Explanation of the voluntary prayer of four rak'ahs before Dhuhr and four before 'Asr

Question:
The questioner says: I read in some books that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended praying four rak'ahs before Dhuhr and four before 'Asr. Is this strong? How should these four rak'ahs be performed? Should they be two and two, or four in a row? And if they are two and two, does that count as the greeting of the mosque? Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray four rak'ahs before Dhuhr, two and two, offering the closing salam after each pair. After Dhuhr, he prayed two rak'ahs as a regular voluntary prayer. Whoever prays four rak'ahs after Dhuhr does so with greater virtue, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) statement: . He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: . Therefore, the best is to pray four rak'ahs before 'Asr, but they are not a regular voluntary prayer; rather, they are recommended. One should offer the closing salam after each pair, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) statement: , meaning one offers the salam after each pair. This is the best, and this is the Sunnah. In fact, it is established for the night, because there are many authentic hadiths regarding that.
This is his (peace and blessings be upon him) statement: , which carries the meaning of a command. As for the daytime, there is disagreement among the scholars. It is also recommended to pray two and two in the daytime, because the phrase "and the daytime" in the hadith is a correct addition. It was narrated by the five, who are the four compilers of the Sunan and Imam Ahmad, with a good chain, from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: . If one prays four rak'ahs before Dhuhr or before 'Asr, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. If one prays four rak'ahs before Dhuhr, he has performed the regular voluntary prayer, and that suffices him for the greeting of the mosque. Likewise, if he prays four rak'ahs before 'Asr, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. Likewise, if he prays two rak'ahs before Fajr with the intention of the regular voluntary prayer, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque.