It was narrated in some hadiths that the Sunnah prayer before Zuhr is two rak`ahs. In some other hadiths, it is narrated that Sunnah prayer before Zuhr is four rak`ahs (two-by-two).
Sunnah before Zuhr: Two or Four?
Question: 10889
Before the fard prayer of Zuhr, do we pray 2 or a rak’ah sunnah prayer? Is there a difference among the scholars?
Summary of answer
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
You must mean, is the Sunnah prayer before Zuhr two rak`ahs or four rak`ahs? Because the one rak`ah is odd-numbered, and there is no odd-numbered prayer apart from Maghrib, and the Witr prayer at night.
The answer is: it was narrated in some hadiths that the Sunnah prayer before Zuhr is with one taslim (i.e., it is two rak`ahs), as stated in the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (narrated) in al-Sahihayn.
And in some other hadiths, it is narrated that it is two taslims (i.e., four rak`ahs), as stated in the hadith of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), (narrated) in Sahih Muslim.
So one has the choice of doing two or four rak`ahs before Zuhr prayer . But some scholars suggested that if a person prays it at home it is better to pray four rak`ahs with two taslims, and if he prays them in the mosque, he should pray two rak`ahs with one taslim).
For more, please see these answers: 33779 , 1048 , 12844 , and 181043 .
And Allah knows best.
Source:
Shaykh Sa’d al-Humayd
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