A common question arises regarding the number of Rak'ahs after the Fardh prayer of Jumu'ah—should it be 4 or 2? According to Islamic teachings, Jumu'ah prayer consists of 14 Rak'ahs in total. These include the obligatory Fardh, strongly recommended Sunnah Mu’akkadah, Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah, and optional Nafl prayers. Scholars highlight the importance of performing these Rak’ahs, as supported by Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. Below are the detailed rulings on the Sunnah prayers of Jumu'ah, their significance, and the consequences of neglecting them.
📌 Question asked by: Muhammad Shehzad Sheikh Sahib from Madhya Pradesh, Indore
📌 Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Shahid Barakat-e-Mehrati
1️⃣ How many Rak'ahs are there in Jumu'ah prayer?
Answer: Jumu'ah prayer consists of 14 Rak'ahs in total:
- 2 Rak'ahs of Fardh (obligatory)
- 10 Rak'ahs of Sunnah (recommended)
- 2 Rak'ahs of Nafl (voluntary)
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever performs the Jumu'ah prayer, let him pray four Rak'ahs after it."
📚 (Sahih Muslim, 881; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 523)
2️⃣ What are the Sunnah Rak'ahs before and after Jumu'ah?
Answer:
- Before Jumu'ah prayer: 4 Rak'ahs of Sunnah Mu’akkadah
- After Jumu'ah prayer:
- 4 Rak'ahs of Sunnah Mu’akkadah
- 2 Rak'ahs of Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah
- 2 Rak'ahs of Nafl
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"When one of you prays Jumu'ah, let him pray four Rak'ahs after it."
📚 (Sahih Muslim, 881)
3️⃣ Is it mandatory to pray Sunnah after Jumu'ah?
Answer: Sunnah Mu’akkadah is highly recommended and should not be skipped without a valid reason. While not obligatory like Fardh, abandoning them regularly is discouraged and can be sinful. Some scholars even state that consistently neglecting Sunnah Mu’akkadah is close to Haram.
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Do not make your homes graveyards. Indeed, Satan flees from a house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited. Pray some of your prayers in your homes and do not abandon Sunnah prayers."
📚 (Sahih Muslim, 780; Sahih Bukhari, 6116)
4️⃣ What is the best way to perform Sunnah after Jumu'ah?
Answer: The best practice is:
✔ Pray 4 Rak'ahs of Sunnah Mu’akkadah first
✔ Then pray 2 Rak'ahs of Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah
This ensures that all Hadith narrations regarding Sunnah after Jumu'ah are followed.
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever among you wants to pray after Jumu'ah, let him pray four Rak'ahs."
📚 (Sunan Abu Dawood, 1122; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 529)
5️⃣ What happens if someone habitually skips Sunnah Mu’akkadah?
Answer: According to Islamic teachings:
- Skipping without a valid reason once makes a person blameworthy.
- Regularly neglecting them makes a person Fasiq (a sinner), whose testimony may not be accepted in legal matters.
- Some scholars state that abandoning Sunnah Mu’akkadah may deprive a person of the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment.
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever abandons my Sunnah, he is not from me."
📚 (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10; Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6780)
6️⃣ How many Sunnah Rak’ahs should be prayed daily?
Answer: Apart from Jumu'ah, the daily Sunnah prayers include:
- 2 Rak'ahs before Fajr
- 4 Rak'ahs before Zuhr, 2 after
- 2 Rak'ahs after Maghrib
- 2 Rak'ahs after Isha
- On Jumu'ah day, 4 before and 4 after Jumu'ah prayer
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who prays 12 Rak'ahs voluntarily every day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers."
📚 (Sahih Muslim, 728; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 415)
7️⃣ Where is this ruling mentioned in Islamic books?
Answer: The ruling on Sunnah Rak'ahs after Jumu'ah is found in:
📖 Fatawa Razaviya Jadeed (Vol. 8, Page 326)
📖 Bahar-e-Shariat (Vol. 4, Sunan-ul-Nawafil, Masa'il-e-Fiqh)
📖 Fathullah Al-Mu'in, Nahr, Uyun, Tajnees, and Jawahir-ul-Akhlati
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The most beloved acts to Allah are those performed consistently, even if they are small."
📚 (Sahih Bukhari, 6465; Sahih Muslim, 782)
8️⃣ Is there any harm in praying extra Nafl Rak'ahs after Jumu'ah?
Answer: No, there is no harm in offering additional 2 Rak'ahs of Nafl after Jumu'ah. It is optional but highly rewarding.
📖 Hadith Reference:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"A servant is closest to his Lord while in prostration, so increase your supplications."
📚 (Sahih Muslim, 482; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, 3579)
🔹 Final Words
Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) know best. May Allah guide us to follow the Sunnah, act upon the truth, and convey it to others.
📢 Share this with others to spread beneficial knowledge!
