Chapter: The Sunnah Prayers of ʿIshāʾ—after it and before it

In the earlier narration from Ibn ʿUmar it is stated, “I performed two rakʿahs with the Prophet ﷺ after ʿIshāʾ,” and in the report of ʿAbdullāh ibn Mughaffal: “Between every two calls to prayer there is a prayer.” This ḥadīth is agreed upon, as mentioned previously.

[Explanation]

The following sections clarify the sunnah prayers connected to ʿAṣr, Maghrib, and ʿIshāʾ. We have already dealt with the sunnah prayers of Fajr and Ẓuhr.

1. ʿAṣr: Among the recommended practices before ʿAṣr is to pray four rakʿahs, drawing on the Prophet’s supplication, “May Allah show mercy to the one who prays four before ʿAṣr.” This is a prayer of blessing from the Prophet ﷺ for anyone who performs those four rakʿahs. Although the ḥadīth has some weakness according to the scholars, it is hoped that a person will still obtain reward by praying them.

2. Maghrib: There are sunnah rakʿahs both before and after Maghrib. The two after Maghrib are a regular confirmed sunnah (rāti­bah), whereas the two before it are not. For the pre-Maghrib prayer the Prophet ﷺ said, “Pray before Maghrib, pray before Maghrib, pray before Maghrib,” and on the third time he added, “for anyone who wishes,” so that it would not be regarded as an obligatory regular sunnah. Thus, when the adhan for Maghrib is announced, a person may offer two rakʿahs as a sunnah, but they are not of the same emphatic status as the two afterward. If one leaves them there is no sin, and if one performs them there is no sin. This is why Anas said, “The Prophet ﷺ would see us pray them and neither instructed us to do so nor forbade us.”