What is the significance of the extra 12 rak’ahs one can do during the day; 2 before Fajr, 4 before Zuhr and 2 after it, 2 after Maghrib and 2 after ‘Isha?
ANSWER
Sayyidatuna Ummu Habibah (radiyallahu’anha) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
Whoever offers 12 rak’ahs daily besides the fard, will have a palace built for him in Jannah.
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1691)
These 12 rak’ahs have been specifically enumerated in a narration of Tirmidhi as:
The 2 rak’ahs before Fajr, 4 rak’ahs before Zuhr, 2 rak’ahs after Zuhr, 2 rak’ahs after Maghrib and 2 rak’ahs after ‘Isha.
This Hadith has been classified as authentic by Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah)
(Sunan Tirmidhi Hadith 415)
Note: There is a separate Hadith in Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 430, that mentions the virtue of the 4 rak’ahs before ‘Asr.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar