The point is that the Prophet’s practice (peace and blessings be upon him) was to perform most Sunnah and voluntary prayers at home. Thus, Ibn ‘Umar reported in the two Sahīh collections (1): “I learned from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ten rak‘ahs: two before the noon prayer, two afterward, two after the sunset prayer in his home, two after the night prayer in his home, [and two before the dawn prayer]” (2).

In Sahīh Muslim (3), ‘Ā’ishah said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray four rak‘ahs in my house before the noon prayer, then go out and lead the people in prayer. He would then come inside and pray two rak‘ahs. He would lead the people in the sunset prayer, then come inside and pray two rak‘ahs. He would lead (4) the people in the night prayer and enter (5) my house to pray two rak‘ahs.”

Likewise, what is reliably reported concerning the Sunnah prayer preceding the dawn prayer is that he would perform it only at home, as Hafsah stated (6). In the two Sahīh collections (7), Hafsah and Ibn ‘Umar (8) reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray