" Had this (Nafl) prayer become obligatory for you, you would not be able to observe it."

"Say: We believed in Allah and what was revealed to us..." verse 136 from Surah Baqara, and in the second of the two: "I believe in Allah and I bear testimony that we are Muslims" (iii. 52).

He who takes anyone as his ally without the consent of his previous master, there will be the curse of Allah and that of His angels upon him, and neither, any obligatory act of his nor the supererogatory one will be accepted (by Allah).

I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observing the supererogatory prayer of the forenoon, but I observed it. And if the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) abandoned any act which he in fact loved to do, it was out of fear that if the people practised it constantly, it might become obligatory for them.

Medina is a sacred territory, so he who made any innovation in it. or gave protection to an innovator, there is upon him the curse of Allah, that of the angels and that of all the people. There would not be accepted on the Day of Resurrection either obligatory acts or supererogatory acts from him.

My friend (the Holy Prophet) bade me to hear and obey (the ruler) even if he is a slave having his feet and arms cut off, and observe prayer at its prescribed time. (And further said): It you find people having observed the prayer, you in fact saved your prayer, otherwise (if you join with them) that would be a Nafl prayer for you.

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to me: O Abu Dharr, you would soon find after me rulers who would make their prayers dead. You should say prayer at its prescribed time. If you say prayer at its prescribed time that would be a supererogatory prayer for you, otherwise you saved your prayer.

" The protection granted by Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them. And he who broke the covenant made by a Muslim, there is a curse of Allah, of his angels, and of the whole people upon him, and neither an obligatory act nor a supererogatory act would be accepted from him as recompense on the Day of Resurrection."

I asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) would observe prayer (Nafl) in a standing position as well as in a sitting position, and when he commenced the prayer in a standing position, he bowed in this very position, and when he commenced the prayer in a sitting position, he bowed in this very position.

" He who violated the covenant with a Muslim, there is upon him the curse of Allah, of angels and of all people. Neither an obligatory act nor a supererogatory act would be accepted from him as recompense on the Day of Resurrection; and in the hadith transmitted by two other narrators these words are not found:" He who claimed false paternity." And in the hadith transmitted by Waki' there is no mention of the Day of Resurrection.

'Ali b. Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) addressed us and said: He who thought that we have besides the Holy Qur'an anything else that we recite, he told a lie. And this document which is hanging by the sheath of the sword contains but the ages of the camels, and the nature of the wounds. He (Hadrat 'Ali) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Medina is sacred from 'Air to Thaur; So if anyone makes an innovation or accommodates an innovator, the curse of Allah, the angels, and all persons will fall upon him, and Allah will not accept any obligatory or supererogatory act as recompense from them. And the protection granted by the Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them. If anyone makes a false claim to paternity, or being a client of other than his own masters, there is upon him the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people. Allah will not accept from him any recompense in the form of obligatory acts or supererogatory acts. The hadith transmitted on the authority of Abu Bakr and Zabair ends with (these words): The humblest among them should respect it; and what follows after it is not mentioned there, and in the hadith transmitted by them (these words are) not found: (The document was hanging) on the sheath of his sword.

"The first thing for which a person will be brought to account will be his Salah. If it is complete (all well and good), otherwise Allah will say: 'Look and see if My slave did any voluntary prayer.' If he is found to have done voluntary prayers, his obligatory prayers will be completed therewith."

A man questioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in Ramadhan, treat as lawful that which is halal, and treat as forbidden that which is haram, and do not increase upon that [in voluntary good deeds], then I shall enter Paradise?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Yes.” [Muslim]

We were commanded to give charity (despite the fact.) that we were coolies. Abu 'Aqil donated half a sa'. And there came another man with more than this. The hypocrites said: Verily Allah does not stand in need of the charity of this, and the second one has done nothing but only made a show (of his charity). Then this verse was revealed." Those who scoff at the voluntary givers of charity among the believers as well as those who cannot find anything (to give) but with their hard labour" (ix. 80). And Bishr did not utter the word Muttawwi'in.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) was more particular about observing the supererogatory rak'ahs before the dawn prayer than about observing any of the other supererogatory prayers.

I asked Anas b. Malik about the voluntary prayers after the afternoon prayer, and he replied: 'Umar struck hit hands on prayer observed after the 'Asr prayer and we used to observe two rak'ahs after the sun set before the evening prayer during the time of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). I said to him: Did the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observe them? He said: He saw us observing them, but he neither commanded us nor forbade us to do so.

"We fasted with the Messenger of Allah (SAW) in Ramadan and he did not lead us in praying Qiyam until there were seven days left in the month, when he led us in praying Qiyam until one-third of the night had passed. Then he did not lead us in praying Qiyam when there were six days left. Then he led us praying Qiyam when there were five days left until one-half of the night had passed. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if we spend the rest of this night praying Nafl?" He said: "Whoever prays Qiyam with the Imam until he finishes, Allah (SWT) will record for him the Qiyam of a (whole) night." Then he did not lead us in prayer or pray Qiyam until there were three days of the month left. Then he led us in praying Qiyam when there were three days left. He gathered his family and wives (and led us in prayer) until we feared that we would miss Al-Falah. I (one of the narrators) said: "What is Al-Falah?" He said: "The suhur".

The Prophet [SAW] said: "Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

The Prophet [SAW] said: "Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Whoever stands (in he voluntary night prayer of) the Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

the Messenger of Allah joined Maghrib and Isha; in Jam (Al-Muzdalifah), with one Iqamah, and he did not offer any voluntary prayers in between or after either of them.

I said to 'Abdullah b. Samit: We say our Jumu'a prayer behind those rulers who defer the prayer. He ('Abdullah b. Samit), struck. my thigh that I felt pain and said: I asked Abu Dharr about it, he struck my thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about it. Upon this he said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, and treat prayer along with them (along with those Imams who deter prayer) as Nafl. 'Abdullah said: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) struck the thigh of Abd Dharr.

I entered the mosque, when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had been sitting among people, and I also sat down among them. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: What prevented you from offering two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting down? I said: Messenger of Allah, I saw you sitting and people sitting (around you and I, therefore, sat in your company). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: When anyone among you enters the mosque, he should not sit till he has observed two rak'ahs.

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that the Prophet (S.A.W) joined them (Maghrib and 'Isha') in Al-Muzdalifah, and he prayed each of them with an Iqamah, and he did not offer any voluntary prayer before or after either of them.

"My father told me: 'I was with Ibn Umar on a journey, and he prayed Zuhr and 'Asr with two rak'ahs each, then he went and sat on his carpet. He saw some people offering voluntary prayers and said: What are these people doing? I said: They are offering voluntary prayers. He said: If I had wanted to pray before and after (the obligatory prayer) I would have offered it in full. I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and he did not pray more than two rak'ahs when traveling, and Abu Bakr (did likewise) until he died, as did 'Umar and 'Uthman, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them all."

"The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: 'You may live to meet people who will be offering the prayer outside its (prayer) time. If you meet them, then offer the prayer on time, then pray with them and make that a voluntary prayer."'

"The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to pray voluntary prayers (Usabbih) while riding his mount, facing whatever direction it was facing, and he would pray Witr likewise, but he would not offer the prescribed prayers on it."

Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) stayed in my house, he would perform four Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer) before Zuhr prayer. Then he would go out and lead Salat. He (PBUH) would then come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). He would lead the Maghrib prayer and come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). When he (PBUH) had led the 'Isha' prayer, he would enter the house and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer).

[Muslim]

‘A’isha said that the Prophet was more particular about observing the two supererogatory rak'as at dawn than about observing any of the other supererogatory prayers. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

"I never saw the Messenger of Allah (SAW) offer his voluntary prayers sitting down until one year before his death. Then he used to pray sitting down, reciting the surah so slowly that it seemed to be longer than a surah that is longer."

"It has not reached me that the Messenger of Allah (saws) gave the Nafl during every expedition, but it has been conveyed to me that he gave the Nafl in some of them. That is according to the discretion of the Imam during the beginning of the division of the spoils or the end of it."

Ibn Mansur said: "I said to Ahmad: 'The Prophet (saws) gave the Nafl when he divided the fourth, after the Khumus, and when he was returning (he gave) the third from the Khumus.' So he said: 'The Khumus is taken, and then the Nafl is given from what remains, nothing beyond this.''"

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is (understood) as Ibn Musayyab said: "The Nafl is from te Khumus." Ishaq said as he said.

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

"I knocked at the door when the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was offering a voluntary prayer. The door was in the direction of the Qiblah so he took a few steps to his right or left and opened the door, then he went back to where he was praying."

"I heard Sufyan reciting this tashahhud in the obligatory and voluntary prayers, and he said: 'Abu Ishaq narrated to us from Abu Al-Ahwas from Abdullah, from the Prophet (SAW).'" And Mansur and Hammad narrated to us from Abu Wa'il, from Abdullah, from the Prophet (SAW).

The Prophet (saws) as saying: If anyone prays in a day and a night twelve rak'ahs voluntarily (supererogatory prayer), a house will be built from him in Paradise on account of these (rak'ahs).

we used to offer supererogatory prayers and recite supplications while we were standing, and would glorify Allah while bowing and prostrating.

"The Messenger of Allah joined Maghrib and Isha with no (Voluntary) prayer in between them. He prayed Maghrib with three Rakahs and Isha with two." And Abdullah bin Umar used to join them in like manner until he met Allahm, The Mighty and Sublime.

His grandfather said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) prayed Maghrib in the masjid of Banu 'Abdul-Ashhal, and when he finished praying some people stood up and offered Nafl prayers. The Prophet (SAW) said: 'You should offer this prayer in your houses.'"

"Go out and take the harvest of your date palms, for perhaps you will give Zakah or do some good (give voluntary charity)."

"I did not see Allah's Messenger (S) praying voluntary prayers sitting until the year before he died. Then he would perform Salat for the voluntary prayers sitting, and he would recite a Surah and prolong it such that it would be longer than the longest of them."

We fasted with the Messenger of Allah (saws) during Ramadan, but he did not make us get up at night for prayer at any time during the month till seven nights remained; then he made us get up for prayer till a third of the night had passed. When the sixth remaining night came, he did not make us get up for prayer. When the fifth remaining night came, he made us stand in prayer till a half of the night had gone.

So I said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had led us in supererogatory prayers during the whole of tonight.

He said: When a man prays with an imam till he goes he is reckoned as having spent a whole night in prayer. On the fourth remaining night he did not make us get up. When the third remaining night came, he gathered his family, his wives, and the people and prayed with us till we were afraid we should miss the falah (success).

I said: What is falah? He said: The meal before daybreak. Then he did not make us get up for prayer during the remainder of the month.

"The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his Salah. If it is found to be complete then it will be recorded as complete, and if anything is lacking He will say: 'Look and see if you can find any voluntary prayers with which to complete what he neglected of his obligatory prayers.' Then the rest of his deeds will be reckoned in like manner."

I prayed by the side of the Messenger of Allah (saws) in the supererogatory prayer and I heard him say: "I refuge in Allah from the Hell-Fire; woe to the inmates of the Hell-fire!"

The Prophet (saws) said: Cannot any one of you (according to the version of the narrator AbdulWarith) step forward or backward or at his right or left. The version of Hammad added: during prayer; that is, in supererogatory prayer.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to say in his tahajjud prayer(i.e. supererogatory prayer offered in or after the midnight) after he said the takbir; he then narrated the tradition to the same effect.

The Prophet (saws) would recite in the two (supererogatory) rak'ahs of the dawn prayer: "Say, O unbelievers" [Surat al-Kafiroon:1] and "Say: He is Allah, the one" [Surat al-Ikhlas:1]

I asked 'A'isha about the Messenger of Allah's (may peace be upon him) voluntary prayers, and she replied: Before the noon prayer, he used to pray four rak'ahs in my house; then would go out and lead the people in prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. He would then lead the people in the sunset prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. Then he would lead the people in the 'Isha' prayer, and enter my house and pray two rak'ahs. He would pray nine rak'ahs during the night, including Witr. At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting, and when he recited the Holy Qur'an while standing, he would bow and prostrate himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate himself from the sitting position, and when it was dawn he would pray two rak'ahs.

The Prophet (saws) came to the mosque of Banu AbdulAshhal. He prayed the sunset prayer there. When they finished the prayer, he saw them praying the supererogatory prayer after it. He said: This is the prayer to be offered in the houses.

While travelling the Messenger of Allah (saws) would pray voluntary prayer on his riding beast in whatever direction it turned; and he would observe witr prayer, but he did not offer the obligatory prayers upon it.

Ja’far bin Muhammad reported on the authority of his father The Prophet (saws) prayed the noon and the afternoon prayers with one adhan and two iqamahs at ‘Arafah and he did not offer supererogatory prayers between them. He prayed the sunset and night prayers at Al Muzdalifah with one adhan and two iqamahs and he did not offer supererogatory prayers between them.

Abu Dawud said This tradition has been narrated by Hatim bin Isma’il as a part of the lengthy tradition. Muhammad bin ‘Ali Al Ju’fi narrated it from Ja’far from his father on the authority of Jabir, like the tradition transmitted by Hatim bin Isma’il. But this version has He offered the sunset and night prayers with one adhan and one iqamah.