Sunnah Rawatib (Regular Sunnah Prayers) in the Quran & Sunnah

1. Guard the twelve rak‘ahs of the day and night — a house in Paradise is built for you.

Umm Habibah said: “Whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs in a day and a night, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before Dhuhr and two after it, two after Maghrib, two after ‘Isha’, and two before Fajr.”

2. The ten that Ibn ‘Umar preserved from the Prophet ﷺ himself.

“I preserved from Allah’s Messenger ﷺ ten rak‘ahs: two before Dhuhr, two after it, two after Maghrib in his house, two after ‘Isha’ in his house, and two before the morning prayer.” The Maghrib and ‘Isha’ sunnahs were prayed at home.

3. He never left the four before Dhuhr and the two before Fajr.

‘Aishah said: “The Prophet ﷺ never left four (rak‘ahs) before Dhuhr and two before Fajr.” Constancy — not occasional zeal — is the etiquette of the rawatib.

4. Four before Dhuhr and four after it — the Fire will not touch that person.

Umm Habibah said: “Whoever guards four rak‘ahs before Dhuhr and four after it, Allah will forbid him to the Fire.”

5. The two rak‘ahs of Fajr outweigh the whole world.

“The two rak‘ahs of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it.” The shortest sunnah carries the greatest price — never let sleep steal it.

6. Mercy is promised to the one who adds four before ‘Asr.

“May Allah have mercy on a person who prays four (rak‘ahs) before ‘Asr.” A prayed-for man is the one who fills the afternoon gap with prayer.

7. Pray the sunnahs at home — the home comes alive with them.

“Make some of your prayers in your houses, and do not take them as graves... the best of a man’s prayer is in his house, except the obligatory prayer.” The rawatib bless the house and teach its children.

8. Between the adhan and the iqamah there is an open door — pray if you wish.

“Between every two calls (adhan and iqamah) there is a prayer” — he said it three times and added: “for whoever wishes.” Voluntary prayer in that window is beloved, never imposed.

9. Guard the two rak‘ahs of Fajr above every other sunnah.

‘Aishah said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more particular about observing the two rak‘ahs before the dawn prayer than about observing any of the other voluntary prayers.” Of all the rawatib, these two held the firmest place in his practice.