Virtues and Time Frame of Sunnah Mu`akadah.

 The Sunnah Mua'akad Solāh 

 A question : I would like to enquire whether you wait for the time of the prayer before praying any sunnah raka`at which come before it; or whether these raka’at are prayed before the time for the prayer enters. If so; how long before a prayer can you pray the sunnah raka`at which come before it? For example, could I pray the four sunnahs which come before Asar three hours before the time for Asar enters? Or do I wait for the time of Asar to enter and then pray the four Sunnahs after the time for Asar has entered and follow them immediately by the fardh raka`at?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger

The Sunnah Mua`akad Solāh (regular Solāh Sunnah) fall into two categories:

1. Sunnah’s which are done before the Solāh fardhu – two raka`at before Fajar and four before Dzuhur.

2. Sunnah’s which are done after the Solāh fardhu – two raka`at after Dzuhur, two raka’at after Maghrib and two raka’at after ‘Isyā’.

In relation to their virtue, it was narrated that the Prophet  (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“Whoever performs Solāh  twelve raka`at during the night and day, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before Dzuhur and two after, two raka`at after Maghrib, two raka`at after `Isyā’ and two raka`at before Solāh Fajar .”

[Narrated by at-Tirmidzi, no. 380; classed as sahih by al-Albāni in Sahih al-Jaami’, 6362.]

The time frame for a Solāh Sunnah that comes before a Solāh fardhu  is from the beginning of the time for that Solāh , until the iqamah.

The time frame for a Solāh Sunnah that comes after a Solāh fardhu is from after the Salam at the end of the Solāh fardhu until the end of the time for that Solāh .

Ibn Qudamah (rahimahullāh) said: “The time for every Solāh Sunnah that comes before a fardhu Solāh is from the beginning of the time for that Solāh , until the Solāh is done, and the time for every Solāh Sunnah that comes after a fardhu Solāh is from after the Solāh is done until the end of the time for that Solāh .”


[Al-Mughni, 2/544]

Based on this, it is not correct to pray the Solat Sunnah before the time frame for the Solāh fardhu begins; rather you should wait until the time for that Solāh comes, and then observe it.

And Allah Almighty knows best.

[Via Islam Q&A]