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 small confusion related to four Rakat Sunnat Prayer. Here in Saudi Arabia I have hear by many people saying that offering four Rakat Sunnah Prayer together is not proofed but in below Hadith it is proofed. Here people offer two Rakat voluntary before Dhuhar not Four rakat. Which one is correct and To whom I should follow?

Allah Hafiz

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Answer:

Four rakah sunnah before dhuhr

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.

It is recorded in the authentic Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) strove never to miss a total of 12 rakahs voluntary prayer along with the five obligatory prayers. These prayers are known in ‘Fiqh’ or Islamic Jurisprudence as the ‘Sunnah Muakkedah’ prayers:

The twelve rakahs of the Sunnah Muaqqedah prayers are:

·         Two rakahs before the 'Fajr' prayer.

·         Four rakahs before the 'Dhuhr' prayer and two rakahs after it.

·         Two rakahs after the 'Magrib' prayer.

·         Two rakahs after the 'Isha' prayer.

There is absolutely no dispute amongst the scholars whether or not the four-rakahs before the ‘Dhuhr’ obligatory prayers are amongst the ‘Sunnah Muakkedah’ prayers.

The difference of opinion is whether the four-rakahs are to be offered together with one ‘tashahud’ or whether in a set of two ‘two-rakah’ prayers with two ‘tashahuds’.

Because these are voluntary prayers, there is allowance in Shariah to offer the four rakahs together with one ‘tashahud’; but because more often than not, the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was to offer his voluntary prayers in sets of ‘two-rakah’ prayers, the majority of the scholars and jurists have recommended it.

Rest assured brother, regardless of whether one offers the four-rakahs Sunnah prayer before the ‘Dhuhr’ obligatory prayer together with only one ‘tashahud’, or offers them in two sets of ‘two-rakah’ prayers, both have evidence from the Sunnah and will be acceptable to Allah Subhanah, Insha Allah.

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