Nafl Prayers
Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) says, “Signs of the believer are five: praying fifty-one Rak’at [including mandatory and optional prayers], Ziyarat al-Arba’een, wearing a ring in the right hand, prostration (sajda) on clay, and saying ‘Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem‘ in a raised voice.” (Wasa’il ush-Shi’a)
51 Rak’at are as follows:
11 Namaz Shab – Salatul Layl
02 Nafl Fajr (After azan fajr)
02 Fajr
Morning total: 15
08 Nafl Zuhr (After azan Zuhr)
04 Zuhr
08 Nafl Asr (Before Salat Asr)
04 Asr
Afternoon total: 24
03 Maghrib
04 Nafl Magrib (After Salat Maghrib)
04 Isha
01 Nafl Isha (Sitting down 2=1) (After Salat Isha)
Evening total: 12
Total of the Day: 51
All 4 Rak’at prayers to be prayed in 2 Rak’at each
Nafl prayers can be performed while sitting or walking. It can be done simply by reciting Surah Al Hamd and optionally another Surah after it. Then in the position of sitting, to bend for Ruku ; and then to bow for Sujood. If it is being performed while walking, there is no condition to face the Qiblah and the Rukoo’ and the Sujood can be performed by a slight bending of the head for Ruku and a little bit more bending of the head for Sujood or even by bending the head or the eyes.