Nasai

1429. Commentary: This is another reconciliation that Imam al-Nasa’i rahimahullah has adopted regarding these two narrations (the one mentioning four units and the one mentioning two units), that the command to pray four units is for the followers (muqtadis). See: [صحیح مسلم ، الجمعة ، حدیث : 881]. And the mention of praying two units is specific to you (i.e., the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). In other words, the imam should pray two units and the followers should pray four units. However, the reasoning of the Imam (al-Nasa’i) in this regard is open to question, because every command of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is a model and example for us; therefore, the two units are not exclusive to him sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Thus, both two and four units may be prayed, and acting upon any of the narrations is permissible. And Allah knows best.

1430. Commentary:

➊ How many rak‘ahs should be performed before Jumu‘ah? There is no specification of the number of rak‘ahs to be performed before Jumu‘ah established from any authentic hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, neither from his statements nor from his actions. Rather, when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would ascend the pulpit, the adhan would begin, and after the adhan, he would immediately start the sermon without any interval. Therefore, whoever arrives at the mosque before the imam begins the sermon may perform as many sunnah and voluntary (nafl) prayers as he wishes, without any fixed number, and as soon as the imam begins the sermon, he should stop performing voluntary prayers. For further details, see: [فتاویٰ ابن تیمیة : 20-188/24 ، و زادالمعاد : 440-432/1]. The narration in Ibn Majah which mentions performing four rak‘ahs before Jumu‘ah is extremely weak. See: [سنن ابن ماجه ، إقامة الصلوات ، حدیث 1129 ، و ضعیف سنن ابن ماجة للألباني ، رقم : 1139]. Generally, practice is according to this narration, but the correct view is what has already been mentioned.

➋ Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah has declared the words “to lengthen (the prayer)” to be irregular (shaadh). See: [إرواء الغلیل : 90 ، 89/3]

1:
In this hadith, only the mention of performing two units (rak‘ah) after Jumu‘ah is found, and in Sahih Muslim, there is a narration from Abu Hurairah in which the command is to perform four units (rak‘ah). From this, it is understood that both ways are permissible. Some scholars have reconciled these narrations by stating that one who prays in the mosque should perform four units, and if one prays at home, then two units should be performed. Some people are of the opinion that six units should be performed, but it is not established from any authentic marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) narration as to how they should be performed. There is also disagreement in this matter: some people say that all four units should be performed with one salutation (salam), and some say that four units should be performed as two sets of two units each. However, it is better to perform them as two sets of two units, because in the authentic hadith it is stated: ((Salat al-layl wa al-nahar mathna)) “The voluntary prayer of the night and day is to be performed two by two.”

Benefit:
It is understood that after the obligatory Friday prayer, both two rak‘ahs of Sunnah can be performed as well as four rak‘ahs. Similarly, the supererogatory (nafl) prayers before or after the obligatory prayers, which were the habit and regular practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, or for which his emphasis and encouragement has been transmitted, their number is at least 12. Regarding these 12 supererogatory prayers, Sayyidah Umm Habibah radi Allahu anha says:
«سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول : من صلى اثنتي عشرة ركعة فى يوم وليلة بني له بهن بيت فى الجنة»[صحيح مسلم : 728]
“I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say: Whoever performs 12 rak‘ahs in the day and night, because of them a palace will be built for him in Paradise.”

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«مـن صـلـى فى يوم وليلة ثنتي عشرة ركعة بني له بيت فى الجنة أربعًا قبـل الـظهر وركعتين بعدها وركعتين بعد المغرب وركعتين بعد العشاء وركعتين قبل صلاة الغداة »[سنن ترمذي : 415]
“Whoever performs 12 rak‘ahs (supererogatory prayers) in the night and day, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four rak‘ahs before Zuhr, two after it, two after Maghrib, two after ‘Isha, and two before the morning prayer (Fajr).”

In other hadiths, the details of the Sunnah prayers have also been mentioned; please refer to them:

Sayyidah ‘A’ishah radi Allahu anha says:
«كـان يصلي فى بيت قبل الظهر أربعا ثم يخرج فيصلي بالناس ثم يدخل فيصلي ركعتين» [صحيح مسلم : 730]
“The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to perform four rak‘ahs of supererogatory prayers in my house before Zuhr, and after leading the people in prayer, he would return home and perform two rak‘ahs.”

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma says:
«صليت مع النبى سجدتين قبل الظهر والسجدتين بعد الظهر» [صحيح بخاري : 1172]
“I performed two rak‘ahs of supererogatory prayers with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam before Zuhr and two after the Zuhr prayer.”

It is narrated from Sayyidah Umm Habibah radi Allahu anha that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«مـن حـافـظ على أربع ركعات قبل الظهر وأربـع بعدها حرم على النار » [سنن ابوداود : 1269]
“Whoever is regular in performing four rak‘ahs of supererogatory prayers before and after Zuhr, the Fire will be made unlawful for him.”

From the aforementioned narrations, it is understood regarding the Sunnah prayers of Zuhr that their maximum number is 12, and among them, at least 4 rak‘ahs are emphasized supererogatory prayers (sunan mu’akkadah). As Sayyidah ‘A’ishah as-Siddiqah radi Allahu anha says:
«إن النبى كان لا يدع أربعا قبل الظهر وركعتين قبل الغداة» [صحيح بخاري : 1182]
“The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never left the four rak‘ahs before Zuhr and the two rak‘ahs before Fajr.”