Four Sunnats after Jumuah

After studying the books of Hadith and Fiqh, we understand that the 4 Sunnats that should be performed at the time of Jumuah to acquire the virtue of entering Jannah, refers to the 4 Rakaats of Sunnah before the Jumuah Salaah, and not the 4 Rakaats Sunnah after the Jumuah Salaah. The Hadith states:

Whichever Muslim servant performs 12 optional Rakaats besides the Fardh Salaah then Allah Ta’ala will build him a house in Jannah. [Re:- Tirmidhi / Nasai’ee]

The 12 Rakaats referred to in this Hadith are the 2 Sunnats before Fajr, 4 Sunnats before Zuhr or Jumuah, 2 Sunnats after Maghrib and 2 Sunnats after Esha. The 4 Sunnats before Jumuah are established and proven, and should not be omitted in the Hanafi Madhab as these are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah. However, there is difference of opinion with regards to the 4 Sunnah after the Jumuah Salaah.

Naafi narrates that when Abdullah bin Umar Radiallahu Anhu would complete Jumuah then he would return and perform two Rakaats in his home. He would then say that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used do that.

It is recorded in another narration of Tirmidhi:

It is narrated from Ali Radiallahu Anhu that he would command that 2 Rakaats are performed after Jumuah and then 4 Rakaats

A narration of Saheeh Muslim states:

Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “When any one of you performs Jumuah Salaah, then he should perform 4 Rakaats after it.”

Ishaaq Rahimullah says: if a person’s performs his Sunnat Salaah in the Musjid on the day of Jumuah then he should perform 4 Rakaats and if he performs Salaah in his home then he should perform 2 Rakaats. He takes proof that Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to read two Rakaats after Jumuah in his home, and the Hadith states, whoever performs Salaah after Jumuah then he should perform 4 Rakaats.

These narrations indicate that there are different Riwaayaat with regards to the Sunnat Salaah after Jumuah, whereas the 4 Rakaats Sunnah before the Jumuah is established without any difference amongst the Muhadditeen and Fuqaha.

Hazrat Gangohi Rahimullah mentions in Al-Kawkabud Durri:

The narrations differ in regards to it (the Sunnats after Zuhr), from some narrations 2 Rakaats Sunnah are established, whilst 4 Rakaats Sunnah are established through other narrations.

Hence, this clearly indicates that the Sunnah Salaah that one is required to perform, are the 4 Sunnah before Zuhr to acquire the virtue mentioned in the Hadith. It is not possible that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would only perform 2 Rakaats Sunnah after Jumuah instead of four, and thereby lose a palace in Jannah, as the reality of the hereafter was before Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam all the time.

However, one should bear in mind that the 4 Rakaats before and after the Jumuah Salaah are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah in the Hanafi Madhab and should not be omitted. [Re: Fataawa Uthmaaniyya Vol:2 Pg:276-277]