CHAPTER V

SUNNAH AND NAFILAH OR ADDITIONAL PRAYER

As you can see in the chart below, each Salah is composed of (a) Fard, the prescribed prayers, (b) Sunnah and (c) Nafilah or additional prayers. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said these additional prayers before or after the prescribed (Fard) prayers. These are therefore recommended. The sequence of these additional prayers in each Salah is given below:

SALAT-UL-WITR

The three raka'at prayers said after the Fard and Sunnah of the 'Isha is called Salat-ul-Witr. It is strongly recommended in the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and is Wajib (necessary) according to one section of Muslims. Others regard it a mere Sunnah Salah.

The first two raka'at of this Salat-ul-Witr are said like the first two raka'at of the Maghrib prayers. In the third raka'at after Al-Fatihah, recite some additional Surah or verses of the Qursan.

Then, saying ALLAHU AKBAR raise your hands above your shoulders, fold your hands, and recite the following or any other similar Du'a silently. This is called Dua-al-Qunut or the prayer of submission:

ALLAHUM-MA IN-NA NASTA'INUKA

O Allah, we seek Thy help,

WANASTAGHFIRUKA

and ask Thy forgiveness,

WANU'MINU BIKA WANATAWAK-KALU 'ALAIKA

and believe in Thee and trust in Thee,

WANUTHNI 'ALAIKAL-KHAIRA WA NASHKURUKA

and we praise Thee in the best manner and we thank Thee,

WALANAKFURUKA WANAKHLA'U WANATRUKU

and we are not unqrateful and we cast off and forsake him

MAY-YAF JURUK ALLAHUM-MA IY-YAKA N'ABUDU

also disobeys Thee. O Allah, Thee alone do we worship,

WALAKA NUSAI -LI WA-NASJUDU WA-ILAIKA NAS'A

and to Thee we pray, and beforo Thee do we prostrate, to Thee do we turn to

WANAHFIDU WANARJU RAHMATAKA WANAKHSHA ADHABAKA

in haste, and hope for Thy mercy, and we fear Thy punishment.

IN-NA 'ADHABAKA BIL KUF-FARI MULHIQ

Thy punishment surely overtakes the unbelievers.

After this saying ALLAHU AKBAR bow down in Ruku' and then complete the rest of the prayers like the Maghrib prayers.