Sunnah Prayers: The Complete Guide to the Daily Rawatib
Sunnah prayers are the voluntary units of salah that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed around the five obligatory prayers. The most emphasised — the daily rawatib, or Sunnah Mu'akkadah — add up to twelve rak'aat a day and come with a remarkable promise: a house built in Paradise. This guide shows you exactly which Sunnah belong to each prayer, how to fit them into your day, and where they sit between the obligatory prayers and the optional Nafl.
Quick Answer — The 12 Daily Sunnah Rak'aat
- Fajr:2 rak'aat before (the most emphasised Sunnah of all).
- Dhuhr:4 rak'aat before + 2 rak'aat after.
- Maghrib:2 rak'aat after.
- Isha:2 rak'aat after (then Witr closes the night).
That is 12 rak'aat in total. Whoever prays them daily is promised a house in Paradise — and they cover any shortfall in the obligatory prayers.
What Are Sunnah Prayers?
A Sunnah prayer (صلاة السنة) is a voluntary prayer that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed regularly but which is not obligatory. Unlike the five daily obligatory prayers (Fard), skipping a Sunnah prayer is not a sin. But because the Prophet ﷺ kept them up consistently, they carry great reward and are a mark of sincere, complete worship.
Their most important role appears on the Day of Judgement. The Prophet ﷺ said the first thing a person will be questioned about is their prayer — and if their obligatory prayers fall short, Allah will say:
“Look — does My servant have any voluntary prayers?” Then the shortfall in the obligatory prayer will be completed from them.
— Sunan Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi
In other words, your Sunnah prayers act as a safety net. Every voluntary rak'ah is reward in its own right — and a reserve that can repair gaps in the prayers you are obliged to offer.
Sunnah vs Fard, Nafl, and Witr — the Categories
Muslim prayer falls into a few categories of obligation. Knowing which is which removes most of the confusion around what you “have” to pray versus what you are encouraged to pray.
Fard (obligatory)
The five daily prayers — Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha. Required of every adult Muslim; leaving one is a serious sin. Everything else on this page is built around these.
Sunnah Mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah)
The voluntary prayers the Prophet ﷺ almost never abandoned — chiefly the daily rawatib attached to Fajr, Dhuhr, Maghrib and Isha. Strongly emphasised; a believer should guard them.
Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah (non-confirmed Sunnah)
Voluntary prayers the Prophet ﷺ prayed sometimes but not always — for example 4 rak'aat before Asr and 2 before Maghrib. Recommended and rewarded, with lighter emphasis.
Nafl (general voluntary)
Any extra prayer offered purely to draw closer to Allah — Duha, Tahajjud, Tahiyyat al-Masjid, and others. Unlimited in number and prayed in pairs of two.
Witr (closing prayer)
The odd-numbered prayer that seals the night after Isha. Highly emphasised — some scholars even call it obligatory — and treated separately from the rawatib. See our full Witr prayer guide.
The 12 Daily Sunnah Rak'aat (Rawatib), Prayer by Prayer
These are the confirmed Sunnah the Prophet ﷺ prayed every day. They are reported by Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said she heard the Prophet ﷺ say that whoever prays twelve rak'aat in a day and night will have a house built for them in Paradise (reported by Muslim). Here is the full set, in order through the day.
Fajr الفجر
2 beforeWhen: After the Fajr adhan, before the obligatory Fajr.
The most emphasised Sunnah of all. The Prophet ﷺ said the two rak'aat of Fajr are 'better than the world and all it contains' (Muslim). He kept them up even while travelling.
Dhuhr الظهر
4 before + 2 afterWhen: Two pairs before the obligatory Dhuhr, then two rak'aat straight after.
The four before are prayed as two sets of two (or one set of four in the Hanafi school). 'Whoever guards four rak'aat before Dhuhr and four after, Allah forbids the Fire for him' (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).
Asr العصر
(no confirmed Sunnah)When: Optionally 4 rak'aat before Asr — a non-confirmed Sunnah.
Asr has no rawatib in the confirmed set. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'May Allah have mercy on a person who prays four rak'aat before Asr' (Tirmidhi) — a recommended, lighter-emphasis Sunnah.
Maghrib المغرب
2 afterWhen: Immediately after the obligatory Maghrib.
Best prayed at home. There is also a praised (non-confirmed) Sunnah of two light rak'aat before Maghrib, in the gap between the adhan and the iqamah.
Isha العشاء
2 afterWhen: After the obligatory Isha, before (or leading into) Witr.
These two rak'aat complete the daily twelve. The night is then sealed with Witr — your last prayer before sleeping, unless you intend to pray Tahajjud.
How to Pray the Sunnah Prayers
A Sunnah prayer is performed exactly like any other salah — the same positions and recitations as the obligatory prayer. The only differences are the intention and the number of rak'aat. Here is the simple routine:
Make sure you have wudu and face the Qibla
Every salah, voluntary or not, needs valid wudu, the right time, covered awrah, and facing the Qibla. If you are unsure which way that is, our Qibla finder uses your location to point the way.
Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart
Intend the specific Sunnah — for example, 'two rak'aat Sunnah of Fajr.' The intention is in the heart; it does not need to be spoken aloud. This is what distinguishes it from the obligatory prayer.
Pray in pairs of two rak'aat
Voluntary day and night prayers are prayed two rak'aat at a time, ending each pair with the tashahhud and the salam. For the four before Dhuhr, most pray two separate pairs.
Keep them light, but present
The Prophet ﷺ prayed the two rak'aat of Fajr briefly. The aim of the Sunnah is steadiness and sincerity, not length — a short, focused prayer you keep every day beats a long one you abandon.
Not sure which way to face?
Our Qibla finder uses your location to point straight at the Kaaba — handy when you're praying your Sunnah at home or away from a mosque.
Beyond the Rawatib — Other Voluntary Prayers
The twelve daily Sunnah are the backbone, but the Prophet ﷺ left a wide menu of other voluntary prayers for those who want to do more. Each has its own time and reward:
2 to 8 rak'aat from about 15–20 minutes after sunrise until just before Dhuhr. A charity on behalf of every joint in the body.
Prayed after sleeping, ideally in the last third of the night — the most virtuous voluntary prayer after the obligatory ones.
The odd-numbered prayer that closes the night after Isha. Highly emphasised; never skip it without reason.
The nightly congregational prayer of Ramadan after Isha — 8 or 20 rak'aat, both valid.
Two rak'aat to 'greet the mosque' whenever you enter, before sitting down.
Two rak'aat seeking Allah's guidance before an important decision, followed by its specific du'a.
The Rewards of the Sunnah Prayers
The voluntary prayers are some of the most richly rewarded acts in Islam precisely because nobody compels you to do them — they are pure love of Allah. A few of the authentic promises attached to them:
A house in Paradise
“Whoever prays twelve rak'aat in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.” (Muslim) — the direct reward for keeping the daily rawatib.
Better than the world itself
Of the two rak'aat before Fajr, the Prophet ﷺ said they are “better than the world and all that it contains.” (Muslim)
Protection from the Fire
“Whoever guards four rak'aat before Dhuhr and four after it, Allah forbids him to the Fire.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
Raised ranks and a safety net
Every prostration raises you a degree and erases a sin (Muslim), and on the Day of Judgement your voluntary prayers complete any shortfall in your obligatory ones.
Practical Tips to Keep the Sunnah Going
The challenge with voluntary prayers is consistency, not difficulty. A few habits make the rawatib stick:
✓ Anchor them to the obligatory prayer
Pray the Sunnah in the same place and breath as the Fard — two rak'aat the moment you finish Maghrib, before you stand up. Bundling them removes the decision each time.
✓ Start with the two before Fajr
If you only keep one Sunnah, make it these two. They are the most emphasised, the shortest, and the Prophet ﷺ never left them — even on journeys.
✓ Pray them at home
'The best prayer of a person is in his house, except the obligatory prayers.' (Bukhari & Muslim) Praying the rawatib at home brings barakah into the home and keeps the act between you and Allah.
✓ Don't let the perfect beat the consistent
If you miss one, make it up later or simply continue tomorrow — the Prophet ﷺ made up the Sunnah of Fajr after sunrise. Steady small worship is more beloved to Allah than bursts that fizzle out.
✓ Use a reminder for the prayer times
Most missed Sunnah are missed because the obligatory prayer was rushed. A prayer-time reminder gives you the few extra minutes to add the Sunnah calmly.
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Start 14-Day Free TrialFrequently Asked Questions
What are Sunnah prayers?
Voluntary units of salah the Prophet ﷺ prayed regularly alongside the five obligatory prayers. The most emphasised are the daily rawatib (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) attached to Fajr, Dhuhr, Maghrib and Isha. They earn great reward and patch up shortfalls in the obligatory prayers, but leaving them is not a sin.
How many Sunnah rak'aat are there each day?
The confirmed daily Sunnah are 12 rak'aat: 2 before Fajr, 4 before Dhuhr and 2 after, 2 after Maghrib, and 2 after Isha. Whoever prays them is promised a house in Paradise (Muslim). Some narrations count 10 by combining the four before Dhuhr into two.
What is the difference between Sunnah and Nafl prayers?
Both are voluntary. Sunnah Mu'akkadah are the ones the Prophet ﷺ almost never left, so they carry stronger emphasis. Nafl — like Duha and Tahajjud — are extra optional prayers, praised and rewarded but with lighter emphasis. None are obligatory.
Are Sunnah prayers obligatory?
No — leaving them is not sinful. But the confirmed rawatib were a near-constant practice of the Prophet ﷺ, and scholars consider habitually abandoning them blameworthy. They also make up for deficiencies in your obligatory prayers on the Day of Judgement.
Should I pray Sunnah at the mosque or at home?
At home is best: 'The best prayer of a person is in his house, except the obligatory prayers' (Bukhari & Muslim). It brings blessing into the home and keeps the act sincere. The obligatory prayers, by contrast, are best in congregation at the mosque.
Can I make up a missed Sunnah prayer?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ made up the two Sunnah rak'aat of Fajr after sunrise and prayed the Sunnah of Dhuhr after Asr when he missed them. The two before Fajr are so emphasised that scholars recommend praying them even after the obligatory Fajr if you arrived late.
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