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1. The Obligatory (Fard) Prayer of Ẓuhr
The Ẓuhr prayer consists of four obligatory rakʿahs, firmly established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
“I prayed the Ẓuhr prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as four rakʿahs…”
Agreed upon (authentic).
2. The Regular Sunnah Prayers of Ẓuhr (Before and After the Obligatory Prayer)
📍 A. Sunnah Before Ẓuhr
The hadiths indicate that the Prophet ﷺ regularly prayed four rakʿahs before the Ẓuhr prayer.
✔️ ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr.”
Narrated by al-Bukhārī and others.
📌 This indicates that praying four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr is a confirmed Sunnah (and they may be prayed as two rakʿahs + two rakʿahs).
📍 B. Sunnah After Ẓuhr
There is scholarly difference regarding the Sunnah prayers after Ẓuhr—whether they are only two rakʿahs or more. However, the strongest Sunnah reports indicate that the Prophet ﷺ prayed at least two rakʿahs after Ẓuhr as part of the regular Sunnah prayers.
🟡 As for the hadith mentioning four rakʿahs after Ẓuhr, it is narrated from Umm Ḥabībah (may Allah be pleased with her), with wordings that include a great promise for one who maintains four rakʿahs before and after Ẓuhr:
“Whoever consistently prays four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr and four after it, Allah will forbid the Fire for him.”
Narrated by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasā’ī, and Ibn Mājah with an authentic or sound chain.
📌 Scholars have explained that the four rakʿahs after Ẓuhr include the regular Sunnah (rawātib) plus additional recommended voluntary prayers; therefore, neglecting the regular Sunnah after Ẓuhr is not considered an abandoned Sunnah.
3. The Total Number of Regular Sunnah Prayers Observed by the Prophet ﷺ
From the Sunnah hadiths is that which indicates the virtue of maintaining twelve rakʿahs of regular Sunnah prayers during the day and night, including:
Umm Ḥabībah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever prays twelve rakʿahs of Sunnah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise:
four before Ẓuhr, two after it, two after Maghrib, two after ʿIshā’, and two before Fajr.”
Narrated by Sunan Ibn Mājah (1140) — a hadith judged sound in its context.
🔹 From this hadith, we learn the arrangement of the Sunnah prayers associated with the obligatory prayers, and most importantly, that the Sunnah before and after Ẓuhr is recommended, not obligatory, yet the reward for maintaining them is immense.
Legal Summary
| Type of Rakʿahs | Number |
|---|---|
| Obligatory Ẓuhr prayer | 4 rakʿahs |
| Sunnah before Ẓuhr (rawātib) | 4 rakʿahs (confirmed Sunnah) |
| Sunnah after Ẓuhr (rawātib) | 2 rakʿahs (confirmed Sunnah) (may increase to 4 as recommended) |
| Total Sunnah before and after Ẓuhr | From 6 to 8 rakʿahs |
📌 The best and most complete practice is for a Muslim to pray four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr and two rakʿahs after it as a consistent application of the Sunnah. Whoever adds more voluntary prayers beyond that will have an additional reward, Allah willing.
✅ Sources and References from the Sunnah
Hadith of Umm Ḥabībah in Sunan Ibn Mājah (1140): Whoever maintains twelve Sunnah rakʿahs will have a house built for him in Paradise.
Hadith of ʿĀ’ishah: “He never abandoned four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr.”
Hadith: “Whoever prays four before and four after Ẓuhr will be forbidden from the Fire.” Narrated through multiple reports in al-Tirmidhī and Abū Dāwūd.
Hadith of Ibn ʿUmar regarding the number of regular Sunnah prayers (two before and two after Ẓuhr), established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs.