Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Discussion on Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 216
Are the four sunnahs before Ẓuhr to be prayed together in one set, or should they be performed in pairs (two by two)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
Praying four sunnahs before Ẓuhr is completely correct. However, the preferred and more virtuous way is to perform them two by two.
This is because all voluntary (nafl or sunnah) prayers other than the obligatory ones are best performed in sets of two rakʿahs.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ clearly said:
«صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى»
(al-Muntaqā li-Ibn al-Jārūd)
"The prayer of the night and day is (in sets of) two rakʿahs."
Based on this ḥadīth, the scholars have established the principle that it is preferable to pray sunnah and nafl prayers in units of two rakʿahs.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question:
Are the four sunnahs before Ẓuhr to be prayed together in one set, or should they be performed in pairs (two by two)?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
Praying four sunnahs before Ẓuhr is completely correct. However, the preferred and more virtuous way is to perform them two by two.
This is because all voluntary (nafl or sunnah) prayers other than the obligatory ones are best performed in sets of two rakʿahs.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ clearly said:
«صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مَثْنَى مَثْنَى»
(al-Muntaqā li-Ibn al-Jārūd)
"The prayer of the night and day is (in sets of) two rakʿahs."
Based on this ḥadīth, the scholars have established the principle that it is preferable to pray sunnah and nafl prayers in units of two rakʿahs.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
