Short answer
The Jumuah fard is two rakats prayed behind the imam after the khutbah. In the Hanafi school there are also four sunnah mu'akkadah rakats before it and four after, and many scholars add two more after, making 4, 2, 4 and 2. Other schools count the sunnah differently.
Jumuah is two fard rakats in congregation, replacing the four of Dhuhr. Four rakats sunnah mu'akkadah are prayed before it and four after, with one salam each; following Abu Yusuf, two further rakats after are also recommended.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The sunnah is like Dhuhr: two before and two after are confirmed, and four before and four after is more complete.
- Maliki
- There is no fixed sunnah before Jumuah; one prays voluntary prayers as one likes, and it is better to pray the nafl after it at home.
- Hanbali
- There is no fixed sunnah before Jumuah, though voluntary prayer before it is good; two to six rakats are prayed after.
Explanation
The only fard of Friday is the two rakats prayed with the imam after the khutbah (sermon). These two rakats take the place of Dhuhr for anyone who prays them. The imam recites aloud in both.
In the Hanafi school the full set usually prayed is:
- 4 sunnah mu'akkadah before the khutbah, with one salam (like the four before Dhuhr).
- 2 fard with the imam.
- 4 sunnah mu'akkadah after, with one salam.
- 2 sunnah after that, which many Hanafi scholars recommend following Imam Abu Yusuf.
The four after are based on the command of the Prophet ﷺ to pray four after Jumuah. The four before are based on the practice of Companions such as Ibn Mas'ud. You may also pray two rakats of tahiyyat al-masjid (greeting the mosque) when you arrive, as long as the imam has not yet begun the khutbah.
How long does Jumuah take? The khutbah and fard together usually take 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the masjid. If you must return to work, praying the fard and leaving the later sunnah for when you can is better than missing Jumuah. Read the full method in how to pray Jummah and the Friday sunnahs in Friday in Islam.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Friday prayer is commanded, with leaving trade for it.
Sahih Muslim 881
Sahih... إذا صلى أحدكم الجمعة فليصل بعدها أربعا ...
"When one of you prays Jumuah, let him pray four after it."
The basis for four sunnah rakats after Jumuah.
Sahih Muslim 882
Sahih... كان يصلي بعد الجمعة ركعتين ...
"He used to pray two rakats after Jumuah."
The Prophet ﷺ also prayed two after it, which other schools rely on.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on nawafil. Four before Jumuah and four after it, according to Abu Hanifa.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Chapter on witr and nawafil. Lists four before and four after Jumuah among the confirmed sunnahs, with Abu Yusuf's view of six after.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.