Sunnah Rakʿāt of Jumuʿah: How Many to Pray Before and After the Sermon?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Page 244
❖ Question
It is commonly practiced that on Friday, before the khuṭbah, four rakʿāt Sunnah are performed, then the two obligatory rakʿāt of Jumuʿah, followed by two Sunnah rakʿāt. This is considered the complete Jumuʿah prayer.
However, in a ḥadīth it is mentioned that a companion came while the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the khuṭbah, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “Pray two rakʿāt and then sit.”
The questions are:
✿ Did the Companions used to pray Sunnah rakʿāt at home before coming?
✿ Are the two rakʿāt before the khuṭbah simply nafl or like the regular four rakʿāt Sunnah before Ẓuhr?
✿ After Jumuʿah, should two Sunnah rakʿāt be prayed or four?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
◈ Sunnah Before Jumuʿah
- There is no fixed number of rakʿāt prescribed before Jumuʿah.
- Before the khuṭbah begins, one may pray according to the time available:
➊ 2 rakʿāt
➋ 4 rakʿāt
➌ 6 rakʿāt
➍ 8 rakʿāt
➎ Or even more
Supporting aḥādīth:
«فَصَلّٰی مَا كُتِبَ لَه»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah)
“He prayed as much as was written for him.”
«فَصَلّٰی مَا قُدِّرَ لَه»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah)
“He prayed as much as was destined for him.”
These narrations apply to those who arrive before the khuṭbah starts.
◈ If the Khuṭbah Has Already Begun
- If someone arrives while the Imām is delivering the khuṭbah, he should pray only two light rakʿāt.
Ḥadīth:
“When one of you enters while the Imām is delivering the sermon, let him pray two light rakʿāt.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
◈ Sunnah After Jumuʿah
- After the obligatory rakʿāt of Jumuʿah, different narrations exist:
➊ Two rakʿāt may be prayed.
➋ Four rakʿāt may also be prayed.
➌ One narration also mentions six rakʿāt.
Ḥadīth:
«مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مُصَلِّيًا بَعْدَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَلْيُصَلِّ أَرْبَعًا»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah)
“Whoever among you prays after Jumuʿah, let him pray four rakʿāt.”
❖ Summary
✿ Before the khuṭbah, there is no fixed number—2, 4, 6, or 8 rakʿāt may be performed depending on available time.
✿ If the khuṭbah has started, then only two light rakʿāt should be performed.
✿ After Jumuʿah, 2, 4, or 6 rakʿāt may be prayed, as established in various aḥādīth.
Hādhā mā ʿindī wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
