What is Salat ul Awabeen? Is it supported by Sahih Hadiths?

Question

I recently came across the below message:

Generally the six rakats after the Maghrib salah is called the Salatul Awabeen. However, according to the Sahih and authentic ahadith, Salatul Awabeen has been used to described Salatul Duha.

Saaiduna Zaid Ibn Arqam Radiallahu Anhu said “The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam came out to the people of Quba while they were praying and said, “Salatul Awabeen is the time when the young camels sit (i.e. they sit because of the intense heat) (Sahih Muslim)

The hadith regarding the six rakats after Maghrib salah can be found in Sunan Tirmizi where Saaiduna Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said that the performing of six rakats without indulging in any worldly affairs would derive reward equivalent to twelve years nafl prayers. (Sunan Tirmizi p.98 v.1)

I would like to request more information on the subject.

Answer 1

Salaat al-Awaabeen (صلاة الأوابين) meaning the prayer of those who turn to Allah in repentance ^(17:25). It is the name of a supererogatory prayer (like tahajjud) which appears in various ahadith.

There are three main interpretations as to what it refers to:

• This is the same as Salat al-Duha, which is two or more rak`at offered before mid-day (see How to pray Salatul Duha?).

  صلاة الأوابين حين ترمض الفصال

  Salat al-Awwabin is when the young camels feet feel the heat of the hot sand

  ^{— Sahih Muslim}

  وصاني خليلي بثلاث لست بتاركهن: أن لا أنام إلا على وتر، وأن لا أدع ركعتي الضحى فإنها صلاة الأوابين، وصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر

  My friend (the Prophet ﷺ) instructed me to observe three things which I will never leave. Not sleeping without praying witr, the two rak`at of Duha for this is Salat al-Awwabin and fasting for three days every month.

  ^{— Sahih ibn Khuzaymah}

  This view is supported by Sahih ahadith.

• It is the name of the prayer between maghrib and 'isha. These are six rak`at.

  من صلى ما بين المغرب إلى صلاة العشاء، فإنها صلاة الأوابين

  Who prays between Maghrib and 'Isha, for it is Salat al-Awwabin

  ^{— Al-Zuhd wa al-Raqa'iq by Ibn Al-Mubarak}

• It refers to both of these collectively.

There are also other views.