What is the virtue of the Sunnah prayer before Asr?

In addition to the five obligatory prayers, there are also non-obligatory (nafl) prayers, including the prayer performed before the Asr prayer. Regarding the virtue of this prayer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

رحم الله إمرأ صلى قبل العصر أربعا

“May Allah have mercy on the one who prays four rak‘ahs before Asr!” [1].

من صلى قبل العصر أربعا حرمه الله على النار

“Whoever prays four rak‘ahs before Asr, Allah will make the Fire forbidden for him.” [2].

There are reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) sometimes prayed this prayer as four rak‘ahs and sometimes as two rak‘ahs [3].

Based on these hadiths, the scholars of the Hanafi school consider it mustahabb (recommended) to perform a nafl prayer before Asr [4]. This prayer can be performed as either two or four rak‘ahs [5]. It is offered after the time for Asr begins and before the iqamah is called. Once the iqamah is called or after Asr, nafl prayers should not be performed.

In summary, a person who performs this nafl prayer before Asr will, as mentioned in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) hadith, receive Allah’s mercy and be protected from the Fire.

Tamirlán Darkhanuly,

Fatwa specialist for Nur-Sultan city

• [1] Tirmidhi, No. 1271.

• [2] Hadith narrated by Tabarani.

• [3] Narrated by Abu Dawud.

• [4] Quduri, 131.

• [5] Hashiyat Ibn Abidin, 1/452.