How should we perform the recommended prayer because of which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard the sound of the steps of the shoes of Bilaal, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, in Paradise? When one performs such prayer upon entering the Masjid, does it replace the Tahiyyatul-Masjid prayer? Is it permissible to perform this prayer at times when (voluntary) prayer is forbidden? May Allaah Reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to Bilaal at the time of Fajr (dawn): "O Bilaal, tell me about the most hopeful act (one which you deem the most rewarding with Allaah) you have done since you accepted Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in Paradise." Bilaal, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make Wudhoo’ (ablution) in any hour of the night or day, I would immediately perform prayer for as long as was destined for me to pray.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Such a prayer is called Sunnat Al-Wudhoo’. There is no specified number of Rak‘ahs (plural of Rak‘ah, which is a unit of prayer) or Quranic verses to be recited during that prayer. Rather, a Muslim can pray whatever he wants. It replaces the Tahiyyatul-Masjid prayer, as the rationale behind the latter is to pray upon entering the Masjid. Moreover, it is permissible to perform such a prayer at times when prayer is forbidden as it is one of the voluntary prayers that have a reason.