Sunnah Acts of Salah

Words and deeds which the Prophet Muhammad (saw) would perform regularly and which He would hardly abandon without an excuse or motive are called sunnah. Whenever a sunnah act is left out, knowingly or not, restarting the salah or performing the sajdah al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) is not required. Performing the sunnah acts indicates that one follows the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and it forms a complement for the fardh and wajib deeds. Abandoning a sunnah act does not necessitate any retribution; however, it is considered makruh (disapproved). These kind of sunnah acts are also called sunnah muakkadah (emphasized sunnah).

Among the sunnah acts of prayer are to raise the hands during the takbir al-iftitah and clasp them after, then recite the Subhanaka dua; to say A’udha billahi min ash-shaytan ar-rajim if one prays alone; to supplicate in ruku’ with subhana rabbi al-azim and in sajdah with subhana rabbi al-‘ala;and to recite surah al-Fatiha in the third and fourth rak’ah in prayers with three or four rak’ah.