Procedures for Performing Sunnah Prayer Before Friday Prayer Along with Explanation

Kapanlagi.com - There are many sunnah practices related to Friday prayers. Among these practices, there is the sunnah prayer before Friday prayers. This is because Friday is considered special for Muslims.

"The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On this day, Adam was created, the day he was admitted to paradise, and the day he was expelled from paradise. And the Day of Judgment will not occur except on Friday" (HR Muslim).

Therefore, every Friday, Muslims are encouraged to perform various sunnah activities to gain rewards. However, unlike the sunnah of bathing, cutting nails, and using fragrance, there are differences of opinion regarding the sunnah prayer before Friday prayers.

To find out more about this, please read the explanation about the sunnah prayer before Friday prayers as quoted from various sources below.

1. Difference of Opinion Regarding Sunnah Prayer Before Friday Prayer

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The difference regarding the sunnah prayer before Friday prayer starts from its name. Some call it qabliyah or rawatib, while others agree to call it absolute prayer or tahiyatul masjid sunnah prayer.

"Salman Al Farisi said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "No one should take a bath on Friday, then purify himself as much as he can, then wear oil or perfume at his home, then go out and not separate between two congregations (in the mosque), then perform the prayer that is prescribed for him, then remain silent when the imam delivers the sermon, except that the sins committed between one Friday and another will be forgiven." (HR.Bukhari no. 883)

"Tsa'labah bin Abi Malik said that during the time of Umar bin Al Khattab, they performed (sunnah) prayer on Friday until Umar (who acted as the imam) left. (Mentioned in Al Muwatho', 1: 103. Authenticated by An Nawawi in Al Majmu', 4: 550).

"Naafi' said, "Ibn Umar used to pray 12 rak'ahs before Friday." (Narrated by Abdur Rozaq in his Mushonnaf 8: 329, strengthened by Ibn Rajab in Fathul Bari).

If we look at the above hadith, based on the information cited from rumaysho.com, it is mentioned about the existence of four rak'ahs of sunnah prayer or other than that, but that does not refer to the understanding that those rak'ahs include the sunnah rawatib prayer before Friday as in Dhuhr prayer.

The above evidence only shows the existence of sunnah prayer before Friday, not sunnah rawatib prayer, and it refers more to absolute sunnah prayer. It means that a person can perform sunnah prayer with two rak'ahs and salam without limits, and it can be done repeatedly until the imam ascends the pulpit.

The difference of opinion referred to is when someone mentions that the sunnah prayer before Friday prayer is rawatib prayer, even though it is actually an absolute sunnah prayer.

One of the great Shafi'i scholars, Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, said,

"As for the sunnah rawatib prayer before Friday, there is no authentic hadith supporting it. (Fathul Bari, 2: 426).

2. The Ruling of Sunnah Prayer Before Friday Prayer

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According to Rizky Muktamirul Khair (2018) in the Position of Qabliyyah Friday Sunnah Prayer in the Legal Thought of Imam Al-Nawawi in the Journal of Islamic Law vol. 3, no. 2, explains the difference of opinion regarding the position of the sunnah prayer before Friday prayer.

First, the qabliyah Friday prayer is not recommended. This is according to the opinion of Imam Malik and some scholars of the Hanbali School. This is because there is no specific hadith that recommends the sunnah qabliyah Friday prayer.

Second, the qabliyah Friday prayer is recommended or sunnah. This opinion is conveyed by Imam Abu Hanifah and scholars of the Shafi'i School. One of the hadiths used as a reference regarding the sunnah qabliyah Friday prayer is narrated by Abu Hurairah and Sahabi Jabir, both of them said:

"Sulaik al-Ghathafani came while the Prophet Muhammad SAW was delivering a sermon, then he asked him: 'Have you prayed two rak'ahs before coming?' He answered: 'No', He said, 'Pray two rak'ahs, and make it easy for him'," (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

According to the Shafi'i School, the sunnah qabliyah Friday prayer is likened to the sunnah rawatib prayer before Dhuhr prayer, so it is recommended to be performed as an act of worship that can cover the shortcomings of a person's obligatory worship. The reference for this is the saying of Prophet Muhammad SAW: "Every obligatory prayer is always followed by two rak'ahs of sunnah qabliyah prayer," (Narrated by Ibn Majah). Ibnu Hibban).

This hadith is also considered to refer to the obligatory Friday prayer. Therefore, the time for performing the sunnah qabliyah prayer before Friday prayer is after the time of Friday enters, or before the Friday prayer is performed in congregation.

3. Procedures for Sunnah Prayer Before Friday Prayer

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Ibnul Qayyim in Zaadul Ma'ad mentions,

"If Bilal has called the adhan for Friday prayer, the Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately delivers the sermon and no one stands to perform the two rak'ahs prayer at that time. (During his time), the adhan for Friday prayer was only called once. This shows that Friday prayer is similar to Eid prayer in that there is no sunnah qobliyah prayer before it. This is the opinion of the scholars that is more correct and is supported by the hadith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to leave his house, then he would go up the pulpit and Bilal would call the adhan. When the adhan has finished, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would deliver the sermon and there would be no gap (for sunnah prayer at that time). This is what was witnessed during his time. So when is the time to perform the sunnah qobliyah prayer before Friday prayer?"

According to the information reported from rumaysho.com, when entering the mosque and not being the imam, then perform the tahiyatul masjid prayer and it is permissible to add two rak'ahs of sunnah prayer without limitation. The sunnah prayer can be performed until the imam ascends the pulpit. And the sunnah prayer referred to is not the qobliyah Friday sunnah prayer, but the absolute sunnah prayer.

The intention for the sunnah prayer before Friday prayer

1. Recite the intention for the tahiyatul masjid prayer.

Ushalli tahiyyatal masjid ra'ataini sunnatan lillâhi ta'ala.

Meaning, "I pray the tahiyatul masjid prayer two rak'ahs for the sake of Allah ta'ala."

2. Say takbir while making the intention silently.

3. Recite ta'awudz and Surah Al-Fatihah. Then recite one of the short surahs from the Quran.

4. Perform the rukuk.

5. 6. Perform the itidal.

7. Perform the first prostration.

8. Sit between the two prostrations.

9. Perform the second prostration.

10. Sit for a rest or briefly before rising to perform the second rak'ah.

11. Rise from sitting and perform the second rak'ah with the same movements as the first rak'ah.

12. Perform the salam at the end of the second rak'ah.

That is the explanation of the sunnah prayer before Friday prayer. Despite the differences of opinion that follow it, there is still the recommended sunnah prayer before Friday prayer, just like other sunnah prayers, to seek blessings from Allah SWT. And Allah knows best.

(kpl/ans)