Sunnahs of Zuhr Prayer
This excerpt is taken from the book “Namaz Panjgana Ki Raka‘atain Ma‘a Namaz Witr wa Tahajjud” by Abu Adnan Muhammad Munir Qamar Nawabuddin.
Regarding the Sunan Rawatib (Mu’akkadah Sunnahs) of Zuhr prayer, two types of Ahadith are authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ:
✿ First Type – Four Rak‘ahs in Total
Some narrations indicate that there are only four Sunnahs: two before the Fard and two after. As narrated by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) in Bukhari, Muslim, and Tirmidhi:
صليت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ركعتين قبل الظهر وركعتين بعدها
(Jami‘ al-Usul 7/17; Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/14)
“I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ two Rak‘ahs before Zuhr and two after it.”
✿ Second Type – Six Rak‘ahs in Total
Other Ahadith mention six Sunnahs: four before and two after. As narrated by Umm Habibah (رضي الله عنها) in Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasai, and Ibn Majah:
“Four before Zuhr and two after.”
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/16; Mukhtasar Muslim p.102)
Similarly, Aishah (رضي الله عنها) reported in Sahih Muslim:
وكان يصلي فى بيتي قبل الظهر أربعا ثم يخرج فيصلي بالناس ثم يدخل فيصلي ركعتين
(Mishkat 1/322, authenticated by Albani)
“The Prophet ﷺ used to pray four Rak‘ahs before Zuhr in my house, then go out and lead the people in prayer, then return and pray two Rak‘ahs.”
Reconciling the Two Reports
Both sets of narrations are authentic and strong, with no contradiction. Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes prayed two Sunnahs before Zuhr and sometimes four. It is also possible that he prayed two in the mosque and four at home. Each Companion narrated according to what he observed. Abu Ja‘far al-Tabari explained that the Prophet ﷺ generally prayed four Sunnahs before Zuhr, but occasionally sufficed with two.
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/15; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/496)
Virtue of Four Before and Four After Zuhr
In Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Mustadrak Hakim, and Sharh al-Sunnah, the Prophet ﷺ said:
من حافظ على أربع ركعات قبل الظهر وأربع بعدها حرمه الله على النار
(Jami‘ al-Usul 7/18; Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/16; Sharh al-Sunnah 3/464 – declared Sahih by its editors and Albani in Mishkat 1/368)
“Whoever consistently performs four Rak‘ahs before Zuhr and four after, Allah will forbid him from the Fire.”
This shows the great virtue of also praying four after Zuhr, not just two.
Method of Performing the Sunnahs
- A narration in Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, and Shamail Tirmidhi states that the Prophet ﷺ prayed the four Sunnahs before Zuhr with one Tasleem (continuous four without Salam in between). However, Imam Abu Dawood himself declared this Hadith weak, and major Muhaddithin such as Ibn Khuzaymah, Imam Nasai, Yahya ibn Ma‘in, Imam Ahmad, and Abu Zur‘ah also considered its chain weak.
- Conversely, in Sunan Arba‘ah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, and Musnad Ahmad, Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrated the Prophet ﷺ said:
صلوة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنى
(Sharh al-Sunnah 3/469; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/297)
“The (voluntary) prayers of the night and day are in sets of two Rak‘ahs.”
Thus, it is permissible either to pray four Sunnahs before Zuhr in one set or to break them into two sets of two Rak‘ahs, but the latter is preferred by the majority.
Making Up Missed Sunnahs of Zuhr
- If the four Sunnahs before Zuhr were missed, they may be prayed after Zuhr. As narrated by Aishah (رضي الله عنها) in Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah with authentic chains:
وإن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا لم يصل أربعا قبل الظهر صلاهن بعده
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/26; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/499)
“If the Prophet ﷺ did not pray the four before Zuhr, he would pray them after it.”
- Ibn Majah further narrates:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا فاتته الأربع قبل الظهر صلاهن بعد الركعتين بعد الظهر
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/26; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/499)
“When the four Sunnahs before Zuhr were missed, the Prophet ﷺ prayed them after the two Sunnahs that follow Zuhr.”
- If the two Sunnahs after Zuhr were missed due to the entrance of Asr time, they could still be prayed after Asr. This was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ as narrated in Bukhari and Muslim.
Constancy of the Prophet ﷺ
In Muslim and Nasai, it is reported:
ثم داوم وكان إذا صلى صلاة داوم عليها
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/28)
“Then he continued regularly upon it, for whenever the Prophet ﷺ performed a prayer, he would maintain it consistently.”
✔ In summary:
- Zuhr Sunnahs are at least 4 (2 before + 2 after).
- Commonly practiced: 6 (4 before + 2 after).
- With the Hadith of four after: 8 Sunnahs (4 before + 4 after).
- All reports are authentic, and there is flexibility depending on one’s time and situation.
