Nafilah (plural: Nawafil) refers to "Voluntary" or extra acts of worship that go beyond what is obligatory (Fard). This most commonly refers to voluntary prayers, such as the Sunnah prayers before and after the five daily prayers, or the Night Prayer (Tahajjud). The Prophet (PBUH) taught that Allah says: "My servant continues to draw near to Me with Nafilah works until I love him." Nawafil are the secret to spiritual growth, serving as a means of seeking higher ranks in Paradise and gaining the special protection and love of the Creator.