Performing the Testification of the 3 & 4 Units' Prayers

14.      in case of a three rakat prayer ( prayer consisting of three units )as that of maghrib prayer, (evening prayer), or a four-rakaat prayer like that of noon prayer (zuhr), asr prayer ( late afternoon prayer) or, isha prayer ( night prayer), the worshipper stands up after reciting the tashahud according to the manner stated before, and raises his hands up to the level of his shoulders saying الله أكبر "allahu akbar". the worshipper puts his hands over his chest as it had been explained before and recites only the fatiha, there is no objection if he adds to the fatiha some other verses of the quran while performing the third or  fourth rakaat ( units of prayer ) of noon prayer (zuhr), because this was stated to be one of the manners adopted by the prophet , may peace and blessings of allah be on him, according to the tradition reported by abi saied.

       after the third rakaah of maghrib prayer (evening prayer), and the fourth rakaah of zuhr (noon), asr (afternoon) and isha (night) prayers, the worshipper recites the tashahud and terminates his prayer by saying: "السلام عليكم ورحمة الله . "

 "as-salamu alai kum wa rahmatu allah”

while turning first to the right, and second to t he left as it has been explained before.

  it is not an obligatory duty, but it is a recommendable prophetic tradition to invoke allah after terminating the prayer by asking him forgiveness thrice and saying before turning one's  face towards his followers if he is the imam:

 (( اللهم أنت السلام و منك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال و الإكرام.))

        which means:

" o allah, thou art  peace and from thee is peace, thou art blessed, o possessor of glory and honour."

  it  is advisable for the worshipper to say:

(( لا إله إلا الله و حده لا شريك له , له الملك و له الحمد و هو على كل شيء قدير , اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت و لا معطي لما منعت و لا ينفع ذا الجد منك الجد , لا حول و لا قوة إلا بالله , لا إله إلا الله و لا نعبد إلا إياه له النعمة و له الفضل و هل الثناء الحسن لا إله إلا الله مخلصين له الدين و لو كره الكافرون .))

which means:" there is no god but allah. he is the one . he has no partner , his is the dominion and to him alone is the praise, he has power over all things , o  lord, none may withhold  what you have given and none nay give what you have withheld and the riches cannot avail a wealthy person with thee, there is no might or power except by the support of allah, there is no god but allah  and we do not worship but him alone, to him alone belong all bounties, to him alone belong all grace, and to him worthy praise is accorded there is no god but allah, to whom we are sincere in devotion, even though the unbelievers may detest it. "

it is also advisable to the worshipper to extol allah 33 times by saying سبحان الله  (subhana allah). praise him by saying الحمد لله  ( al hmadu lil-allah ) 33 times also by worshipper completes his supplications to be one hundred by saying once:

(( لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له , له الملك و له الحمد و هو على كل شيء قدير ))

   which means:

 " there is no god but allah . he is the one he has no partner. he is the dominion and to him alone is the praise, he has power over all things."

         the worshipper adds to that the recitation of the verse of the throne " ayat al-kursiy",  surat al-ikhlas, surat el-falq, and surat al-nas,. it is recommendable to recite these suras thrice after the fajr prayer (morning prayer) , and the maghrib prayer (evening prayer)because this was reported to be one of the traditions of the prophet , peace and blessings of allah be on him. as it had been stated before, all these after-prayer supplications are optional and not obligatory.

        every muslim, whether be male or female, is recommended to pray 12 rakaaat of supererogatory prayers every day: four of  these rakaat (units of prayers) are before noon prayer, two after it , two after maghrib prayer , two after isha (night) prayer and two before the morning prayer – these supererogatory prayers are called (rawatib) which means: "certain supererogatory exercises of optional prayers." the prophet peace and blessings of allah be on him, preserved the performance of these optional prayers wherever he settled. during his travels, he used to practice the two optional rakkat before the morning prayer (after the isha prayer). there is no objection to perform these optional prayers in the mosque, but it is better to perform it at home , because the prophet, peace and blessings of  allah be on him, said " the best of the prayers are those which are fulfilled at one's own home, with exception to obligatory prayers which should be performed in congregation at the mosque"

       observance of fulfilling these optional prayers is a means for gaining admission to paradise. the prophet may peace and blessings of allah be on him, said:

(( من صلى اثنني عشرة ركعة في يومه و ليلته تطوعا بنى الله له بيتا في الجنة ))

      which means:

      "whoever prays optionally twelve rakaat every one day and night, allah will reward him by an established dwelling in the paradise."

      it is also advisable to the muslim to pray four optional rakaat before asr prayer (afternoon prayer), two before maghrib prayer (evening prayer), because this manner was reported to be one of the traditions of the prophet , allah, the almighty says:

{ لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنة }

"ye have indeed  in the messenger of allah an excellent exemplar"

     and the prophet ( may peace and blessings of allah be upon him) said:

(( صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي ))

which means:

" perform your prayer in the same manner as you had seen me doing."

   allah is he who is able to render us success and prosperity, and may allah give his blessings  and peace to our prophet muhammad son of abdullah, his family, his companions and whoever follows his way till doomsday.