Question 170) - What is the ruling of these Sunan?

A: The Sunan before 'Asr and before 'Isha are not Muakkadah.

It is thus clear that there is Salah before the Khutbah. It refutes those who deny that there is Salah before Jumu'ah. Abdullaah bin Mas'ud RA used to pray 4 Rak'at before Jumu'ah as per the narration of 'Abdurrazaq (247/3) and Ibn Abi Shaybah (143/3).

'Abdurrazaq narrates from ath-Thawri who narrates from 'Ata bin as-Saib who narrates from Abul Ahwas as-Sulami, "'Abdullaah used to order us to pray 4 Rak'at before Jumu'ah and after it two and then four." Al-Hafizh said in ad-Dirayah, "The men of this narration are reliable."

It is mawquf but regarded as Marfu' because he ordered it because of what was established from the Nabi Am.

At-Tahawi narrates in his chapter on optional prayers of the day and night from Jabalah bin Sahim who narrates that 'Abdullaah bin 'Umar used to pray 4 before Jumu'ah with a single Salam. After Jumu'ah he would pray 2 then 4. an-Nawawi said in Atharus Sunan that the chain is authentic.

Al-Halabi says in his commentary on Munyatul Musalli, 'The four before are not mentioned specifically in a Hadith. Proof is taken from the Hadith of 'Abdullaah bin Mughaffal RA that Rasulullaah em said twice, "Between Azan and Iqamah there is Salah." Then he said after the third time, "For who wants to. This is when there is no obstacle to praying before the Fard and is regarded as Mustahab. Four specifically is based on the view of Imaam Abu Hanifa RA. that the word, "Salah" in its complete form and quality indicates 4.'

~ al-Quduri ~