Question Summary:
The four rakaats of sunnah prayed before the khutba, what is its authenticity, it’s evidence?!

Question Detail:

Regards to sunnah of Jummah! The four rakaats of sunnah prayed before the khutba, what is its authenticity, it's evidence?! In the prophet's time there was only one azaan, did the sermon start immediately after the azaan, or did Prophet (SAL) pray four rakaats and then gave the Khutbah? How did these rakaats be pronounced as sunnah muakkadah? Please give a detailed explanation with evidence and reference!

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
The issue of four rakaats salaah before the jummah salaat is well substantiated and proven from the books of Hadith. Many Muhaditheen such as Ibn Abi Shayba, Abdur Razzaaq (rahimahumaallah) etc have set aside chapters in their Hadith books to discuss this issue.
 It is sunnat to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaat. Consider the following Ahadith:
1.
كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا وبعدها أربعا
“Ali (radiyallaahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats salaah before the jummah salaah and after the jummah salaah” (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)
The chain of narrators in the above narration is good. (Tarhut Al-Tathreeb, vol 3, pg 36, Ilmiyya)
2.
كان رسول الله يركع قبل الجمعة أربعا وبعدها أربعا
“Ibn Abbas (radiyallaahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats of salaah before and after the jummah salaah” (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)
The above hadith with the chain of narrators that appear in Tabrani is good. (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 13, Idaratul Al-Quran)
 
3.
عن أبي عبد الرحمن السلمي قال : كان عبد الله يأمرنا أن نصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا ، وبعدها أربعا
Abu Abdir Rahman Al-Sulami reports: “Abdullah (bin Mas’ood) used to command us to perform four rakaats salaah before jummah and after the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Abdir Al-Razaaq, vol 3, pg 247, Idaratul Quran)
The chain of narrators in the above Hadith is authentic. (Athaar Al-Sunan, pg 303, Imdaadiyya)
4.
عن عبد الله قال كان يصلي قبل الجمعة أربعا
“Abdullah (bin Mas’ood) reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform four rakaats before the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, vol 4, pg 114, Al-Majlis al-Ilmi)
5.
عن صافية ، قالت : رأيت صفية بنت حيي رضي الله عنها ، صلت أربع ركعات قبل خروج الإمام للجمعة ، ثم صلت الجمعة مع الإمام ركعتين .
Saafiyah (radiyallaahu anha) reports: “I saw Safiyyah Binti Huyay (radiyallaahu anha) performing four rakaats of salaah before the Imaam came out for jummah, then she performed two rakaats of jummah salaat with the Imaam” (Nasbur Al-Raayah, vol 2, pg 207, Makkiyya)
6.
عن إبراهيم قال كانوا يصلون قبلها أربعا.
“Ibrahim (Al-Nakh’ee) reports that the Sahaba used to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaah” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol 4, pg 114, Al-Majlis al-Ilmi)
7. Abdullah Bin Mas’ood used to command the people to perform four rakaats of salaah before the jummah salaah as understood from the above Ahadith. This is an indication that Abdullah Bin Mas’ood used to consider these four rakaats as Sunnat Muakkadah. In fact the Muhaditheen classify the Athar of Ibn Mas’ood as “Marfoo’ Hukman”. (I’laaus Al-Sunan, vol 7, pg 12, Idaratul Quran)
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Talha Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah