Mustahab prayers
772. There are many Mustahab prayers which are generally called Nafilah, but more stress has been laid on the daily Mustahab prayers. The number of the Rak’ats everyday excluding Friday, is 34. It is as follows:
2 Rak’ats Nafilah for Fajr
Since as per obligatory precaution, the Nafilah for ‘Isha prayers should be offered while sitting, and therefore its 2 Rak’ats are counted as one. But on Friday, 4 Rak’ats are added to the 16 Rak’ats of the Zuhr and the ‘Asr Nafilah, and it is preferable that all these 20 Rak’ats are offered before the Zuhr sets in.
773. Out of the 11 Rak’ats of the Nafilah for Namaz – e – Shab, 8 Rak’ats should be offered with the Niyyat of the Nafilah, 2 Rak’ats with the Niyyat of Shaf'a, and 1 Rak’at with the Niyyat of Witr. 8 Rak’ats of Nafilah for Namaz – e – Shab, and Nafilas of Zuhr, ‘Asr and Fajr should be offered like the morning 2 Rak’at prayers and complete instructions regarding Namaz – e – Shab are given in the book of prayers.
774. All Nafilah prayers can be offered while sitting, but then it is better to count the 2 Rak’ats prayed sitting as one Rak’at. For example, if a person wishes to offer Zuhr Nafilah which consists of 8 Rak’ats, in a sitting posture, he should offer 16 Rak’ats. And if he wishes to offer Witr prayers while sitting, he should offer two prayers of 1 Rak’at each.
775. Nafilah for Zuhr and ‘Asr should not be offered when one is on a journey, and one may offer Nafilah for ‘Isha with the intention of Raja'.