The Pre-Zuhr and Pre-'Asr Sunnah Prayers
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Question:
He says: I read in some books that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended praying four rak'ahs before Zuhr and four before 'Asr. Is this strong? How are these four rak'ahs performed? Are they two and two? Or four in a row? And if they are two and two, do they count as the greeting of the mosque? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Yes, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray four rak'ahs before Zuhr. He would pray four before it, two and two, saying the taslim after each pair. And after Zuhr, he would pray two rak'ahs as a regular voluntary prayer. Whoever prays four after Zuhr, that is better; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:262. It is also reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 2:263.
So the best is to pray four before 'Asr, but they are not a regular voluntary prayer (rawatib) but rather recommended (mustahabb). One should say the taslim after each pair; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 1295Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning: one says the taslim after each pair. This is the best, this is the Sunnah.
Rather, it is established at night; because the hadiths are authentic:Sunan Ibn Majah 1319Sahih (Darussalam), and it is in the sense of a command. As for during the day, there is disagreement among the scholars. And what is also recommended is to pray two and two during the day as well; because the addition: (and the day) is a correct addition, narrated by the five: the four compilers of the Sunan and Imam Ahmad, with a good chain, from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1295Sahih (Al-Albani).
And if one prays four before Zuhr or four before 'Asr, that suffices for the greeting of the mosque. If one prays four before Zuhr, he has performed the regular voluntary prayer, and it suffices him for the greeting of the mosque. Likewise, if one prays four before 'Asr, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. And likewise, if one prays two before Fajr intending them as the regular voluntary prayer, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
He says: I read in some books that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended praying four rak'ahs before Zuhr and four before 'Asr. Is this strong? How are these four rak'ahs performed? Are they two and two? Or four in a row? And if they are two and two, do they count as the greeting of the mosque? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Yes, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray four rak'ahs before Zuhr. He would pray four before it, two and two, saying the taslim after each pair. And after Zuhr, he would pray two rak'ahs as a regular voluntary prayer. Whoever prays four after Zuhr, that is better; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever prays regularly four Rak'at before and four Rak'at after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will forbid for him (from entering) the Hellfire.
من حافظ على أربع قبل الظهر وأربع بعدها حرمه الله على النارMay Allah mercy on a person who prays four Rak'at before the 'Asr prayer.
رحم الله امرأً صلى أربعًا قبل العصرSo the best is to pray four before 'Asr, but they are not a regular voluntary prayer (rawatib) but rather recommended (mustahabb). One should say the taslim after each pair; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Prayer by night and day should consist of pairs of rak'ahs.
صلاة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنىRather, it is established at night; because the hadiths are authentic:
The night prayer is (to be offered) two by two.
صلاة الليل مثنى مثنىPrayer by night and day should consist of pairs of rak'ahs.
صلاة الليل والنهار مثنى مثنىAnd if one prays four before Zuhr or four before 'Asr, that suffices for the greeting of the mosque. If one prays four before Zuhr, he has performed the regular voluntary prayer, and it suffices him for the greeting of the mosque. Likewise, if one prays four before 'Asr, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. And likewise, if one prays two before Fajr intending them as the regular voluntary prayer, it suffices for the greeting of the mosque. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.