The Practising Muslim · Voluntary Worship

Prophetic Teachings on Voluntary Prayers

Examine prophetic guidance on optional prayers and night worship practices.

6 questions · Medium · about 3 minutes

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6 questions, about 3 minutes.

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1. What is the apparent meaning regarding the reward for qiyam in Ramadan?

  • It is connected to praying qiyam on all the nights of Ramadan with faith and hope for reward. (correct answer)
  • It is attained by deliberately praying only one night and neglecting the rest without excuse.
  • It requires a fixed number of rak‘ahs that may never be increased or decreased.
  • It is lost if a person misses a night because of sickness, travel, or being overcome by sleep.

Why

The reward of forgiveness for qiyam in Ramadan is connected to the month as a whole, so the apparent meaning is that it refers to praying qiyam on all its nights. If a person misses some nights due to a valid excuse, such as sickness, travel, or being overcome by sleep, there is still hope of receiving the reward. But missing nights out of laziness is not the same. There is no fixed maximum number of rak‘ahs for qiyam in Ramadan.

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2. What is established about praying eight rak‘ahs of Duha?

  • The Prophet ﷺ prayed eight rak‘ahs of Duha on the day of the conquest of Makkah. (correct answer)
  • Eight rak‘ahs is forbidden.
  • Eight rak‘ahs is the only valid number for Duha.
  • Duha may only be prayed by scholars.

Why

The minimum number for Duha prayer is two rak‘ahs. The source mentions that the Prophet ﷺ prayed Duha with four rak‘ahs and more, including eight rak‘ahs on the day of the conquest of Makkah. The correct view cited is that there is no specific maximum number for Duha; a person may pray as many as they wish, two rak‘ahs by two.

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3. What did ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها report about the Prophet’s ﷺ night prayer in Ramadan and outside Ramadan?

  • He did not pray more than eleven rak‘ahs in that report. (correct answer)
  • He always prayed exactly thirty rak‘ahs.
  • He never prayed Witr at night.
  • He prayed only two rak‘ahs every night.

Why

The report of ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها describes the Prophet’s ﷺ night prayer as eleven rak‘ahs in Ramadan and at other times. Other reports mention seven, nine, or thirteen, and the scholars explained these as referring to different occasions or including additional prayers such as the opening two rak‘ahs or the Sunnah of ‘Isha. This report is the basis for the well-known eleven-rak‘ah description.

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4. What is the ruling on praying more than eleven rak‘ahs in Tarawih?

  • It is permissible, because no specific maximum number was set. (correct answer)
  • It is always disliked.
  • It is obligatory to pray more than eleven.
  • It is only valid if exactly thirty rak‘ahs are prayed.

Why

The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed eleven rak‘ahs, and sometimes thirteen rak‘ahs are mentioned in reports. But he did not set a maximum number for Tarawih or qiyam al-layl. The number may vary according to the length of standing and the ability of the worshippers. Therefore praying more or fewer rak‘ahs is allowed, so long as the prayer is offered properly.

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5. What is the ruling on praying Witr as nine rak‘ahs with two tashahhuds and one salam?

  • It is permissible as one of the narrated ways of praying Witr. (correct answer)
  • It is obligatory for every Witr prayer.
  • It is forbidden because all night prayers must be only two by two.
  • It is the required form of Tarawih prayer.

Why

Nine rak‘ahs joined together with a sitting after the eighth rak‘ah and a final sitting after the ninth is one of the narrated ways of praying Witr. The general night prayer is prayed two by two, but Witr has several valid forms, including one, three, five, seven, or nine rak‘ahs. This form should be understood as Witr, not as ordinary Tarawih rak‘ahs joined together.

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6. What is the ruling on reciting the opening du’a at the beginning of each two rak‘ahs of Tarawih?

  • It is prescribed. (correct answer)
  • It is forbidden.
  • It is only allowed if one is praying alone.
  • It is required only in obligatory prayers.

Why

The opening du’a is prescribed at the beginning of each two rak‘ahs of Tarawih and other nafl prayers, because each two rak‘ahs is a separate prayer. Several opening supplications are narrated for qiyam al-layl, so a person may use a valid narrated wording.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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