Alongside the obligatory prayers are the regular sunnah prayers (al-rawātib). The Prophet ﷺ promised a house in Paradise for those who keep to twelve rakʿahs daily:
"Whoever prays twelve rakʿahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise." — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
These twelve are:
- 2 rakʿahs before Fajr — the most emphasised of all; "better than the world and all it contains." (Muslim)
- 4 rakʿahs before Dhuhr (two by two)
- 2 rakʿahs after Dhuhr
- 2 rakʿahs after Maghrib
- 2 rakʿahs after ʿIshāʾ
They make up for shortcomings in our obligatory prayers and draw us nearer to Allah. Start with the two before Fajr and the two after Maghrib, then build up.