It is narrated in a Hadîth that by doing some nafl (optional) acts a person becomes the favourite of Allâh Ta’ala.  What better optional acts can there be than those encouraged  in the Hadîth?

AWWAABEEN SALÂH

It is narrated that a person who performs 6 Rak’ats after the Fardh of Maghrib Salâh, it will be Awwaabeen.  The whole Ummah performs 2 Sunnah and 2 Nafl after the Fardh of Maghrib, so 4 Rak’ats we are already performing, we just have to add another 2 and we will have performed our 6 (the minimum) of Awwaabeen. 

1)      A person who performs Awwabeen gets the reward of 12 years of Ibâdah.

2)       A person who performs Awwaabeen, his sins are forgiven even if they are equal to all the foam of all the seas of the world.

3)      Awwaabeen is another name for Tawwaabeen i.e. those who make a lot of Taubah and Allâh Ta’ala loves those people who make taubah in abundance.  A person who makes taubah from his sins is like a person who has committed no sin.

TAHJJAUD SALÂH

This Salâh is the most virtuous and the easiest of all optional Salâh. Shaytân has deceived us into thinking that it is impossible for us to manage Tahajjud, to deprive us of this great good! It is narrated in a Hadîth that all Nafl that is performed after Isha Salâh (which is the 4 Fardh of Isha and the 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah) is Tahajjud.  Allamah Shaami RA has declared on the basis of this Hadîth that all Nafl Salâh after Isha, even before sleeping and even before the middle of the night is Tahajjud Salâh.  So after performing Isha Salâh – 4 Fardh and 2 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah- just by performing 2 Rak’ats, even sitting, Tahajjud will have been performed!!! There are 4 great virtues narrated in the Hadîth for Tahajjud:

1)      It is the way of the pious

2)      You become a favourite of Allâh Ta’ala

3)      Sins are forgiven

4)      It is the power house to do good and abstain from wrong

By performing Tahajjud, a person gets the namaaz duas of the whole world’s namaaz’s (even if he is your enemy) i.e. every namaazi says in his namaaz “peace be upon us and all righteous slaves of Allâh Ta’ala” – by performing even just 2 Rak’ats of Tahajjud Salâh, even straight after Isha, one is amongst the righteous, thereby qualifying for the dua of all the namaaz’s of the world.

ISHRAAQ SALÂH

Every person dose Tilawah of the Qur’an, makes zikr, reads wazifahs, duas, etc.  After Fajr, Ishraaq time comes in after about 13/15 minutes after sunrise.  The minimum Rak’ats of Ishraaq are 2.  Even if a person engages in some dunya’s work (e.g. sleeps, etc) and then he performs Ishraaq, his Ishraaq will be made though the Thawaab will be less. 

1)      Ishraaq is more superior than spending all the gold, silver etc., of the world in the path of Allâh Ta’ala.

2)      By performing Ishraaq Salâh one gets the reward of performing Hajj and Umrah

3)      All one’s needs of the day will be fulfilled.

CHASHT (DHUHA) SALÂH

The time of Chasht starts immediately after one has completed his Ishraaq Salâh and lasts till midday.  Thus, once a person has completed his Ishraaq Salâh, he can perform his Chasht; he will be having wudhu still and will be in the Masjid/on the Musallah.  Chasht Salâh is the sadaqah of all the joints of the body.  To save oneself, or those already suffering from gout, arthritis, etc., one should perform Chasht Salâh, but the intention should be for the pleasure of Allâh Ta’ala – this benefit will be a by-product – it should not be the object.

In Nafl Salâh, one will get the reward of as many intentions as one makes. Therefore, one can make the Niyah of Salatut-Taubah, Salaatul-Hajah, Salaatus-Shukr, Salaatul-Istikhaarah, Salaatul Awwabeen/Tahajjud/Dhuha/ (whichever Salâh is being performed) Salaatus-Safr, Tahiyyatul Wudhu, Tahiyyatul Masjid (if applicable) – Eemaanau wa Ihtisaaba. Also, make the niyah to pass the thawaab to Nabi Karim صلى الله عليه و سلم, the wives, children, family, Sahabah, Tabi-een, Tabe Tabi-een, Ulema and Mashaaikh of the Ummah, Mujahideen, Shuhadah, all the favourites of Allâh Ta’ala, one’s parents, family, all the Marhum, friends, associates, students, asaatizah, mashaaikh and those whose favours are upon one, helpers, the whole Ummah and all the Muslims.