Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have a question regarding the Salat Ul Jumma. I`v been told by many people different things of what we`re supposed to pray during Juma. I want to get my facts straight and pray EXACTLY what we`re supposed to. (for example: 2 rakats sunnah, 2 rakats fard) I would really appreciate a break down with reference to the Qur`an and Sunnah

Jazakallah Khair 

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Answer:

Nafl prayers before and after Jumua Friday

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother, at the outset we wish to first and foremost clarify the difference between what is known as the Fard, Sunnah, and Nafl prayers:

Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary or extra prayers. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.

Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his (saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays them, one will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does not pray the Sunnah prayers is that one lost a great opportunity to earn huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: I want to get my facts straight and pray EXACTLY what

we`re supposed to. (for example: 2 rakats sunnah, 2 rakats fard) I would

really appreciate a break down with reference to the Qur`an and Sunnah

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 62 Surah Jumuah verse 9:

9 O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly) hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Whoever makes ‘ghusl’ on the day of Jumu'ah and then goes to the mosque and prays what has been prescribed for him, and remains quiet while the imam delivers the khutbah, and then prays with the imam (in congregation), he will have forgiven for him what is between that Jumu'ah and the next, and an additional three days."

Related by Muslim.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.51 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "When it is a Friday, the Angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow, and then a ram, and then a chicken, and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for the Jumuah sermon) they (i.e. Angels) fold their scrolls and listen to the Khutba."

Ref: Prayers before the ‘Jumuah’ prayer

To the best of our knowledge there is no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah, that the Messenger of Allah (saws) offered any voluntary prayers either in his house or in his masjid before he (saws) delivered the Jumuah ‘Khutba’ or sermon; thus there is consensus amongst the jurists that there is no obligation for one to offer any ‘Sunnah’ prayers before the sermon on Fridays, but one may pray as many ‘nafl’ supererogatory prayers as one wishes after the ‘adhaan’ and before the start of the sermon.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 9.60

Yahya related from Malik, from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, from Amr ibn Sulaymaz-Zuraqi, from Abu Qatadaal-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Whenever you enter the masjid, you should pray two rakahs before you sit down."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.52 Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah

A person entered the mosque (and sat down) while the Prophet (saws) was delivering the Khutba on a Friday. The Prophet said to him, "Have you prayed?" The man replied in the negative. The Prophet (saws) said, "Get up and pray two Rakat."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers that whenever they enter any masjid they should offer a two-rakah ‘nafl’ prayer before they sit down. Thus if for any reason one happens to enter the masjid late on Fridays and finds the Imam already delivering the sermon, one should offer a short two-rakah ‘nafl’ prayer before he sits down to listen to the balance sermon. This two-rakah prayer offered when one enters any masjid is known in jurisprudence as ‘tahiyatul-masjid’ prayers.

Ref: The ‘Jumuah’ prayer:

Unless one has entered the mosque after the ‘Imam’ starts the sermon, one should abstain from offering any other ‘nafl’ prayers but listen attentively to the sermon being delivered.

If one, for any reason is late and enters the mosque only after the ‘Imam’ has started the sermon, one should offer a quick two rakah ‘tahiyatul-masjid’ prayer before one sits down.

At the end of the sermon, the believers should offer the two-rakah ‘Jumuah’ prayer in congregation with the ‘Imam’ and the believers.

If one completely misses the Jumuah prayer in congregation, or for the believing sisters who offer their Friday mid-day prayers at home, they are obligated to offer the normal four-rakahs of ‘dhuhr’ prayers.

Ref: Prayers after the ‘Jumuah’ prayer:

After the two-rakah ‘Jumuah’ obligatory prayers in congregation, it was the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he (saws) would pray two sets of two-rakah combinations (ie. four rakahs) ‘nafl’ prayer if he (saws) prayed in the masjid, or only one set of a two rakah combination prayer if he (saws) prayed at his home.

Ibn al-Qayyim says: "After the Prophet (saws) finished the Jumuah, he would enter his house and pray two rak'at; and he ordered those who prayed the Jumu'ah to pray four rak'at after it (if prayed in the mosque).”

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "Whoever is to pray after the Jumuah should pray four rak'at (if prayed in the mosque)."

Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi.

Thus to offer two sets of a two-rakah combination (if prayed in the masjid) or one set of two-rakah combination (if prayed in ones house) after the ‘Jumuah’ congregational prayer is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

There is absolutely no limit to the number of ‘nafl’ or supererogatory prayers one may wish to pray after those prayers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan