Nafl (voluntary worship in fiqh)

Nafl, in the lexicon, is an addition. The Hanafis define it as what is neither obligatory nor required; the Shafi'is as everything beyond the obligations, also called sunna, recommended or voluntary. ^{1 2}

The obligation is better than the voluntary act by agreement; voluntary works may complete what is lacking in obligations; the jurists list cases where a recommended act outranks an obligatory one. ^{3 6} Starting a voluntary pilgrimage or lesser pilgrimage makes completing it binding. For voluntary prayer and fasting the Hanafis and Malikis require completion, while the Shafi'is and Hanbalis allow breaking it. ^{6 8} Voluntary acts while owing an obligation: the Hanafis dislike voluntary prayer while owing missed prayers; the Malikis forbid it, except the sunnas; the Hanbalis dislike it before making up the obligatory prayer, except the dawn sunna. ^{8 17} Specific and unrestricted prayers: specific prayers are tied to a cause (eclipse, rain prayer, greeting the mosque) or a time (the two festivals, tarawih, witr, duha); unrestricted prayers have neither. ¹⁸ Number of rak'ahs: twos are preferred by the Shafi'is, Hanbalis and Malikis; the Hanafis prefer fours by day and allow more with conditions. ^{9 10 11} Length of standing or number of prostrations: the Hanafis, most Shafi'is and Malikis prefer longer standing; the Hanbalis and some Shafi'is and Malikis prefer more prostrations. ¹¹ Separating obligatory and voluntary prayer: the Shafi'is and Hanbalis recommend a break by speech, standing or moving; the Hanafis recommend joining the sunna to the obligatory prayer with only a short pause. ^{12 13} Almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage: voluntary almsgiving is recommended at all times, and most jurists forbid giving away what is needed for obligatory maintenance or debts; voluntary fasting is recommended on the excellent days; voluntary pilgrimage is among the best works, and its precedence over jihad or almsgiving is disputed. ^{14 15 16}