Voluntary prayer (Nafl) is one of the recommended prayers that is performed at specific times, and there are numerous recommendations for it in the narrations. Stay with Saad News for more.
Introduction to Nafl Prayers
Nafl refers to an act of voluntary goodness, which is not obligatory for a person. It also signifies something additional, a reward, or a gift. In the terminology of Islamic scholars, Nafl prayers are considered voluntary (Mustahabb) prayers within the sacred Islamic law. The most common usage of "Nafl" is in reference to recommended prayers. The term "Nafl" in its technical sense is more specific, referring only to voluntary prayers, while in its linguistic meaning, it is broader, encompassing both voluntary prayers and gifts. There is a mutual relationship between the linguistic and technical meanings—one includes the other.
Daily Nafl prayers are those that are performed each day. Each of the obligatory daily prayers has several Nafl units, which are performed before or after the obligatory prayers. The total number of Nafl units for non-Friday days is 34. The Prophet (PBUH) and the Imams (AS) are reported to have performed numerous Nafl prayers, and their sayings and actions serve as proof for the legitimacy of Nafl prayers.
Muhammad ibn Hassan reported from Imam Sadiq (AS) that Imam Ali (AS) would pray a thousand units of prayer daily and nightly towards the end of his life.
How Many Units of Nafl Prayer Are There?
On days other than Friday, the Nafl prayers total 34 units:
2 units of Nafl before the Fajr prayer.
8 units of Nafl before the Dhuhr prayer.
8 units of Nafl before the Asr prayer.
4 units of Nafl after the Maghrib prayer (if there is a lack of time, 2 units of Ghafila prayer may replace these).
1 unit of Nafl for Isha, also known as Witr prayer, which is considered one unit since the Nafl is recited sitting.
Nafl prayers for the night, also known as Tahajjud, consist of 11 units: 8 units of night prayer, 2 units of Shaf' (evening), and 1 unit of Witr.
On Fridays, 4 additional units are added to the Nafl prayers of Dhuhr and Asr, making it a total of 16 units.
How to Perform Nafl Prayers During Travel
According to the scholars' opinions, during travel:
Nafl prayers for Dhuhr and Asr should not be performed.
The Nafl for Isha is also best avoided.
Performing the remaining Nafl prayers during travel is allowed.
Importance and Virtue of Nafl Prayers
In Islam, there is great emphasis on performing Nafl prayers, and numerous rewards have been mentioned for them. Among the Nafl prayers, the night prayers hold greater virtue.
Many narrations from the Imams (AS) highlight the importance of Nafl prayers:
"Beware of laziness. Your Lord is merciful and appreciates even the smallest amount. A man may perform two voluntary rak'ahs seeking God's pleasure, and through these two rak'ahs, God admits him to paradise." (Imam Sadiq (AS))
In some narrations, Nafl prayers are considered to compensate for the deficiencies in the obligatory prayers. As narrated by Imam Baqir (AS): "We have been commanded to perform Nafl prayers to make up for what is lacking in the obligatory prayers."
The greatest benefit of Nafl prayers is mentioned in a narration called "The Hadith of Nearness of Nafl Prayers": The narrator reports from Imam Sadiq (AS), who quotes the Prophet (PBUH), who quotes Allah (SWT): "Indeed, My servant seeks nearness to Me through Nafl and voluntary acts until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing by which he hears, his sight by which he sees, and his tongue by which he speaks..."
Fazil ibn Yasar reported from Imam Sadiq (AS), who said: "The obligatory and Nafl prayers total 51 rak'ahs. The two units of Nafl for Isha, recited sitting, count as one rak'ah. The obligatory prayers total 17 rak'ahs, and the Nafl prayers total 34 rak'ahs."
