Hazrat Asim bin Damrah says that some students of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to tell them how the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer voluntary prayers during the day. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "You do not have the strength to perform them." They said, "Please tell us, we will act according to our ability." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "When the sun rises in the east to the extent that it is elevated in the west at the time of Asr, he would offer two rak'ahs. Then, when it rises in the east to the extent that it is elevated in the west at the time of Dhuhr, he would offer four rak'ahs. Then, before Dhuhr, he would offer four rak'ahs, and after Dhuhr, he would offer two rak'ahs. And before Asr, he would offer four rak'ahs, in every two rak'ahs of which he would pray for peace for the close angels, the prophets, and the Muslims and believers who follow them."

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that I remember eight rak‘ahs from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): two before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, and two after ‘Isha. Hazrat Hafsa mentioned to me the two rak‘ahs before Fajr as well.

This hadith is also narrated through another chain with some variation.

Hazrat Maisarah and Hazrat Zazan narrate that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to offer four rak'ahs of nafl before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, four after Isha, and two rak'ahs before Fajr.

Hazrat Abu Ubaidah states that Hazrat Abdullah never used to omit the following nawafil: four before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, two after Isha, and two before Fajr.

Hasan and Hazrat Ibn Sirin say that there are ten rak'ahs of nafl: two before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, two after Isha, and two before Fajr.

Ibrahim says that the predecessors used to count these rak‘ahs among the Sunnah: four before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, two after ‘Isha, and two before Fajr. Ibrahim says that they considered the two rak‘ahs before ‘Asr as recommended, but did not regard them as Sunnah.

Hazrat Abu Ubaidah states that Hazrat Abdullah never used to miss the following nawafil: four before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, two after Isha, and two before Fajr.