Chapter on Supererogatory Prayers

The recommended regimen of supererogatory prayers is as follows: two rakʿahs after daybreak; four rakʿahs before the ẓuhr prayer and two afterwards; four before ʿaṣr—though if one prefers, two will suffice; two after maghrib; four before ʿishāʾ, and four after it, or, if one wishes, two.

For daytime nawāfil, one may pray either two rakʿahs and end with a single salām or four; to exceed that in one set is disliked.

Regarding night-time nawāfil, Abū Ḥanīfah held that performing up to eight rakʿahs with a single salām is permissible, and anything beyond that is disliked. Abū Yūsuf and Muḥammad maintained that one should not pray at night more than two rakʿahs with one salām.

Recitation of the Qurʾān is obligatory in the first two rakʿahs of every obligatory prayer. In the final two rakʿahs the worshipper may choose to recite, to glorify Allah, or to remain silent. By contrast, recitation is required in every rakʿah of the supererogatory prayers and in all the rakʿahs of witr. Whoever begins a voluntary prayer and then invalidates it must make it up. If he had been praying four rakʿahs, sat for the tashahhud after the first two, and then invalidated the remaining two, he must make up only two rakʿahs.

One may perform voluntary prayers while seated even if able to stand; if he began them standing and then sat, it remains valid according to Abū Ḥanīfah. Abū Yūsuf and Muḥammad allow this only when there is a legitimate excuse.

A person traveling outside a town may pray nawāfil on his mount, facing whatever direction it turns, indicating the bowings and prostrations with head gestures.