Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that once Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi

wasallam asked Bilal (Radiyallahu 'anhu) at Fajr Salat:

O Bilal!

Tell me that deed of yours
which is most hopeful (for reward)
after embracing Islam,
for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise
(in my dream).

Bilal (Radiyallahu 'anhu) replied:

I have not done anything extroadinary except that
whenever I perform Wudu during the day or night,
I Salat (Tahiyatul-Wudu) after that,
as much as was written or granted for me.(Bukhari)

Abu Huraira Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that Allah’s Messenger Shalallahu ‘alaihi

wa Salam said to Bilal Radhiallahu ‘anhu “Tell me about the most hopeful act (i.e one

which you deem the most rewarding with Allah) you have done since your acceptance of

Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in paradise.”

Bilal said: “I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make ablution

(wudoo) at any time of night or day, I offer salah (prayer) for as long as was destined for

me to offer.” Narrated by Al-bukhari and Muslim.

After completion of the wudhu of two Rakaats is full of blessings (sawaab). It is related in
the Hadith that performance of the two Rakaats of Tahiyatul wudhu Namaaz makes
paradise obligatory (wajib) for the performer (ref:Muslim Sharif) There are also many
other benefits.

It should not be performed during the Improper (makruh) times. (When the sun rises, when

it is at Zenith and when it sets.)

2.  Ishraq (Sunrise prayer)

The beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said: Those who perform the

Fajr prayer in congregation (Jamaa’at), read the Zikr (remembrance of Allah) till the sun
has completely arisen (length of a spear from the horizon, after 20 minutes of sunrise) and
read 2 Raka-at Nafil prayer, will have the benedictions (sawaab) equal to those of Haj-
Umrah. It is recommended to read the Surah Fateha and Ayyat-uk-Kursi till Khaalidoon, in
the first Raka-at, and in the second Raka-at to read, after Surah Fateha, Aamanar Rasul till
the end of Suratul Baqarah. In the case that this verse cannot be read from memory, one
can recite any other verse and then ask Duas. Woman should read all prayers of Farz and
Nafil at home and will derive the same benefits (sawaab) that accrue from prayer
performed at the Mosque (Tirmizi Shareef).

The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said thatWhoever,

after finishing Fajr salat, kept sitting at the place of prayer, and prayed the Ishraq salat
before getting up from there, provided he did not engage in any worldly act or
conversation during that time, and instead, remained in Allah's Zikr (remembrance), then
all his sins are forgiven, even if they are as much as the foarn of the ocean. [Abu Da'ud]
The scholars have written that during this time, the person should take care to sit facing
the Qiblah. Sheikh Shahabuddin Soharwardi (R.A.) used to say that the action whose
reward is obtained right away in this world, is that a person, after Fajr salat, facing Qiblah,
does Zikr of Allah until Ishraq. After a few days the person will gain inner spiritual light

(Nuraniyat).

Rasulullah is reported to have said that Allah Ta'ala says, 'O son of Aadam, perform

4 Rakaats of Salat (Ishraaq) in the early part of the day. I shall help you in accomplishing

all your responsibilities during the rest of the day.' (Mishkaat pg.116)

In another narration of Tirmidhi, Rasulullah is reported to have said, 'He who

performs Fajr Salat with Jamaat and remains seated in the same place while engaging inDhikr until after sunrise and thereafter performs 2 Rakaats Nafil Salat, (Ishraaq), he willobtain the Thawaab of one Hajj and one Umrah.'(Tirm idhi).

From the above Ahaadith, we learn that the number of Rakaats to be performed are 2 or 4
Rakaats, and the Mustahabb method of performing it is to remain seated in your place of
Salat after Fajr and engage in Dhikr, etc. until sunrise. Then, approximately, 10-15 minutes
after sunrise perform 2-4 Rakaats. 'If a person gets occupied in some worldly activity after
the Fajr Salat, and after sunrise he offers Ishraaq Salat, this will also be permissible
although the reward will be less.' (Bahishti Zewar part2 pg.30)

3. Dhuhaa Salaat (Breakfast prayer)

When the sun has risen high and there is heat in its rays, the performance of 2,4, 6,8 or 12

rakaats is called Namaaz-e-Chaast. This is full of countless rewards.

The Traditions says that the performance of 2 rakaats wipes away all ones sins. There are
360 joints in our body and to pay Sadakah for each is Wajib (obligatory) The 2 rakaaats is
enough to pay all the Sadakah. Performance of 4 rakaats places the performer's name
among the Abids and is the Sunnat of Saliheen and promise the performer protection until
the evening. The performer of 6 rakaats is relieved of his day's worries. Performance of 8
rakaats places his name among the Parhezgaars and the performer of 12 rakaats ensures a
Golden Mansion or castle for himself in Paradise. (Ref : Tirmizi, Ibne Majah, Ahmad and

Abu Yala)

The Mustahabb (preferred) time of performing Salat al-Dhuhaa is after 1/4 of the day has
passed. This is deduced from a Hadith of Muslim. (Halabi; Sharah Kabeer pg.390). From
many Ahaadith, we understand that Salat al-Dhuhaa should be performed after the sun has
risen quiet high. Because the Fuqahaa and Muhadditheen are of the opinion that the
commencement of the time of Salat al-Dhuhaa is the same as that of Ishraaq (i.e.
immediately after sunrise), the Ulama have stated that 'if due to lack of time, one performs

the Salat of Ishraaq and Dhuhaa together at one time, that too will be correct.'(Our

Namaas pg.44)

Rasulullah is reported to have said, 'Whoever offers 2 Rakaats of Salat al-Dhuhaa, all

his sins will be forgiven even though they are as much as the foam of the sea.'(Ibi d)

It is reported that Sayyidna Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) used to perform 8

Rakaats of Salat al-Dhuhaa. She said that even if her parents arose from the grave, she

would not leave Salat al-Dhuhaa to go and meet them.(Ibi d).

'Salat al-Dhuhaa consists of 2 - 12 Rakaats and it is preferable to perform 8 Rakaats.'

(Raddul Mukhtaar vol.1 pg.505)

The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said thatWhoever

prayed twelve rakaats at the time of Chasht, then Allah will, as reward, prepare a palace of

gold for him in Paradise. [Mishkat, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah]

4. Virtues of the Four Rak'aah Sunnah of Zuhr

The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said thatWhoever

performs the four rakaats before and after the Zuhr salat with constancy, Allah Ta'ala

makes the fire of Hell haram (forbidden) for him. [Mishkat, p. 104; Tirmizi, Abu Da'ud,

Nisai, Ibn Majah]

The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said that after the

worshipper prays the four rakaats of Zuhr salat, the doors of heaven are opened, i.e. the
salat becomes accepted by Allah, and the cause of its acceptance comes down on the
worshipper as rays of mercy. [Mishkat, p. 104]

5. Virtues of the 4 Rak'aah Sunnah of Asr

Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "May Allaah have Mercy on the one

who offers four (rak'ahs) before 'Asr prayer." (Abu Dawud)

6. Salatul Awwabeen(Nafl prayers of Maghrib)

After the Farz and Sunnat of Magrib, performance of the minimum of 6 to a maximum of 20

rakaats is called Salatul Awwabeen.

1. Awwaabeen is the six Rakaats of Salaat after the Maghrib Salaat. It is established from

the Hadith.

Rasulullah [sallallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] mentioned, "Whoever performs 6

Rakaats after Maghrib Salaat will earn the reward of 12 years of Nafl Ibaadah."(Tirm idhi)

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
7.Prayer of Tahajjud (Night prayer)
Our Master, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has

said: In Paradise there is a castle reserved for those who read Tahajjud and the Prophet

(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) further adds, those who pray at night will enter paradise

without having to account for their acts in this life.

The Nafils of Tahajjud are read after the Esha prayer, but it is important to sleep before
performing Tahajjud. The prayer consists of a minimum of 2 Raka-ats, and a maximum of 8
or 12 Raka-ats (to be read according ones capacity).

After Esha prayers sleep for some time, then wake up any time during the night before the
rise of morning for Tahajjud prayers. With the performance of 2 Rakats you have duly
achieved your Tahajjud. However, the performance of 8 Rakats in Sunnat, and complying
with the practice of the Holy Saints of Islam and performing 12 Rakats is commendable.

It is recommended that you recite in your prayers as much of the Sacred Quran as you
know. If you happen to know by heart the whole of the Sacred Quran you may, in at least 3
nights or most 4 nights of Tahajjud effectuate the complete reading of the Sacred Quran.

Otherwise, you may recite 3 Surah Ikhlas (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) after your"A lham du.. . " inevery Rakat and you will thus derive full benefits of the full recital of the Sacred Quran inevery Rakat.

During the month of Ramadan one should awake a little earlier for Sehri and make time topray Tahajjud Salaah for the reward is magnified so much more in Ramadan and duas areeven more readily accepted than at any other time of the year.

The dua's at the time of Tahajjud are very readily accepted by Almighty Allah and one
should repent and ask of Allah and try to cry in their dua's at this time, if one cannot cry
due to the hardness of ones heart due to sin then at least one should make the face as if
one is crying. Just as a mother tends to her baby quickly and promptly when it cries the
same way Allah attends to his servant quicker when they are crying.

8.Salaatul Tasbih

Our beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this Nafil prayer to

his Uncle, Hazrat Abbas (RA) and told him; He who performs this prayer will have his

past and future sins forgiven.

The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has recommended to read this prayer daily on
each Friday or once a month or once a year, in case of this not being possible, to read it
even once in one’s life. This Nafil prayer provides limitless benefits both in the material and
spiritual life.

‘Ikrimah reports from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said to ‘Abbas ibn

‘Abdal-Mutalib: “O ‘Abbas, O Uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not present to you, shall I

not donate to you, shall I not tell you ten things which, if you do, Allah will forgive your first
and last sins, past and present sins, intentional and unintentional sins, private and public
sins? The ten actions are: pray four rak’at, reciting in every rak’ah al-Fatihah and a surah.
And when you finish the Qur’anic recitation of the first rak’ah, say, while standing,
‘Subhanallah, al-hamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu Akbar‘ ['Glory be to Allah. All
praise is due to Allah. There is no God except Allah. Allah is the greatest.'] fifteen times.
Then make ruku’, and while you are in ruku’, say the same ten times; then stand, and say
the same ten times. Then go down and make sajdah, and while you’re in sajdah, say the
same ten times. Then sit after the sajdah, and say the same ten times. Then make sajdah,
and say the same ten times. Then sit after the second sajdah, and say the same another
ten times. That is seventy-five [repetitions of the phrases] in each rak’ah. Do that in each
of the four rak’at. If you can pray it once a day, do so. If you cannot, then once every
Friday. If you cannot do that, then once a year. And if you cannot do that then once in your
life.“

This hadith is related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaimah in his sahih, and

at-Tabarani. About this hadith al-Mundhiri says: “This hadith has been related

through many chains and from a number of companions. The best of them is this one from
‘Ikrimah. A group of scholars have graded it to be sahih, including al-Hafez Abu Bakr
al-’Ajari, (al-Mundhiri’s teachers), Abu Muhammad ‘Abdurrahim al-Misri, and Abu al-Hassan
al-Maqdisi.”

Ibn al Mubarak says: “The tasbih prayer is a greatly desired act and it is desirable that

one should punctually observe it and never neglect it.

How to perform this Nafil:

After having pronounced one’s intention (Niyat), say Allaho-Akbar, read"Subhanaka-Alla

humma" completely (Sana), read now 15 times "Subhaanallahi wal hamdu Lillaahi wala

illaha Illallah Wallah-o-Akbar." Then read Aoozu billah and Bismillah (completely) and Surah

Fateha. Then recite 10 times the Tasbih mentioned above and go to Ruku. Here also recite
10 times the Tasbih before raising yourself to read another 10 times the same Tasbih, this
time in a standing position. Then prostrate (Sajdah) and read 10 times the Tasbih, sit now
and read again 10 times this Tasbih (Jalsa) and prostrate again, Tasbish 10 times in the
2nd Raka-at begin by reading 15 times this Tasbih before reading"B ism illah" and Surah
Fateha. After that read 10 times the Tasbih and then proceed as in the first Raka-at. To end
the second Raka-at, read as usual "Attahiyat", "Durood" and"Duas".Then read 2 other
Raka-ats. As in each Raka-at the Tasbih is recited 75 times, it means that in all 4 Raka-at
the Tasbih is read 300 times. In the other 2 Raka-at, after "Subhana Rabbiyal-azeem",read
the Tasbih 75 times and in the Sajdah (prostrations after Subhaan Rabbiyal-ala) read again
75 times the Tasbih.

Note: No fixed time has been prescribed for this prayer, a fact, which means that besides

any time prohibited this prayer, can be read at any time.

9. Salatul Hajaat (When wanting help from Allah)

According to a traditional report, transmitted by Abu Hashim al-Ayyili on theauthority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him), the Prophet(Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone has a seriously pressing need, requiring Allah's help, he should perform the
ritual ablution [wudu'] with proper care. He should then perform two cycles of ritual prayer
[rak'atain]. In the first cycle he should recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-
Kitab] and the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi], and in the second cycle, the Opening
Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Amana 'r-Rasulu... [The Messenger believes...]" to
the end of that passage. Then, having pronounced the testimony [tashahhud] and the
salutation [taslima], he should make his plea by offering this prayer of supplication [du'a'],
for his need will then be satisfied. The words of the prayer of supplication [du'a'] are

as follows:

O Allah! O Intimate Friend of every lonely individual! O Companion of every solitary
individual! O You who are Near, not distant! O You who are Present, not absent! O You who
are Invisible, but not vanquished!

Allahumma : ya Mu'nisa kulli wahid : wa ya Sahiba kulli farid : wa ya Qariban ghaira ba'id:

wa ya Shahidan ghaira gha'ib : wa ya Gha'iban ghaira maghlub :

I beseech you by invoking Your Name: In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate, the Ever-Living, the Eternally Self-Sustaining the One whom neitherslumber nor sleep can overtake.

as'alu-ka bi'smi-ka bi'smi'llahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Rahim: al-Hayyi 'l-Qayyum: alladhi la

ta'khudhu-hu sinatun wa la nawm.

Again I beseech you by invoking Your Name: In the Name of Allah the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate, the Ever-Living, the Eternally Self-Sustaining, the One before whom facesare humbled, voices subdued and hearts quake and tremble.

wa as'alu-ka bi'smi-ka bi'smi'llahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Rahim: al-Hayyi 'l-Qayyum: alladhi 'anat la-

hu 'l-wujuh: wa khasha'at la-hu 'l-aswat: wa wajilat min-hu 'l-qulub :

[I beseech You] to bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and to grant

me relief from my problem, and a way out of it, and to fulfil my need.

an yusalliya 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad wa an taj'ala li min amri farajan wa

makhrajan wa taqdiya hajati.

10.Salaatul Tawbah (Prayer for Repentance for sin)

If one has done committed any sinful act which is contrary to the Shariat then one shouldperform 2 rakaats of Nafil and humble themselves before Allah and sincerely repent, feelashamed for their sins and ask Allah for forgiveness and make a firm intention never tocommit such act again in the future. By the Grace of Allah the sins would then be forgiven

(Ref: Shami)

Ameerul Mumineen Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) relates that the Holy Prophet ( Sallaallahu Alayi
Wasallam) said that whenever one has done a sinful act he should make wudhu , perform 2
rakaats Nafil and thereafter sincerely repent and seek Almighty's forgivness. Allah pardons
all sins. After relating this , the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) then read the
following from the Quran:

"And those who have done something to be ashamed of or wronged their own souls.
Earnestly bring Allah to mind and ask for forgiveness of their sins, and who can forgive sins
except Allah" (Sura 3-135)

11.Virtues of walking to the Masjid

Abu Hurayra (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAWW) said,

"Anyone who purifies himself in his house and then goes to one of the houses of Allah tofulfil one of the obligations of Allah, one step removes an error and the other raises him adegree."[M us lim]

12. Virtues of Praying in the Masjid

The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said thatThe

person who, from morning to evening, goes towards the Masjid to perform salat, every

time he goes to the Masjid, Allah Ta'ala prepares the Paradise for his welcome.[Mis hka t]

13. Tahiyyatul Masjid (Nafl prayer when entering Masjid)

Abu Qatada Radhiallahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa

Salam said : “If any one of you enters a mosque, he should pray two raka’ats before

sitting.”Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

This is a 2 Rak'aah Nafl prayer which one should perform as one enters the Masjid. It is

very rewarding.

14. Reward of Salaah multiplied 70 times or more by use of Miswaak

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) has reported that,

“The prayer before which the Miswak is used is seventy times more excellent than that

before which it is not used.”

Ibn Abbas, ‘Ali and Ata (may Allah be pleased with them all) state that,

“But it increases to 99 or 400 times.”

Reward for every action is based on sincerity, the more sincerity we are the themore reward we'll get! It may be that we could get 70, 99 or even 400 times ormore rewards for every action depending on how sincere we are in doing theaction.