THE four optional prayers before zuhr

Question

How should one pray the four Sunnah before:

1. Zuhr?
2. Jum’ah?

Answer

1. The Sunnah prayer of Zuhr should be offered in pairs of two. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The optional prayers in the day and night are offered in pairs of two.’ Narrated by Ibn Majah in As-Sunan 1322; and it is Hasan.
2. There is no evidence of specifying four units before Jum’ah. There are two scenarios regarding praying the Sunnah before Jum’ah:
   1. The Imam has started to give the Khutbah (sermon). In this scenario, one should only pray two units. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘When any one of you comes (to the Masjid) on Friday while the Imam delivers the Khutbah (sermon), he should pray two units and make them short.’ Narrated by Muslim in As-Sahih 875g.
   2. The Imam has not started to give the Khutbah. In this scenario, one can pray as many units as he likes. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever performs Ghusl, then comes (to the Masjid) to (pray) Al-Jum’ah, then prays as much as what was written for him…’ Narrated by Muslim in As-Sahih 857a
      
      If one prays more than two units, then he should pray them in sets of two units. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The optional prayers in the day and night are offered in pairs of two.’ Narrated by Ibn Majah in As-Sunan 1322; and it is Hasan.