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8. How to Pray Sunnah Prayers

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Sunnah prayers are voluntary prayers that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would pray throughout the day, alongside the five daily Fardh prayers.

Allah says:

And My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him.

[Hadith | Bukhari]

For a detailed guide on how to perform the Fardh Rak’ahs for each prayer – including illustrations, Surahs to recite, and Du’as (supplications) along with their meanings, click here, otherwise, read on for our quick guide on how to pray Sunnah prayers.

Performing these voluntary Sunnah prayers are a way to gain closeness to Allah (SWT) and are highly recommended.

A step-by-step guide to praying Sunnah prayers

Step 1

Make a sincere intention (Niyyah) to perform your Sunnah prayers, whether that’s for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib or Isha.

Step 2

Stand facing the Qibla with your feet shoulder-width apart.

Step 3

Raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar” to begin the prayer. Then place your right hand over your left.

Step 4

If you follow the Hanafi or Hanbali Madhabs (schools of thought), it is Sunnah to recite Sana at this point: “Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.”

Step 5

Recite Ta’awadh (A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytaan-ir-rajeem) and Tasmiah (Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem).

Step 6

In the first Rak’ah, recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the opening chapter of the Quran), followed by another Surah or ideally at least three verses from the Quran.

Step 7

Bow (Ruk’ah) while saying “Allahu Akbar” and place your hands on your knees. Say “Subhana Rabbiy-al-‘Adheem” at least three times.

Step 8

Rise from the bowing position and stand upright, while saying “Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah” then say “Rabbana lakal hamd” once standing.

Step 9

Prostrate (Sujood) by saying “Allahu Akbar” and place your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground. Say “Subhaana Rabbiy-al-A‘laa” at least three times and then sit back briefly saying “Allahu Akbar” as you rise. After a few seconds, return back into prostration and repeat “Subhaana Rabbiy-al-A‘laa” ideally at least three times once more.

Step 10

Rise from the prostration and stand up whilst saying “Allahu Akbar”. 

Step 11

Begin the second Rak’ah by reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by another Surah or ideally at least three verses from the Quran. 

Step 12

Repeat steps 7-10 (performing Ruk’ah and Suhood) and then sit and recite Tashahhud (At-tahiyyatu lillah, was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaat. As-salaamu ’alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Ullahi wa barakaatu. As-salaamu ’alayna, wa ’alaa ‘ibaadi-llahis saaliheen. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu). At this point, if you are praying two Rak’ahs of Sunnah prayers, skip to step 14, otherwise, continue on.

Step 13

Rise to stand while saying “Allahu Akbar’, and then complete your third and fourth Rak’ahs by repeating steps 5-10 once for each Rak’ah. 

Step 14

Once these steps have been repeated twice, sit back and recite the Tashahhud again.

Step 15

Send Salawat upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reciting: “Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum-Majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum-Majeed”.

Step 16

It is highly recommended to recite some Sunnah du’as (supplications) at this point.

Step 17

Conclude the prayer by turning your head to the right and then to the left, saying “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” each time.

You have now completed your Sunnah prayers, Alhamdullilah! Now you can continue praying your Fardh Rak’ahs, or find out more about the different types of Salah by scrolling through the resources below or visiting our Salah Hub.

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Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature. Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature. Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.     •     Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin, al-fātiḥi limā ughliqa, wa-l-khātimi limā sabaqa, nāṣiri l-ḥaqqi bi-l-ḥaqqi, wa-l-hādī ilā ṣirāṭika l-mustaqīmi, wa-ʿalā ālihi ḥaqqa qadrihi wa-miqdārihi l-ʿaẓīm. O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammadﷺ, the opener of what had been closed, and the seal of what had come before, the defender of the Truth by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his family, according to the full measure of his rank and his immense stature.
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