Sunnah 12: Two Rak’as before Maghrib
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Pray 2 rak’as before maghrib, pray 2 rak’as before maghrib, pray 2 rak’as before maghrib” and then he said “for whoever pleases” [Bukhari]
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The Prophet (pbuh) said “for whoever pleases” so that people would not take it to be an obligatory act. This particular sunnah is called a “sunnah ghayr mu’akaddah”, which means they were prayed sometimes by the Prophet (pbuh). Its importance is evident from the fact that the Prophet (pbuh) stressed it 3 times. Usually an order signifies that the act is “essential” but here it is “desirable” because the Prophet (pbuh) gave us the choice.
Before maghrib means after the athan (call to prayer) of maghrib but before the actual fardh. Anas bin Malik (ra) reported: “When we were in Madinah, the moment the Mu’adhin [caller to prayer] finished the adhan of the Maghrib prayer, the people hastened to the pillars of the mosque and performed two Rak`ah prayer behind them. A stranger coming into the mosque would think that the obligatory prayer had already been performed because of the number of people performing them.” [Muslim]
A Sunnah A Day 
To Allah in my whole entire life I have gone without perform two rakaat before magrib I was to told it was wrong to do so you only do two rakaat after magrib
I will be pleased if a further light can be shed on this topic for me as clearly I do know there are 12 sunnah salat in a day please address my problem as I am really scared now thanks may Allah bleed you
Dear Lamfia,
Salaam. There is nothing to be scared about. As the explanation shows, this is a sunnah ghayr mu’akkadah- meaning the Prophet (p) would pray it sometimes and leave it at other times. It is not part of the 12 sunnah rak’as but something extra.
Secondly, these two rak’as are prayed after the maghrib athan before iqama. Meaning he time of Maghrib has come in. So it is not prayed during the makrooh time i.e. between asr and maghrib.
I hope this makes sense.