الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 3, page 444

8. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that our people have differences about optional Salah (prayer). Certain ones among them say it is forty-four and others perform fifty. Please tell me about what you perform and how is it, so I can do similarly. He (the Imam) said, ‘I perform fifty-one Rak‘at.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Hold on to it.’ He (the Imam) counted with his hand saying, ‘Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) is eight. There are four after al-Dhuhr, four before al-‘Asr, two after al-Maghrib, two before al-‘Isha’, two after al-‘Isha’ in a sitting position which are counted as one Rak‘at in a standing position. There are eight Rak‘at of nightly Salah (prayer), three of al-witr and two at dawn. Obligatory Salah (prayer) is seventeen Rak‘at and this becomes fifty-one Rak‘at.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about optional Salah (prayer) during the day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs eight Rak‘at before al-Dhuhr and eight after al-Dhuhr.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

10. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Yahya’ ibn abu al-‘Ala’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Salah (prayer) at noontime is Salah (prayer) of repenting people.’””

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, ‘. . . during the night in Sajdah (prostration) and in standing position fearful of the next life and hopeful of the mercy of his Lord. . . .’ (20:130). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the nightly optional Salah (prayer).’ I then said, ‘ . . . and in both ends of the day perhaps you will become happy. . .’ (20:130). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to optional Salah (prayer) during the day.’ I then said, ‘. . . when the stars go back. . . .’ (52:49). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the two Rak‘at before the morning Salah (prayer).’ I then said, ‘. . . after Sujud (prostrations) . . .’(52:40) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to the two Rak‘at after al-Maghrib.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.