Specific Nawaafil

Specific Nawaafil 

(That a person performs individually, i.e., not in a group)

□Praises Prayer (Salat At-Tasaabeeh)             

□Guidance Prayer (Salat Al-Istikhaarah)

□Repentance Prayer (Salat At-Tawbah)

❶Praises Prayer (Salat At-Tasaabeeh)

Its time: 

It is performed at any time. But when a Muslim performs it at night, he should end it with a Witr prayer.

Its prayer units’ number: 

It is of four prayer units.

Its text:

“Exalted is Allah, praise be to Allah, no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest (Subhana Allah wa Alhamdullilah wa La 'Illaha 'Ilaa Allah wa Allahu Akbar).”

The number of praises in each prayer unit: 

Seventy-five times in each prayer unit.

How to perform it?

①Say, “I have intended to pray four prayer units of the Sunnah of praises prayer. God is the Greatest (Nawaitu 'Usalli 'Arba' Rak'aat Sunnat Salat At-Tasaabeeh, Allahu Akbar).”

②Recite Chapter of the Opening and what seems easy for you from the Qur'an.

③Say praises in the previously mentioned text fifteen times.

④Bow down and say the praises ten times in bowing.

⑤Raise from bowing and say, “Allah hears the one who praises him (Sami'a Allahu Liman Hamidah).” Then say the text of praises for ten times.

⑥Prostrate and say the text of praises ten times in the first prostration.

⑦Raise from prostration and say the text ten times while you are sitting.

⑧Prostrate for the second time and say the text ten times in prostration.

⑨Stand up and say the text ten times.

Thus, the sum of praises is seventy-five.

Then, you start the second prayer unit with reciting Chapter of the Opening and repeating what you have done in the first prayer unit.

You will do the same in the third and fourth prayer units.

The evidence of its legitimacy:

●It was narrated from Abd Allah ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid to Al-'Abbas ibn Abd Al-Muttalib: 

“'Abbas, my uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not present to you, shall I not donate to you, shall I not produce for you ten things? If you act upon them, Allah will forgive you for your sins, first and last, old and new, involuntary and voluntary, minor and major, secret and open. 

These are ten things: you should perform four prayer units, reciting in each one Chapter of the Opening and a Chapter (Surah). 

When you finish the recitation of the first prayer unit you should say fifteen times while standing: “Exalted is Allah, praise be to Allah, no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest.” 

Then you should bow and say it ten times while bowing. 

Then you should raise your head after bowing and say it ten times. 

Then you should kneel in prostration and say it ten times while prostrating yourself. 

Then you should raise your head after prostration and say it ten times. Then you should prostrate yourself and say it ten times. 

Then you should raise your head after prostration and say it ten times. That will be seventy-five times in each prayer unit. 

You should do that in all four prayer units. 

If you can pray it once each day, then do so. If you cannot, then once each week. If you cannot, then once each month. If you cannot, then once in your lifetime.”

Reference: Sunan Abi-Daoud.  Book 5, Hadith 48

●It was narrated from Abi Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“Uttering the words: ‘Exalted is Allah, praise be to Allah, no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest (Subhana Allah wa Alhamdullilah wa La 'Illaha 'Ilaa Allah wa Allahu Akbar).’, is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.  Book 48, Hadith 42


Read also
Guidance prayer (Salat Al-Istikhaarah)