Ruling on Offering Four Sunnah of Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr in Two-Two Rakʿāt Sets
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, p. 424
Is it permissible to perform the four rakʿāt Sunnah of Ẓuhr or ʿAṣr with one salām, or should they be performed in two-two rakʿāt sets?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
“The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rakʿāt.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1295, chain: ḥasan)
Also authenticated by:
Imām al-Ḥākim in Maʿrifat ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth (p. 57, ḥadīth 101) recorded a supporting narration with a ḥasan chain, although he considered its application a "wahm" (mistake in understanding).
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, vol. 2, p. 487 — sanad: acceptable)
→ This confirms that Sunnah prayers are to be prayed in two-two rakʿāt sets.
Narrated from Nāfiʿ (rahimahullah):
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar used to pray four rakʿāt during the day (Sunnah)
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 2, p. 274, ḥadīth 6634 — chain: ṣaḥīḥ)
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar al-ʿUmari (ḥasan al-ḥadīth):
Ibn ʿUmar used to perform four rakʿāt in the day, then say salām
(Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, vol. 2, p. 501, ḥadīth 4225 — chain: ḥasan)
A second chain strengthens this further
→ See: Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, ḥadīth 4226
Imām Ibn al-Mundhir also confirmed this narration.
(al-Awsaṭ, vol. 5, p. 236)
→ This proves: It is also permissible to pray four rakʿāt with one salām.
Although performing four rakʿāt with one salām is allowed, it is preferable to follow the marfūʿ ḥadīth and offer all Sunnah and Nawāfil prayers as two-two rakʿāt—except for Witr.
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله):
❝ صَلَاةُ النَّهَارِ رَكْعَتَانِ رَكْعَتَانِ ❞
“Daytime prayer is in two-two rakʿāt.”
(Masāʾil Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh, vol. 1, p. 205, no. 433 — chain: ṣaḥīḥ)
Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal used to pray daytime Nawāfil as two-two rakʿāt.
(Ibid, no. 405)
✔ Based on the ḥadīth and the practice of the Ṣaḥābah, Tābiʿīn, and Imāms:
➊ It is permissible to offer the four Sunnah of Ẓuhr or ʿAṣr with one salām, and
➋ Better and preferred: to offer two-two rakʿāt, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ.
وَلَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
“And surely, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example.”
(Qurʾān)
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, p. 424❖ Question
Is it permissible to perform the four rakʿāt Sunnah of Ẓuhr or ʿAṣr with one salām, or should they be performed in two-two rakʿāt sets?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
✿ Prophetic Ḥadīth
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
“The prayer of the night and day is in sets of two rakʿāt.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1295, chain: ḥasan)
Also authenticated by:
- Ibn Khuzaymah (1210)
- Ibn Ḥibbān (636)
- Majority of Muḥaddithīn
→ See: Nayl al-Maqṣūd, vol. 1, p. 371
✿ Supporting Narration
Imām al-Ḥākim in Maʿrifat ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth (p. 57, ḥadīth 101) recorded a supporting narration with a ḥasan chain, although he considered its application a "wahm" (mistake in understanding).
✿ Practice of the Companions
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
❝ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى ❞
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, vol. 2, p. 487 — sanad: acceptable)
→ This confirms that Sunnah prayers are to be prayed in two-two rakʿāt sets.
✿ Practice of the Tābiʿīn
Narrated from Nāfiʿ (rahimahullah):
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar used to pray four rakʿāt during the day (Sunnah)
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 2, p. 274, ḥadīth 6634 — chain: ṣaḥīḥ)
✿ Clarification on Salām
From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar al-ʿUmari (ḥasan al-ḥadīth):
Ibn ʿUmar used to perform four rakʿāt in the day, then say salām
(Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, vol. 2, p. 501, ḥadīth 4225 — chain: ḥasan)
A second chain strengthens this further
→ See: Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq, ḥadīth 4226
Imām Ibn al-Mundhir also confirmed this narration.
(al-Awsaṭ, vol. 5, p. 236)
→ This proves: It is also permissible to pray four rakʿāt with one salām.
✿ Best Practice in Light of Marfūʿ Ḥadīth
Although performing four rakʿāt with one salām is allowed, it is preferable to follow the marfūʿ ḥadīth and offer all Sunnah and Nawāfil prayers as two-two rakʿāt—except for Witr.
✿ Statements of the Tābiʿīn and Imāms
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله):
❝ صَلَاةُ النَّهَارِ رَكْعَتَانِ رَكْعَتَانِ ❞
“Daytime prayer is in two-two rakʿāt.”
(Masāʾil Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh, vol. 1, p. 205, no. 433 — chain: ṣaḥīḥ)
Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal used to pray daytime Nawāfil as two-two rakʿāt.
(Ibid, no. 405)
Conclusion
✔ Based on the ḥadīth and the practice of the Ṣaḥābah, Tābiʿīn, and Imāms:
➊ It is permissible to offer the four Sunnah of Ẓuhr or ʿAṣr with one salām, and
➋ Better and preferred: to offer two-two rakʿāt, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ.
وَلَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
“And surely, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example.”
(Qurʾān)
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
