Question Summary:
I have heard that Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم use to offer 8 rakat nafal after isha in ramadhan and non-ramahan. However we pray 20 rakat in ramadhan…Please inform about Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Sunnah for fast in non-ramdhan…

Question Detail:

1- I have heard that Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم  use to offer 8 rakat nafal after isha in ramadhan and non-ramahan. However we pray 20 rakat in ramadhan i have no issue with this. Please inform in non-ramdhan how he use to pray this 8 rakat. Was it in tahajud, or he use to pray right after isha.

2- Please inform about Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Sunnah for fast in non-ramdhan. As when we go to saudia they keep on monday and thursday. Where as have also heard from some scholars about 13,14 and 14th of every month.

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
1. The narration you have referred to in the query is as follows:
عن أبى سلمة بن عبد الرحمن أنه سأل عائشة رضى الله عنها كيف كانت صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى رمضان فقالت ما كان يزيد فى رمضان ، ولا فى غيرها على إحدى عشرة ركعة ، يصلى أربعا فلا تسل عن حسنهن وطولهن ، ثم يصلى أربعا فلا تسل عن حسنهن وطولهن ، ثم يصلى ثلاثا . فقلت يا رسول الله ، أتنام قبل أن توتر قال « يا عائشة إن عينى تنامان ولا ينام قلبى » .
(Sahih Al Bukhari Vol.2 Pg.309 – Darul Fikr)
There has been no mention made of offering the eight rak’ats of nafl after Isha, but it has only been mentioned that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to perform eight rak’ats. Therefore, you have heard wrong that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to perform these eight rak’ats after Isha.
Moreover, other narrations suggest that these eight rak’ats were performed during the time of tahajjud.
عن عائشة رضى الله عنها قالت كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلى من الليل ثلاث عشرة ركعة منها الوتر وركعتا الفجر .
(Sahih Al Bukhari Vol.2 Pg.58 – Darul Fikr)
The words يصلى من الليل suggest that this was the night prayer (tahajjud) of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as the Arabs use the words صلاة الليل for tahajjud.
It is confirmed from the abovementioned narration that the eight rak’ats performed by Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) were not after Isha, but during the time of tahajjud.
2. There are narrations that prove that it is sunnah to fast on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of every month.
عن أبى ذر قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم « من صام من كل شهر ثلاثة أيام فذلك صيام الدهر ». فأنزل الله عز وجل تصديق ذلك فى كتابه (من جاء بالحسنة فله عشر أمثالها ). اليوم بعشرة أيام.
عن موسى بن طلحة قال سمعت أبا ذر يقول قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم « يا أبا ذر إذا صمت من الشهر ثلاثة أيام فصم ثلاث عشرة وأربع عشرة وخمس عشرة ».
(Jami’ Al Tirmizi Vol.1 Pg.159 – H.M. Sa’eed Company)
There are also narrations that prove that it is sunnah to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
عن عائشة قالت كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يتحرى صوم الاثنين والخميس.
عن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال « تعرض الأعمال يوم الاثنين والخميس فأحب أن يعرض عملى وأنا صائم ».
(Jami’ Al Tirmizi Vol.1 Pg.157 – H.M. Sa’eed Company)
It is understood from the abovementioned that both practices are proven through the Ahadith of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Therefore, both will be regarded as sunnah. You could practice on any one of them or both of them, if you have the strength to do so.
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Abu Yahya,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah