Performing Four Rak'ahs of Sunnah Prayers in Sets of Two is Preferable

Author: Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai (may Allah have mercy on him)


Question:



Respected Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai, is it permissible to perform the four Sunnah prayers of Zuhr and Asr with one Taslim? (A questioner)


Answer:

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rak'ahs each.”
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1295, its chain is Hasan]


Ibn Khuzaymah [1210] and Ibn Hibban [636] and the majority of the Muhaddithin have authenticated it.


[See my book, Nayl al-Maqsud fi Ta'liq ala Sunan Abi Dawood, Vol 1, p. 371]


In Ma'rifah 'Ulum al-Hadith by Al-Hakim (p. 58, Hadith 101), there is a supporting narration with a Hasan chain, though Imam Hakim considered it a "Waham" (error).


Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say:

“The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rak'ahs each.”
[Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, Vol 2, p. 487, its chain is authentic without any defect]

From this, it is understood that the earlier hadith from Sunan Abi Dawood is Sahih Li Ghayrihi (authentic due to corroborating evidences). This authentic hadith indicates that these four Sunnah prayers should be performed in sets of two rak'ahs, with two Taslims.


It is narrated from Nafi' (a Tabi'i) that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray four rak'ahs (Sunnah) during the day.


[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Vol 2, p. 274, Hadith 6634, its chain is authentic]


There is a narration with the chain of Abdullah bin Umar al-'Umari (trustworthy, Hasan in Hadith from Nafi', weak from others) from Nafi' that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray two rak'ahs at night and four rak'ahs (Nafl) during the day, and then he would say Taslim.


[Musannaf Abdur-Razzaq, Vol 2, p. 501, Hadith 4225, its chain is Hasan]


From another chain of this narration, it is known that it is Sahih Li Ghayrihi (authentic due to corroborating evidences).


[See Musannaf Abdur-Razzaq, Hadith 4226]


Imam Ibn al-Mundhir al-Naysaburi considered this as established from Ibn Umar.


[Al-Awsat, Vol 5, p. 236]


Note:


The narration of Abdullah bin Umar al-'Umari in Musannaf Abdur-Razzaq is also mentioned in Al-Awsat with the chain: "Akhbarana Abdullah bin Umar from Nafi' from Ibn Umar, etc."

From this report, it is understood that performing four Sunnah prayers with one Taslim is also permissible. However, it is better to perform all Sunnah and Nafl prayers, except Witr, in sets of two rak'ahs, based on the Marfu' (traceable to the Prophet) hadith.

Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“The day prayer is in sets of two rak'ahs each.”
[Masa'il al-Imam Ahmad wa Ishaq bin Rahwayh, narrated by Ishaq bin Mansur al-Kawsaj, Vol 1, p. 205, section: 433, its chain is authentic. Al-Ash'ath is Ibn Abdul-Malik al-Hamrani]

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) used to perform the Nafl prayers during the day in sets of two rak'ahs.

[Ibid, section: 405]
 
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