Performing a Precautionary Ẓuhr Along with Jumuʿah: Ruling and Number of Rakʿāt
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Page 282
❖ Question
Many people perform an additional precautionary Ẓuhr along with Jumuʿah. Is this permissible? Also, what is the actual number of rakʿāt of Jumuʿah?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
- The precautionary Ẓuhr is a bidʿah (innovation).
- There is absolutely no evidence for it in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
- Even the Grand Mufti of the Ḥanafīs, Mawlānā Muḥammad Shafīʿ Karāchawī, wrote in response to a question that this precautionary prayer has no basis in Sharīʿah; it is merely the opinion of some elders.
- However, his statement that some elders preferred it is not correct, because religion is only that which is established in the Qur’an and Ḥadīth.
- Therefore, this precautionary Ẓuhr is an evil innovation (bidʿah sayyi’ah), and it must be abandoned.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“كل بدعة ضلالة وكل ضلالة في النار”
“Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire.”
❖ Number of Rakʿāt of Jumuʿah
- The minimum rakʿāt of Jumuʿah are eight:
① Two rakʿāt nafl before the khuṭbah.
② Two rakʿāt farḍ of Jumuʿah.
③ Four rakʿāt sunnah after the farḍ (in sets of two).
- If one has time and energy, he may increase the nafl before the khuṭbah from two to four or even eight.
- It must be remembered: unlike Ẓuhr, there are no confirmed sunnah rakʿāt before the khuṭbah in Jumuʿah.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
