Fire-Proofing Yourself With 8 Rakaat

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Every Muslim, whether be male or female, is recommended to pray 12 Rakaat of supererogatory prayers every day: four of these Rakaat (units of prayers) are before noon prayer, two after it, two after Maghrib prayer, two after Isha (night) prayer and two before Fajr prayer. These supererogatory prayers are called (Rawatib) which means: “Certain supererogatory exercises of optional prayers.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam preserved the performance of these optional prayers wherever he settled. During his travels, he used to practice the two optional Rakaat before the morning prayer and also the Witr prayer (after the Isha prayer).

There is no objection to perform these optional prayers in the mosque, but it is better to perform it at home, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said “The best of the prayers are those which are fulfilled at one’s own home, with exception to obligatory prayers which should be performed in congregation at the mosque.”

Observance of fulfilling these optional prayers is a means for gaining admission to paradise. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said (which means): “Whoever prays optionally twelve Rakaat every one day and night, Allah will reward him by an established dwelling in the paradise.

And there are eight sunnah rakaat that will make you fire-proof, inshaa Allah.

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wassallam, used to practice these consistently while present at his residence and admonished us as follows:

Whoever preserves four rakaat before Dhuhr and four after it, Allah will make him forbidden for the fire. [Abu Dawud (1269), At-Tirmithi (427), An-Nisa’ (1818), Ibn Majah (1160) , classified saheeh by Al-Albani]

If the person prays four after Dhuhr, thus adding two rakaat, then this is better, but it is not rawatib. The rawatib is two rakaat. If he prays four after Dhuhr prayer, then this has in it virtue and a tremendous amount of good.

So next time make a double intention to gain the reward for rawatib prayers and become fire-proof by praying four rakaat after Dhuhr prayer.

Teach others this rewarding habit.

May Allah save us from the hellfire. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.

And Allah knows best and He alone grant success.
Wassalaam