The number of rak’ahs of the prayer performed before the Friday prayer is not fixed or specified; the one who comes earlier can worship as much as he wishes.
➊ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
من اغتسل ثم أتي الجمعة فصلٰي ما قدر له ثم أنصت حتٰي يفرغ الامام من خطبته، ثم يصلي معه غفرله ما بينه و بين الجمعة الأخرٰي و فضل ثلاثة أيام
“Whoever performs ghusl, then comes for the Friday prayer, prays as much as is destined for him, then remains silent until the Imam finishes his sermon, and then prays the Friday prayer with the Imam, his sins from this Friday until the next Friday and three more days are forgiven.”
➋ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من اغتسل يوم الجمعة وتطهر بما استطاع من طهر، ثم ادهن أو مس من طيب، ثم راح فلم يفرق بين اثنين، فصلٰي ما كتب له، ثم اذا خرج الامام أنصت، غفرله ما بينه و بين الجمعة الأخرٰي
“Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then applies oil or perfume, then goes to Friday prayer, does not create separation between two people (i.e., does not push through between two people sitting together), then prays the prayer that has been written for him, when the Imam comes out (for Friday prayer) and he remains silent, the sins he committed between this Friday and the previous Friday are forgiven.”
↰ From these ahadith it is established that there is no fixed number of rak’ahs before the Friday prayer; one may pray as many as one wishes.
◈ Hafiz Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله also holds this view.
➌ Nafi says:
كان ابن عمر يطيل الصلاة قبل الجمعة و يصلي بعدها ركعتين فى بيته و يحدث أن رسول اللٰه صلى اللٰه عليه وسلم كان يفعل ذٰلك
“Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to pray a long prayer before Jumu’ah, and after Jumu’ah he would pray two rak’ahs in his house and used to say that this was also the practice of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.”
➍ Jibalah bin Suhaim says:
أنه كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا، لا يفصل بينهن بسلام، ثم بعد الجمعة ركعتين، ثم أربعا
“Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to pray four rak’ahs before Jumu’ah, without making a gap with salam between them, then after Jumu’ah he would pray four rak’ahs.”
➎ Ikrimah رحمه الله narrates about Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما:
أنه كان يصلي قبل الجمعة ثمان ركعات، ثم يجلس فلا يصلي شيئا حتٰي ينصرف.
“He used to pray eight rak’ahs before coming to Jumu’ah, then he would sit, and would not pray anything until returning.”
↰ Imam Yahya bin Ma’in
and Imam Ibn Hibban have authenticated it, therefore it is a “Hasan al-Hadith.”
➏ Abu Abdulrahman As-Sulami says:
كان ابن مسعود يأمرنا أن نصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا و بعدها أربعا.
“Our master Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to order us to perform four rak’ahs before and four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.”
↰ Sufyan has clarified the hearing and narrated it from Ata bin As-Saib before mixing.
◈ Safiyah says:
رأيت صفية بنت حييي رضي اللٰه تعالىٰ عنها صلت أربع ركعات قبل خروج الامام للجمعة.
“I saw Sayyida Safiyah bint Hayy praying four rak’ahs before the Imam went out for Jumu’ah.”
Its chain is “weak,” and Safiyah’s conditions are not found.
➐ Nafi says:
كان ابن عمر يهجر يوم الجمعة، فيطيل الصلوٰة قبل أن يخرج الامام.
“Our master Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to come early on the day of Jumu’ah and pray a long prayer before the Imam went out.”
➑ Imran bin Hudayr says:
أنه كان يصلي فى بيته ركعتين يوم الجمعة.
“On the day of Jumu’ah, you would perform two rak’ahs in your house.”
➒ Abdullah bin Tawus narrates about his father:
أنه كان لايأتي المسجد يوم الجمعة حتٰي يصلي فى بيته ركعتين.
“You did not come to the mosque before praying two rak’ahs at home on Friday.”
◈ Imam Sufyan Thawri and Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak hold the view of praying four rak’ahs before and after Jumu’ah.
➓ Imam Abdul Razzaq also holds the same view.
◈ Uqbah bin Alqamah says, “I met Imam Awza’i at the mosque door while he was going for Jumu’ah, greeted him, and followed behind him. Before the Imam started, I counted his rak’ahs; they were thirty-four. His standing, bowing, and prostration were all excellent.”
It is not established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that anything is to be prayed before Jumu’ah prayer:
➊ Our Master Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, says:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يركع قبل الجمعة أربعا (زاد الطبراني ؛ وبعدها أربعا)، لا يفصل فى شيء منهن.
“The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, used to pray four rak’ahs before (and after) Jumu’ah, without any interval between them.”
Comment:
Its chain of narration is extremely weak because:
① Mubashir bin Ubaid, the narrator, is “weak and abandoned.”
② Hajjaj bin Artaah is “weak and a muddler.”
③ Atiyah Al-Aufi is “weak.”
④ Baqiyah bin Waleed is guilty of “Tadlees al-Taswiyah.”
◈ Hafiz Nawawi has declared this hadith باطل (false).
◈ Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah writes: هٰذا الحديث فيه عدة بلايا . “There are many problems in this hadith.”
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar says: واسناده ضعيف جدا. “Its chain of narration is extremely weak.”
◈ Zaili Hanafi writes:
وسنده واه جدا فمبشر بن عبيد معدود فى الوضاعين، وحجاج و عطية ضعيفان.
“Its chain of narration is extremely weak; Mubashir bin Ubaid is counted among fabricators of hadith, and both Hajjaj (bin Artaah) and Atiyah (Al-Aufi) are weak.”
◈ Zafar Ahmad Thanvi Deobandi Sahib wrote:
وكلام الهيثمي مشعر بأن ليس فى سند الطبراني أحد غيرهما متكلم فيه.
“From the words of Allama Haithami, it is clear that in Tabarani’s chain, apart from these two (Hajjaj bin Artaah and Atiyah Al-Aufi), there is no narrator who is trustworthy.”
↰ While it is clear that in Tabarani’s chain, Mubashir bin Ubaid is a “neglected and fabricator” narrator,
therefore, some people’s calling its chain “good” is sheer ignorance. It should be noted that Baqiyah bin Waleed is considered “trustworthy” by the majority, only accused of “Tadlees al-Taswiyah.”
——————
➋ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه:
كان سول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا و بعدها أربعا يجعل التسليم فى آخرهن ركعة.
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to pray four rak’ahs before and four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah, and he would turn the salam only in the last rak’ah.”
Commentary:
Its chain is weak because:
① Abu Ishaq al-Subai’i, the narrator, is “mudallis and mixed.”
② Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman al-Suhami is a “mutakallim fihi” narrator.
Regarding this:
◈ Imam Bukhari رحمه الله says: ولا يتابع عليه. “His hadith was not followed.”
◈ Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi says: ليس بمشهور. “It was not well-known.”
◈ Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in called it “weak.”
——————
➌ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to pray two rak’ahs before and after Jumu’ah.
Comment:
Its chain of narration is extremely “weak.”
It includes Al-Hasan ibn Qutaybah Al-Khuza’i as a narrator, who is:
◈ Imam Darqutni has said متروك الحديث.
◈ Also described as “weak.”
◈ Imam Abu Hatim says: ليس بقوي الحديث، ضعيف الحديث .
◈ Hafiz ‘Aqili said كثير الوهم.
◈ Dhahabi said هالك.
It also contains Sufyan’s “tadlis” (concealment), and the authentication of Ishaq ibn Sulayman Al-Baghdadi is required.
——————
➍ Narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him):
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي قبل الجمعة و بعدها أربعا.
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray four rak‘ahs before and after Jumu‘ah.”
Comment:
Its chain of narration is “weak and disconnected,”
Abu Ubaidah does not have “sama‘” (hearing) from his father Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud.
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar says:
والراجح أنه لا يصح سماع من أبيه.
“The stronger opinion is that he has no direct hearing from his father.”
Also, the authentication of Salman ibn Amr ibn Khalid Al-Raqi is required.
——————
➎ قال أبو الحسن عبدالرحمٰن بن محمد بن ياسر فى (حديث أبى القاسم على بن يعقوب) عن اسحٰق بن ادريس ثنا أبا ن ثنا عاصم الأحول عن نافع عن عائشة أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي قبل الجمعة ركعتين فى أهله.
“It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to pray two rak’ahs in his house before Jumu’ah.”
Commentary:
This narration is موضوع (fabricated).
◈ Allama Albani رحمه الله says:
باطل موضوع و آفته اسحٰق هذا وهو الأسواري البصري قال ابن معين ؛ كذاب يضع الحديث.
“This is a false and fabricated narration; there is a defect due to the narrator Ishaq (bin Idris) Aswari Basri. Imam Yahya bin Ma’in said about him that he was a first-class liar and fabricator of hadith.”
——————
➏ Abu Ubaidah says about Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه:
كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا . “He used to pray four rak’ahs before Jumu’ah.”
Commentary:
Its chain is “weak”,
Abu Ubaidah has no “sama'” (hearing) from his father.
In Musannaf Abdul Razzaq
, Qatadah has followed Abu Ubaidah, which is also “weak” because Qatadah has no sama’ from Ibn Mas’ud.
——————
➐ “Abu Ishaq says that Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه used to pray four rak’ahs before and after Jumu’ah.”
Comment:
Its chain of narration is “weak”,
There is “tadlees” (concealment) by Abdul Razzaq and Abu Ishaq.
——————
➑ Ibrahim Nakha’i says: كانوا يصلون قبلها أربعا.
“(The Companions and the Followers) used to pray four rak’ahs before Jumu’ah.”
Comment:
Its chain of narration is “weak”,
Both Hafs bin Ghiyath and A’mash are “mudallis” (those who conceal defects in the chain).
——————
Prayer after Jumu’ah
After Friday prayer, only two rak’ahs can be prayed, or four can be prayed, or two followed by four, making six in total, can be prayed. Whether prayed at home or in the mosque, both situations are permissible.
➊ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both):
كان لا يصلي بعد الجمعة حتي ينصرف، فيصلي ركعتين فى بيته.
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to pray two rak’ahs after returning home from Friday prayer.”
◈ Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) says under this hadith:
والعمل عليٰ هٰذا عند بعض أهل العلم، وبه يقول الشافعي و أحمد .
“Some scholars act upon this, and this is the madhhab of Imam Shafi’i and Imam Ahmad.”
——————
➋ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
اذا صلٰي أحدكم الجمعة فليصل بعدها أربعا.
“When any of you prays Friday prayer, let him pray four rak’ahs afterwards.”
❀ Sahih Muslim
also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من كان منكم مصليا بعد الجمعة فليصل أربعا.
“Whoever among you wishes to pray after Friday prayer, let him pray four rak’ahs.”
——————
➌ Ibn Jurayj says that Ata told me that he saw Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) praying after Friday prayer by moving a little from his place of Friday prayer and praying two rak’ahs, then moving further and praying four rak’ahs. I asked Ata how many times he saw Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) do this, and he said: many times.
◈ Hafiz Nawawi has declared its chain “authentic.”
——————
➍ Ata bin Abi Rabah says:
كان اذا كان بمكة فصلي الجمعة تقدم، فصلٰي ركعتين، ثم تقدم، فصلٰي أربعا، واذا كان بالمدينة صلى الجمعة، ثم رجع اليٰ بيته فصلٰي ركعتين ولم يصل فى المسجد، فقيل له ؛ فقال ؛ كان رسول اللٰه صلى اللٰه عليه وسلم يفعل ذٰلك.
“When Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) was in Makkah and prayed Friday prayer, he would move a little forward and pray two rak’ahs, and when he was in Madinah, he would return home after Friday prayer and then pray two rak’ahs; he did not pray them in the mosque. When asked about this, he said the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) used to do the same.”
◈ Hafiz Nawawi has declared its chain “authentic.”
Benefit:
A narration is presented from Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه:
أنه كان يكره أن يصلي بعد صلوة الجمعة مثلها.
“He رضي الله عنه disliked praying the same (two rak’ahs) after Jumu’ah.”
↰ Its chain is weak due to the “tadlis” of Sufyan al-Thawri and A’mash.
——————
➎ Jibalah bin Suhaym says:
انه كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا لا يفصل بينهن بسلام، ثم بعد الجمعة ركعتين، ثم أربعا.
“Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to pray four rak’ahs before Jumu’ah, without putting a break with salam between them, then he would pray two rak’ahs after Jumu’ah, then four rak’ahs.”
——————
➏ Abu Abdur-Rahman al-Salmi says:
كان ابن مسعود يأمرنا أن نصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا و بعدها أربعا.
“Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud used to command us to pray four rak’ahs before and after Jumu’ah.”
◈ Abdullah bin Habib says that Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه used to pray four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.
Its chain is weak,
both Shareek and Abu Ishaq in it are “mudallis”.
◈ Abu Ubaidah says that Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه used to pray four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.
Its chain of narration is “weak”,
Abu Ubaidah has no transmission from his father.
◈ Maseeb says that Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pray four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.
Alqamah says that Abdullah bin Masood used to perform four rak’ahs together after Jumu’ah.
Its chain of narration is “weak”,
It includes Hajjaj bin Artaah who is “weak and a muddallis”, Hammad bin Abi Sulayman who is “mixed”, and Ibrahim Nakha’i who is “muddallis”,
Therefore, the chain is “weak”.
——————
◈ Abu Husain says:
رأيت الأسود بن يزيد صلٰي بعد الجمعة أربعا.
“I saw Aswad bin Yazid, he prayed four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.”
◈ Imran bin Hudayr says:
اذا سلم الامام صلٰي ركعتين يوم الجمعة، واذا رجع صلٰي ركعتين .
“When Abu Mujliz would turn the Imam on the day of Jumu’ah, he would pray two rak’ahs, then on the way back he would perform two rak’ahs.”
It is not established from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that he prayed four rak’ahs after Jumu’ah, as has been mentioned earlier.
◈ It is narrated from Abu Abdur Rahman As-Sulami:
أنه كان يصلي بعد الجمعة ستا.
“Our master Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, used to pray six rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.”
◈ Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa says about his father Abu Musa Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him:
انه كان يصلي بعد الجمعة ست ركعات.
“He used to perform six rak’ahs after Jumu’ah.”
◈ Ibrahim An-Nakha’i says:
صل بعد الجمعة ركعتين، ثم صل بعد ما شئت.
“Pray two rak’ahs after Jumu’ah, then pray as many as you wish after that.”
◈ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
ان شئت صليت أربعا، وان شئت صليت ست ركعات مثنٰي مثنٰي، كذا أختار أنا، وان شئت صليت أربعا فلا بأس.
“If he wishes, he may pray four, or if he wishes, six, two by two; this is what I prefer. If he wishes, he may pray four, and there is no harm in that either.”
◈ Imam Ibn al-Mundhir states:
ان شاء صلى ركعتين، وان شاء أربعا، ويصلي أربعا يفصل بين كل ركعتين بتسليم أحب الي.
“The one who performs the Jumu’ah prayer, if he wishes, may pray two rak’ahs, or four; if he prays four, it is preferable to give salam after two rak’ahs.”
