Consumer & Retail Banking

Consumer & Retail Banking
Article

2025-12-04

A Complete Guide to Qobliyah and Ba’diyah Prayers: Timing, Intentions, and Total Rakaat

Qobliyah and Ba’diyah are part of the sunnah rawatib prayers, performed before and after the obligatory prayers. These voluntary acts are highly encouraged because they help complete any shortcomings in the five daily prayers. For many Muslims, sunnah rawatib has become a daily habit, as its virtues are emphasized in several authentic hadith.

This guide explains the timing, intentions (niyyah), and total rakaat of Qobliyah and Ba’diyah prayers based on reliable sources of fiqh and authentic narrations.

What Are Sunnah Rawatib Prayers?

In fiqh literature, the terms qobliyah and ba’diyah fall under rawatib, derived from ratibah, meaning “routine” or “regular.” These sunnah prayers accompany the obligatory ones to compensate for any deficiencies that may occur during fard prayers.

One of the key foundations for sunnah rawatib comes from the narration of Abu Hurairah RA. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Amalan yang pertama kali dihisab dari seorang hamba pada Hari Kiamat adalah shalat. Jika shalatnya baik, maka ia mendapatkan catatan kebaikan. Jika terdapat kekurangan, Allah berfirman: 'Lihatlah apakah ia memiliki amalan sunnah.' Jika ia memiliki amalan sunnah, maka shalat wajibnya disempurnakan dengan amalan sunnah tersebut. Kemudian barulah amalan lainnya dihisab."
(HR Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i, dan Ibnu Majah; dinilai hasan–shahih)

This hadith highlights the essential role of sunnah rawatib in elevating the quality of one’s obligatory prayers.

The Importance of Intention (Niyyah)

Every act of worship begins with intention, as stated in the first hadith of Arba’in Nawawi:

إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى…

“Actions are judged by their intentions, and every person will be rewarded according to what they intended…”
(HR Bukhari and Muslim)

Scholars agree that intention is made in the heart. However, if one follows the opinion that allows verbalizing the intention, the following are commonly recited niyyah for sunnah rawatib.

Intentions (Niyyah) for Qobliyah and Ba’diyah Prayers

Qobliyah Fajr (2 rakaat)
أُصَلِّي قَبْلِيَّةَ الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“I intend to perform two rakaat of sunnah Qobliyah Fajr for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

Qobliyah Dhuhr (2 rakaat)
أُصَلِّي قَبْلِيَّةَ الظُّهْرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“I intend to perform two rakaat of sunnah Qobliyah Dhuhr for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

Ba’diyah Dhuhr (2 rakaat)
أُصَلِّي بَعْدِيَّةَ الظُّهْرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“I intend to perform two rakaat of sunnah Ba’diyah Dhuhr for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

Ba’diyah Maghrib (2 rakaat)
أُصَلِّي بَعْدِيَّةَ الْمَغْرِبِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“I intend to perform two rakaat of sunnah Ba’diyah Maghrib for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

Ba’diyah Isha (2 rakaat)
أُصَلِّي بَعْدِيَّةَ الْعِشَاءِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ سُنَّةً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
“I intend to perform two rakaat of sunnah Ba’diyah Isha for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.”

How Many Rakaat Are in Sunnah Rawatib?

Scholars narrate two authentic versions: 10 rakaat and 12 rakaat. Both come from sahih narrations.

Narration of 10 Rakaat

From Ibn Umar RA:

حَفِظْتُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَشْرَ رَكَعَاتٍ…
“…I memorized from the Prophet SAW ten rakaat of sunnah rawatib…”
(HR Bukhari)

This includes:

2 before Fajr
2 before Dhuhr
2 after Dhuhr
2 after Maghrib
2 after Isha

Narration of 12 Rakaat

From Aisyah RA, the Prophet SAW said:

مَنْ ثَابَرَ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ السُّنَّةِ…
“Whoever consistently performs twelve rakaat of sunnah rawatib, Allah will build a house for them in Paradise…”
(HR Tirmidzi and An-Nasa’i)

She also narrated:

كَانَ لَا يَدَعُ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ
“The Prophet SAW never left four rakaat before Dhuhr and two before Fajr.”
(HR Bukhari)

Why Is There a Difference Between 10 and 12 Rakaat?

Ibnul Qayyim explains that the Prophet SAW sometimes performed two rakaat of Qobliyah Dhuhr and on other occasions performed four. His practice varied depending on where he prayed:

2 rakaat when performed in the mosque
4 rakaat when performed at home

Both narrations are authentic and complementary. The only difference lies in the number of rakaat before Dhuhr.

Daily Breakdown of Sunnah Rawatib

Based on the 10-Rakaat Narration

2 rakaat before Fajr
2 rakaat before Dhuhr
2 rakaat after Dhuhr
2 rakaat after Maghrib
2 rakaat after Isha

Based on the 12-Rakaat Narration

2 rakaat before Fajr
4 rakaat before Dhuhr
2 rakaat after Dhuhr
2 rakaat after Maghrib
2 rakaat after Isha

Both are correct and can be practiced according to one’s capacity and routine.

When Should Qobliyah and Ba’diyah Be Performed?

Qobliyah

Fajr: After the first adhan and before the obligatory Fajr prayer
Dhuhr: After the adhan and before the obligatory prayer

Ba’diyah

Dhuhr: Immediately after the obligatory Dhuhr prayer
Maghrib: After the obligatory Maghrib prayer
Isha: After the obligatory Isha prayer

Performing rawatib at home is more virtuous, following the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW. However, praying them in the mosque is permissible if you fear missing them.

Make Sunnah Rawatib Part of Your Daily Worship

Qobliyah and Ba’diyah prayers are among the most encouraged sunnah acts, helping strengthen and complete obligatory prayers. By understanding their timing, intentions, and total rakaat, every Muslim can practice them consistently and with deeper awareness.

Whether you choose the 10-rakaat or 12-rakaat routine, both offer immense reward and contribute to improving the overall quality of your daily prayers. To enrich your daily good deeds, you can also give charity conveniently through the Ziswaf Hijrah Amal feature on Muamalat DIN.