Sunnah & Nafl Prayers

Q. How many prayers are Sunnat-ul-Mu’akkadah?

A. Two rak’aat before Fajr’s fard; four rak’aat with one salaam before fard of Jumu’ah (Friday) and Zuhr prayers; two rak’aat after the fard of Zuhr; four rak’aat with one salaam after Jumu’ah prayers; two rak’aat after fard of Maghrib prayers; two rak’aat after ‘Ishaa’s fard; and twenty rak’aat of Taraaweeh in Ramadaan.

Q. How many prayers are Sunnat Ghayr Mu’akkadah?

A. Four rak’aat before ‘Asr; two rak’aat after ‘Ishaa’s sunnat mu’akkadah; six rak’aat after Maghrib’s sunnat mu’akkadah; two rak’aat after Jumu’ah’s sunnat mu’akkadah; two rak’aat of Tahiyyat-ul-Wuduu’; two rak’aat of Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid; four or eight rak’aat of Chaasht (Duhaa) prayers; two rak’aat after Witr; four, six, or eight rak’aat of Tahajjud prayers; Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh; Salaat-ul-Istikhaarah; Salaat-ut-Tawbah; Salaat-ul-Haajah; etc.

Q. Where is it better to say sunnah prayers – at home or in the mosque?

A. It is better to say all sunnah and nawaafil at home, except some like Taraaweeh, Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid, and prayers of solar eclipse.

Q. At what time is it makrooh to say nafl prayers?

After subh-e-saadiq and before the two rak’aat of fard of Fajr.
After the fard of Fajr prayers until sunrise.
After the fard of ‘Asr until the sun fades.
From sunrise until the sun is a spear-length high.
Exactly at midday.
From the start of the sun’s fading until sunset (unless ‘Asr not yet said).
During the khutbah.

Q. What is meant by the changing of color, or the fading, of the sun?

A. When the sun’s glow becomes red and one can fix one’s eyes upon it without difficulty, it means the sun is fading.