This excerpt is taken from the book Tuhfa Juma by Sheikh al-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Yusuf (Founder of Dar al-Hadith Jamia Kamalia).
Sunnahs After Jumu'ah:
After the Friday prayer, it is understood from the hadith that praying four rak'ahs is preferable, however, two rak'ahs can also be performed.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إذا صلى أحدكم الجمعة فليصل بعدها أربعا، وفي رواية: من كان منكم مصليا بعد الجمعة فليصل أربعا
"When any one of you has prayed the Friday prayer, let him pray four rak'ahs after it."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sunan Ibn Majah)
In Sahih Bukhari, Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to pray two rak'ahs at home after the Friday prayer.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Friday Prayer, Chapter: Prayer after Friday before it, Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i)
From these ahadith, it is clear that praying four rak'ahs after Friday prayer is correct and praying two rak'ahs is also correct.
Some scholars have said that if prayed in the mosque, then four rak'ahs should be prayed, and if prayed at home, then two rak'ahs should be prayed.
Reference: (See Zad al-Ma'ad by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah)
Provision of food for the one who prays Friday prayer:
Local people who attend Friday prayers can also be invited. But especially in mosques where people come in large numbers from far away for Friday prayers, simple arrangements for food and drink should be made for the attendees. There are many religious, hereafter-related, and worldly benefits in this.
① There is great virtue in giving charity on Friday, and feeding others is one of the most important types of charity.
② It encourages those who come from outside.
③ The Islamic tradition of honoring and hospitality towards guests is kept alive.
④ It becomes a means of mutual acquaintance and social interaction, which in itself is one of the purposes of gathering.
⑤ Many poor and needy people benefit from it.
⑥ It is also a beloved Sunnah of some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
⑦ For the one who invites, it is a source of blessing and healing.
Hazrat Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates, meaning: A woman used to cook special food for us, starting preparations from Wednesday, and would serve it to us on Friday. After finishing the Friday prayer, we would go to greet her, she would feed us, and we would eat eagerly. Because of her excellent food, we used to look forward to Friday.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Chapter: Allah’s Saying: "When you have finished the prayer, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s bounty," Hadith: 938)
The midday meal and rest on Friday should be after the Friday prayer:
Hazrat Suhail bin Saad (RA) narrates:
ما كنا نقيل ولا نتغدى إلا بعد الجمعة
“We (the companions) used to eat the midday meal and take a nap only after the Friday prayer.”
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) states: “We used to go early for Friday prayer and rest after the midday meal following the Friday prayer.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith number: 940)
Whoever misses the Friday prayer should pray four Rak'ahs:
A person who catches one rak'ah of the Friday prayer with the Imam, for example, if he joins in the second rak'ah, in this case, he will perform the Friday prayer and after the Imam's tasleem (salutation), he will complete the missed rak'ah. But if a person joins after the rukoo' of the second rak'ah, or arrives in the state of sujood, or joins during tashahhud, then in this case, he has missed the Friday prayer. Therefore, after the Imam's tasleem, he must perform four rak'ahs.
The great companion of the Prophet, a perfect example in following the Sunnah, Sayyiduna Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) has this ruling. He says:
إذا أدرك الرجل يوم الجمعة ركعة صلى إليها ركعة أخرى فإن وجدهم جلوسا صلى أربعا
Reference: (Musannif Abdul Razzaq, 234/3, Hadith: 5471, Musannif Ibn Abi Shaybah, 461/1, Hadith: 5334)
This is the ruling of most scholars and this ruling is correct.
Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
Most of the companions and followers acted upon this that whoever catches one rak'ah of the Friday prayer should join the second rak'ah and complete the Friday prayer. And whoever reaches tashahhud should pray four rak'ahs. Imam Sufyan Thawri, Abdullah bin Mubarak, Imam Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad, and Imam Ishaq also have this ruling.
Reference: (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Book of Friday Prayer, Chapter: What has been narrated about one who catches one rak'ah of Friday prayer, Hadith: 524)
