Voluntary Prayers (Nafl): Sunrise (Ishraq), Late-Morning (Chasht), Night Vigil (Tahajjud) & Guidance (Istikhara)
Not every prayer a believer offers falls within the boundary of what is obligatory. Beyond the five obligatory prayers (Fard Salah), Islam opens a wide door for voluntary worship, known as Nafl — additional acts of prayer offered purely out of love for Allah Almighty, with no fixed number and few restrictions on time. For a woman who balances her home, her work, and her worship, knowing exactly which voluntary prayers exist, when to offer them, and how they fit alongside the complete method of performing the obligatory prayer that she already offers five times a day, makes the difference between occasional, scattered acts of worship and a habit that truly lasts. This guide describes every major voluntary prayer in detail, from the two light rak'ahs after ablution to the quiet hours of Tahajjud, roughly in the order a woman is likely to encounter them across her day and night. If you would like to learn about another highly virtuous voluntary prayer, do also see our detailed guide on the virtues and complete method of Salat-ut-Tasbih.
An overview of the six major voluntary (Nafl) prayers — Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu, Ishraq, Chasht, Awwabin, Tahajjud, and Istikhara — with their times and number of rak'ahs.
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Voluntary prayers (Nafl) can be offered at almost any time and in any number, except during a few disliked (Makruh) times, such as sunrise, sunset, and midday when the sun is directly overhead. Missed obligatory prayers (Qada) should always be given priority over voluntary prayers. The most emphasized voluntary prayers are Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu, Ishraq, Chasht, Salat-ul-Awwabin, Tahajjud, and Istikhara, and each one has its own time and virtue.
Why Do Voluntary Prayers Matter Alongside the Five Obligatory Prayers?
There is a simple reason voluntary prayers exist: the five obligatory prayers (Fard) fulfill the minimum duty a servant owes to Allah Almighty, but love rarely stops at the minimum. Voluntary prayers, or Nafl, are the space where a person does more than what is required purely out of devotion, and Islam has kept that space remarkably open. Apart from a few specific disliked times, such as sunrise, sunset, and the moment the sun stands directly overhead, a person may offer voluntary prayer at almost any time and in any quantity they wish (Radd-ul-Muhtar). This breadth is itself a mercy, because it means a busy daily routine is never truly a barrier to earning extra reward.
Giving Priority to Missed Prayers (Qada) Over Nafl
Before going into the details of specific voluntary prayers, one point needs to be settled first, since it shapes how a woman should actually use her free time. If a person, whether man or woman, has some obligatory prayers left unpaid from the past — missed prayers, or Qada — then making them up as soon as possible is not optional. In practical terms, this means: first attend to responsibilities that genuinely cannot wait, such as caring for children and household needs, and then direct whatever time remains toward completing the outstanding missed prayers rather than voluntary ones. Qada takes precedence over Nafl, and scholars have written that if someone is offering a voluntary prayer at a time when missed prayers are still outstanding, it is better to pause the Nafl, complete the Qada first, and only then return to voluntary prayer, rather than setting aside a clear obligation (Radd-ul-Muhtar).
This does not mean that voluntary worship goes to waste while missed prayers remain outstanding. Scholars explain that Allah Almighty, out of His special grace, still rewards the sincere intention behind voluntary prayers, even when they are offered during a period when missed prayers are also being made up (Radd-ul-Muhtar). This is purely a matter of order and priority, not a matter of withholding reward from an already busy and sincere servant. Anyone who is unsure whether a mistake occurred during a prayer, and what should be done about it, can refer to our complete guide to the method of Sajdah-e-Sahw before beginning work on the remaining missed prayers.
The Two Light Rak'ahs After Ablution (Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu)
There is a small window right after ablution, or Wudu, that many people overlook as nothing more than a transitional moment, even though it is actually a specific time set aside for prayer. Provided it is not a disliked time, it is recommended, or Mustahabb, to offer two rak'ahs before the limbs dry, known as Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu. The Prophet ﷺ described its virtue himself: "Whoever performs ablution with humility and devotion and then offers two rak'ahs of prayer with full attention, Paradise becomes obligatory for him." (Sahih Muslim)
This same virtue also applies after a ritual bath, or Ghusl, where offering two rak'ahs is likewise recommended. There is also a helpful concession here that can be useful on a busy day: if a person's obligatory prayer happens to fall right after ablution, before the limbs dry, that obligatory prayer automatically fulfills the right of Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu, and there is no need to offer anything further for it (Radd-ul-Muhtar).
The Prayer of Sunrise (Ishraq)
There is a short window in the morning, after the sun has fully risen, that carries an extraordinary reward for very little effort. The Ishraq prayer is offered roughly fifteen to twenty minutes after sunrise, and two or four rak'ahs may be offered depending on how much time is available. The Prophet ﷺ explained the reward for someone who stays occupied in worship during this window: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then remains engaged in the remembrance of Allah until sunrise, and then offers two rak'ahs, will have a reward equal to that of Hajj and Umrah." (Jami' at-Tirmidhi)
The Forenoon Prayer (Chasht)
Later in the morning, once the sun is well up and the day starts to warm, another voluntary prayer's time begins: Salat-ul-Chasht, sometimes also called Salat-ud-Duha. Its time lasts from when the sun rises high until Zawal, the point when the sun begins to decline past its zenith. It is complete with as few as two rak'ahs, and may be extended up to twelve, with twelve being described as the most excellent. It is reported: "Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs of Chasht, Allah Almighty will build for him a palace in Paradise." (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Fatawa Alamgiri, Radd-ul-Muhtar)
It is narrated, citing Tahtawi, that it is more virtuous to offer the Chasht prayer a little later, toward the end of its time window, rather than right at the start.
Salat-ul-Awwabin (The Prayer of Those Who Turn Back to Allah)
After Maghrib, before getting caught up in the evening's routine, six rak'ahs are recommended, known as Salat-ul-Awwabin. These may be offered as six continuous rak'ahs finished with a single closing salutation, or in pairs, with a salutation after every two rak'ahs; the first two of these count as Confirmed Sunnah, or Sunnah Mu'akkadah, while the remaining four are voluntary, or Nafl. The Prophet ﷺ described the reward for maintaining this practice: "Whoever prays six rak'ahs after Maghrib without speaking of worldly matters in between, it is written for him as equal to twelve years of worship, and his sins are forgiven even if they are as much as the foam of the sea." (Radd-ul-Muhtar, Ifadat-e-Rizviyyah, Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir of At-Tabarani)
The Night Vigil Prayer (Tahajjud)
After Isha and its accompanying Sunnah prayers, usually after some sleep, when a person wakes specifically in the stillness of the night to stand before Allah Almighty, this is called Tahajjud. It is complete with a minimum of two rak'ahs, the amount considered Confirmed Sunnah is eight rak'ahs, and it is also narrated from Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, that up to twelve rak'ahs may be offered. Reciting the Quran during this prayer is preferable but not obligatory; anyone unable to manage lengthy recitation may recite Surah Al-Ikhlas three times in each rak'ah, which carries a reward equal to completing the entire Quran (Radd-ul-Muhtar). The Prophet ﷺ said about these hours: "Every night, Allah Almighty descends, in a manner befitting His majesty, to the lowest heaven and asks: Is there anyone supplicating, that I may answer him? Is there anyone asking, that I may grant him? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Certain nights have been specially singled out for extra effort in worship: the nights of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, the fifteenth night of Sha'ban, the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, and the nights of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Staying awake specifically for Tahajjud, recitation of the Quran, study of Hadith, sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, and other forms of remembrance is highly recommended on these nights. Simply staying awake without any accompanying worship carries far less virtue compared to filling those hours with actual acts of worship (Ihya-ul-Uloom).
The Prayer for Seeking Guidance (Istikhara)
Some decisions are genuinely difficult to make alone — a marriage proposal, relocating, a business opportunity, or any matter where the right path is not clear. For exactly this kind of situation, the Prophet ﷺ taught a specific way of asking Allah Almighty for guidance before making a decision, known as Istikhara. It is reported by the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach us Istikhara in all matters with the same care as he taught a chapter of the Noble Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari). It has three simple parts.
Separate from any obligatory prayer, offer two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer with complete attention. It is recommended to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second.
After the closing salutation, raise your hands and recite the supplication of Istikhara, asking Allah Almighty to make the matter easy for you if it is good, and to turn it away from you if it is not.
After that, sleep on your right side facing the Qibla, and in the days that follow, pay attention to whichever inclination feels strongest and most settled in your heart.
Every effort has been made to reproduce the Arabic supplication below with its correct diacritical marks (Harakat). Even so, if any error remains in the vowel marks or wording, please read the Arabic text carefully yourself and correct it as needed before relying on it, and we ask Allah Almighty to forgive any unintentional mistake.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You for Your immense favor. You have power, and I have none; You know, and I do not know; and You are the Knower of all unseen things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Sahih al-Bukhari
If a dream follows in which light or greenery appears, it is often taken as an encouraging sign, while a sense of darkness or redness is generally seen as discouraging, although this alone is never treated as a definite decision — the stronger guide is usually whichever option leaves the heart more settled and at peace afterward. If there is still no clarity, it is recommended to repeat Istikhara up to seven times before making a final decision (Durr-ul-Mukhtar).
Incorporating These Prayers Into a Daily Routine
Trying to fit six different voluntary prayers into a single sitting can feel like a long list to squeeze into an already full day, but nothing about this means all of them need to start at once. A more realistic approach is to pick one or two of these prayers that fit naturally into your current routine — such as Tahiyyat-ul-Wudu after every ablution, or a short Chasht prayer on days spent at home — and then build up gradually from there. A small amount of consistency delivers far more lasting benefit than an ambitious plan that only lasts a few days, and on days when illness or fatigue makes even the obligatory prayer difficult, our guide on how to pray Salah when sick can also help in judging how much extra effort a particular day can realistically hold.
Voluntary prayer was never meant to pile more weight onto an already tiring day — it was given as an open invitation, available at almost every hour, for a heart that wants a little more closeness to Allah Almighty beyond the bare minimum required. Whether it is the two rak'ahs after ablution, a few minutes of Ishraq, or a single night of Tahajjud, each one carries a quiet reward of its own, even on days when a longer routine is not possible. If this guide has helped make sense of the time and method of any of these prayers, please share it with another sister who may be looking for the same guidance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Voluntary prayers can be offered at almost any time and in any number, except during a few disliked times, such as sunrise, sunset, and midday when the sun is directly overhead.
Yes. Missed obligatory prayers should always be given priority over voluntary prayers. Whatever free time remains after essential responsibilities should first be used to complete outstanding missed prayers.
Chasht prayer is complete with a minimum of two rak'ahs, while up to twelve rak'ahs may be offered, and according to the narrations, twelve rak'ahs is the most excellent.
After reciting the supplication of Istikhara, it is recommended to sleep on the right side facing the Qibla, and afterward to follow whichever inclination feels strongest and most settled in the heart.
There is no fixed number. Tahajjud is complete with a minimum of two rak'ahs, while eight rak'ahs is the amount considered Confirmed Sunnah, and it is also narrated from some scholars that up to twelve rak'ahs may be offered.
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