Voluntary prayer

Voluntary prayer:

It is recommended for every Muslim individual to perform Sunan Raatibah (regularly-observed supererogatory) prayers before or after the obligatory prayers. They are twelve Rak‘ahs: 4 Rak‘ahs before and 2 after the Thuhr Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib Prayer, 2 after the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer and 2 before the Fajr Prayer.

Duha (Forenoon) Prayer:

It is two Rak‘ahs or four. The time for the Duha Prayer begins when the sun is about a spear’s length, (in one’s sight) above the horizon and it continues until the sun approaches the meridian.

It is also recommended for one to pray Witr Prayer at night. The Witr Prayer can be as short as one Rak‘ah and can be as many as eleven Rak‘ahs.

Its time starts immediately after the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer and continues until dawn.

It is also recommended for one to pray two by two Rak’ahs then perform the Witr with a single Rak‘ah.

Moreover, Muslim is permitted to perform nine continuous Rak‘ahs. He should sit after the eighth Rak‘ah to make the first Tashahhud but not to make Tasleem. Then stand to do the ninth Rak‘ah, make the last Tashahhud, and then end his prayer with Tasleem.  He also may perform seven of five continuous Rak‘ahs, with one Tashahhud in the end after which is to end the prayer with Tasleem.  He may also perform seven continuous Rak‘ah, with two Tashahhud; one after the sixth and the other after the seventh with one Tasleem.

One also can do it with three Rak‘ah; to perform two Rak‘ah and say Tasleem, and then perform a single (last) one. He may also perform three continuous Rak‘ahs with only one Tashahhud and Tasleem.

In the month of Ramadan, it is desirable to perform the supererogatory night prayer in congregation (i.e. Taraaweeh).