`ah does not even want us to go close to zinaa.

Thus, the Hanbali scholars mentioned- after looking at the evidences, that the following are the only prayers that are permissible to offer at these prohibited timings:

a) When there is a congregation prayer for which you have prayed- then it is permissible to join it

b) The 2 rak`ah after tawaaf

c) Al-Salaatu'l Janaazah

d) Making up a sunan al-raatibah (i.e. the 12 optional prayers you mentioned)- then one can make it up in the other times apart from 'actual' prohibited times… but it is generally better to avoid it.

e) Making up an obligatory prayer

 

[Tomtom]

Thanks mate.