I am intrigued to see that Sunni muslims offer 4 Sunnat rakats at zuhr, asr, & Isha whereas I have not be able to find any reliable hadith which says that the Holy Prophet ever offered more than 2 nufl prayeres at any time. So how come we offer 4 rakats at a stretch? Can some one guide me with authentic Hadith on this.?
Re: Correct Number of Sunnat Rakats
Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) never omitted four Rakah prayer before the Zuhr prayer and two Rakah prayers before dawn (Fajr) prayer.
[Al-Bukhari].
I found this one while searching. This is about fajr and zuhr prayer
So I think ur question about zuhr is answered.
Re: Correct Number of Sunnat Rakats
maybe he means 4 rakaat with one salam, instead of separating the four in to 2 rakaat and 2 rakaat....
Hadhrat Abu Ayyoub Ansari (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Four Rakaats before Dhuhr with only one Salaam (i.e. with Salaam only after the Fardh Rakaat, not after two Rakaats also) is a means of opening the doors (of mercy) of the sky.
Re: Correct Number of Sunnat Rakats
I havent any hadith at hand to quote, but my understanding is that the four rakats sunnah before ASR and ISHA are 'ghair muakkadha'. That means that you should read them sometimes but there is no harm if you do not read them. Allah knows best.
Re: Correct Number of Sunnat Rakats
Expat1. Yes thats 100% true
Re: Correct Number of Sunnat Rakats
2-4-4-3-4
jumah 2