How Many Rakats Should Be Prayed Before the Jumu'ah Prayer?

Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri

The number of rakats to be performed before the Jumu'ah prayer is not fixed or specified; one may perform as many as desired.

Narrations from Sahabah and Scholars​

➊ Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"Whoever performs ghusl (ritual purification), then comes to the Jumu'ah prayer and prays what is destined for him, then listens quietly until the Imam finishes his sermon, and then prays with him, will be forgiven for his sins between that Jumu'ah and the next, plus an additional three days."

[Sahih Muslim: 858]

➋ Narrated by Salman Al-Farsi (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

"Whoever performs ghusl on the day of Jumu'ah and purifies himself as much as he can, then uses oil or perfume, then goes to the Jumu'ah prayer and does not separate two people sitting together, then prays what is destined for him, and when the Imam comes out, he listens quietly, he will be forgiven for the sins between that Jumu'ah and the next."

[Sahih Bukhari: 910]

From these hadiths, it is clear that there is no fixed number of rakats to be prayed before the Jumu'ah prayer. One can pray as many as desired. Hafiz Ibn Al-Mundhir also holds this view.

[Al-Awsat: 50/4]

Practices of the Sahabah​

➌ Narrated by Nafi:

"Ibn Umar used to prolong his prayer before the Jumu'ah prayer and would pray two rakats in his house after the Jumu'ah prayer, saying that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to do so."

[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1128, its chain is authentic]

➍ Narrated by Jabla bin Suhaim:

"He (Ibn Umar) used to pray four rakats before the Jumu'ah prayer without separating them with Taslim, and after the Jumu'ah prayer, he would pray two rakats, then four."

[Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 1/335, its chain is authentic]

➎ Narrated by Ikrimah regarding Ibn Abbas (RA):

"He used to pray eight rakats before the Jumu'ah prayer, then sit down and not pray anything until he departed."

[Al-Awsat: 3/97, H: 1844, its chain is Hasan]

➏ Narrated by Abu Abdur-Rahman Al-Sulami:

"Ibn Mas'ud used to command us to pray four rakats before the Jumu'ah prayer and four after."

[Al-Awsat by Ibn Al-Mundhir: 1880, its chain is Hasan]

Safiya said:

"I saw Safiya bint Huyayy (RA) pray four rakats before the Imam came out for the Jumu'ah prayer."

[Tabaqat Ibn Saad; Nasb al-Raya: 2/207]

Its chain is weak, as the conditions of Safiya are not known.

➐ Narrated by Nafi:

"Ibn Umar would come early on the day of Jumu'ah and prolong his prayer before the Imam came out."

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131, its chain is authentic]

➑ Narrated by Imran bin Hudayr:

"He used to pray two rakats in his house on the day of Jumu'ah."

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131, its chain is authentic]

➒ Narrated by Abdullah bin Tawus regarding his father:

"He would not come to the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah until he had prayed two rakats in his house."

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131, its chain is Hasan]

Imam Sufyan Thawri and Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak also hold the view of praying four rakats before and after the Jumu'ah prayer.

[Jami' al-Tirmidhi: under Hadith: 523]

➓ Imam Abdul Razzaq also holds this view.

[Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 3/247]

Narrated by Uqbah bin Alqamah:

"I met Imam Al-Awza'i at the door of the mosque going to the Jumu'ah prayer, greeted him, and followed behind him. I counted his prayers before the Imam came out, and they were thirty-four rakats, with the best of standing, bowing, and prostration."

[Taqdimat al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 218, its chain is Hasan]

Prayers After Jumu'ah​

After the Jumu'ah prayer, one may perform two rakats, four rakats, or even six rakats (two rakats followed by four). These can be prayed at home or in the mosque, both are permissible.

➊ Narrated by Ibn Umar (RA):

"The Prophet (PBUH) did not pray after Jumu'ah until he returned home, where he would pray two rakats."

[Sahih Bukhari: 937, Sahih Muslim: 882]

Imam Tirmidhi commented:

"Some of the scholars act upon this, and it is the opinion of Shafi'i and Ahmad."

[Tirmidhi: under Hadith: 521]

➋ Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA):

"When one of you prays Jumu'ah, let him pray four rakats afterwards."

[Sahih Muslim: 881]

In another narration:

"Whoever wants to pray after Jumu'ah, let him pray four rakats."

[Sahih Muslim: 881]

➌ Narrated by Ibn Jurayj, who said:

"Ata told me that he saw Ibn Umar (RA) pray after Jumu'ah in this manner: he would move a little from his place of Jumu'ah and pray two rakats, then move more and pray four rakats. I asked Ata how many times he saw Ibn Umar (RA) do this, and he replied: many times."

[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1133, Jami' Tirmidhi: 523, its chain is authentic]

Hafiz Nawawi considered this chain "authentic."

[Khulasat al-Ahkam: 2/812]

➍ Narrated by Ata bin Abi Rabah:

"When Abdullah bin Amr (RA) was in Makkah, he would pray two rakats after Jumu'ah, then move forward and pray four rakats. When he was in Madinah, he would return home and pray two rakats without praying in the mosque. When asked, he said the Prophet (PBUH) did this."

[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1133, its chain is authentic]

Hafiz Nawawi also deemed this chain "authentic."

[Khulasat al-Ahkam: 2/812]

It is noted that a narration from Umar (RA) stating he disliked praying two similar rakats after Jumu'ah is weak due to the "tadlis" of Sufyan Thawri and A'amash.

[Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 1/337]

Conclusion​

From the evidence presented, it is clear that there is no fixed number of rakats to be prayed before the Jumu'ah prayer. It is also permissible to perform two, four, or six rakats after the Jumu'ah prayer, either at home or in the mosque.

References:

1. [Sahih Muslim: 858]
2. [Sahih Bukhari: 910]
3. [Al-Awsat: 50/4]
4. [Sunan Abi Dawood: 1128]
5. [Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 1/335]
6. [Al-Awsat: 3/97, H: 1844]
7. [Al-Awsat by Ibn Al-Mundhir: 1880]
8. [Tabaqat Ibn Saad; Nasb al-Raya: 2/207]
9. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131]
10. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131]
11. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2/131]
12. [Jami' al-Tirmidhi: under Hadith: 523]
13. [Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 3/247]
14. [Taqdimat al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 218]
15. [Sahih Bukhari: 937, Sahih Muslim: 882]
16. [Tirmidhi: under Hadith: 521]
17. [Sahih Muslim: 881]
18. [Sahih Muslim: 881]
19. [Sunan Abi Dawood: 1133, Jami' Tirmidhi: 523]
20. [Khulasat al-Ahkam: 2/812]
21. [Sunan Abi Dawood: 1133]
22. [Khulasat al-Ahkam: 2/812]
23. [Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 1/337]