By: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Answer:
The correct opinion is that if someone misses the Friday prayer, they should perform Dhuhr Salah (four Rak‘ahs). Performing the Friday prayer later as two Rak‘ahs is not supported by any authentic narration, as will be explained further.
"When a person catches one Rak‘ah of the Friday prayer, they should complete it with another Rak‘ah. However, if they find the people sitting (in Tashahhud), they should perform four Rak‘ahs."
[Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaq 3/234, 5471; Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm 5/75; Sunan al-Bayhaqi 3/204; Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Munzir 4/101; Ibn Abi Shaybah 5334]
Imam al-Baghawi (رحمه الله) states:
"If a person joins the Imam in the Friday prayer and manages to catch a complete Rak‘ah, then they have caught the Friday prayer. Once the Imam finishes the prayer, the individual should complete the remaining Rak‘ah, and their Friday prayer is complete. However, if they do not manage to catch a complete Rak‘ah—for example, if they join after the Imam has risen from Ruku‘ in the second Rak‘ah—then the Friday prayer is missed. In this case, they are obligated to perform four Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr prayer."
[Sharh al-Sunnah 4/273]
"Whoever catches one Rak‘ah of a prayer has caught the prayer."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer, Chapter: Whoever Catches One Rak‘ah of the Prayer 607]
"A man came to ‘Imran ibn Husayn (رضي الله عنه) and asked, ‘If someone misses the Friday prayer, how many Rak‘ahs should they perform?’ ‘Imran replied, ‘Why would someone miss the Friday prayer?’ When the man turned to leave, ‘Imran added, ‘If I had missed the Friday prayer, I would have performed four Rak‘ahs.’"
[Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaq 3/236, 5482]
This narration also confirms that someone who misses the Friday prayer should perform four Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr prayer.
"Whoever catches one Rak‘ah of the Friday prayer should complete it with another Rak‘ah. But whoever misses both Rak‘ahs should perform four Rak‘ahs."
[Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, Book of Prayer, Chapter: Regarding the One Who Catches One Rak‘ah of the Friday Prayer 3171, 2/420]
Imam al-Haythami (رحمه الله) graded this narration as Hasan (acceptable).
For more details, refer to:
[Mawsu‘at al-Ijma‘ fi al-Fiqh al-Islami, 2/701, 2463]
What Should Be Done If the Friday Prayer Is Missed?
Question: If someone misses the Friday prayer, should they perform two Rak‘ahs later? Please provide clarification based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.Answer:
The correct opinion is that if someone misses the Friday prayer, they should perform Dhuhr Salah (four Rak‘ahs). Performing the Friday prayer later as two Rak‘ahs is not supported by any authentic narration, as will be explained further.
Evidence from the Companions
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما):"When a person catches one Rak‘ah of the Friday prayer, they should complete it with another Rak‘ah. However, if they find the people sitting (in Tashahhud), they should perform four Rak‘ahs."
[Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaq 3/234, 5471; Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm 5/75; Sunan al-Bayhaqi 3/204; Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Munzir 4/101; Ibn Abi Shaybah 5334]
Imam al-Baghawi (رحمه الله) states:
"If a person joins the Imam in the Friday prayer and manages to catch a complete Rak‘ah, then they have caught the Friday prayer. Once the Imam finishes the prayer, the individual should complete the remaining Rak‘ah, and their Friday prayer is complete. However, if they do not manage to catch a complete Rak‘ah—for example, if they join after the Imam has risen from Ruku‘ in the second Rak‘ah—then the Friday prayer is missed. In this case, they are obligated to perform four Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr prayer."
[Sharh al-Sunnah 4/273]
Hadith of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:"Whoever catches one Rak‘ah of a prayer has caught the prayer."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer, Chapter: Whoever Catches One Rak‘ah of the Prayer 607]
Narration from ‘Imran ibn Husayn (رضي الله عنه)
Abu Nazrah narrates:"A man came to ‘Imran ibn Husayn (رضي الله عنه) and asked, ‘If someone misses the Friday prayer, how many Rak‘ahs should they perform?’ ‘Imran replied, ‘Why would someone miss the Friday prayer?’ When the man turned to leave, ‘Imran added, ‘If I had missed the Friday prayer, I would have performed four Rak‘ahs.’"
[Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaq 3/236, 5482]
This narration also confirms that someone who misses the Friday prayer should perform four Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr prayer.
Narration from Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه)
It is narrated:"Whoever catches one Rak‘ah of the Friday prayer should complete it with another Rak‘ah. But whoever misses both Rak‘ahs should perform four Rak‘ahs."
[Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, Book of Prayer, Chapter: Regarding the One Who Catches One Rak‘ah of the Friday Prayer 3171, 2/420]
Imam al-Haythami (رحمه الله) graded this narration as Hasan (acceptable).
Conclusion
The above narrations collectively indicate that if someone misses the Friday prayer, they should perform four Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr Salah. This practice is narrated from prominent companions such as Abdullah ibn Umar, ‘Imran ibn Husayn, and Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنهم), as well as numerous other scholars and Hadith compilers. Furthermore, no companion is known to have opposed this view, and some scholars have even reported consensus on this matter.For more details, refer to:
[Mawsu‘at al-Ijma‘ fi al-Fiqh al-Islami, 2/701, 2463]