Mawla of the Messenger, Sayyiduna Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when he was asked whether the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to command any prayer after the obligatory prayers, he said: Yes, between Maghrib and Isha.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the muezzin would stand up and give the adhan for Maghrib in the mosque of Madinah Munawwarah, whoever wished would stand and keep performing prayer until the congregational prayer was established, and whoever wished would perform two rak‘ahs and then sit down, and all of this would happen before the eyes of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: When the muezzin would call the adhan for Maghrib, the Companions would rush towards the pillars to perform two rak‘ahs before Maghrib, and when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would arrive, they would be in that state, and there would be a short interval between the adhan and the iqamah.

Abu al-Khair says: I saw Abu Tamim Abdullah bin Malik Jaishani praying two rak‘ahs as soon as he heard the adhan of Maghrib. Seeing this, I went to Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: Shall I not amaze you by telling you about Abu Tamim Jaishani? He prays two rak‘ahs before the Maghrib prayer, and I wish to criticize him for it. Sayyiduna Uqbah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Beware! We used to pray this prayer during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I said: Then what prevents you now? He said: Occupation (busyness).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah Muzani, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Perform two rak‘ahs before Maghrib. Then he said: Perform two rak‘ahs before Maghrib. When he said this a third time, he added: Whoever wishes, may perform them. This last statement was made so that people would not consider it an obligatory practice.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said three times: There is prayer between every two calls to prayer, for whoever wishes.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform the Isha prayer, he would offer four rak'ahs and also perform one rak'ah of Witr, and then he would sleep. Later in the night, he would perform his (additional) prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he performed two rak'ahs with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in his house after the 'Isha prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she says that after leading the people in the Isha prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would come to my house and perform two rak'ahs, and during the night he would offer (9) rak'ahs including the Witr prayer.

Shuraih bin Hani says: I asked Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). She said: When you were engaged in conversation, there was no prayer more appropriate to delay than the Isha prayer. Then, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform this prayer and come to me, he would offer four or six rak'ahs afterwards, and I never saw him spreading anything to protect himself from the ground. Yes, I do remember that on a rainy day we placed a mat under him, but it is as if I can still see water gushing from its torn place.