but is this a case in which the sunnah has been reported in various forms, or one in which it varies according to differing circumstances? There are several views.

The first view is that it varies according to circumstances. This is the view of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. Accordingly, it is said: if you perform the regular sunnah prayer after Friday prayer in the mosque, then pray four rak‘ahs; but if you perform it at home, then pray two rak‘ahs.

The second view is that the sunnah has come in various forms: at times pray four rak‘ahs, and at other times two.

The third view is that it is always four rak‘ahs, because when the Prophet’s ﷺ statement and action appear to conflict, his statement takes precedence.

What is preferable for a person—as I consider to be the stronger view—is to pray four rak‘ahs at times and two rak‘ahs at other times.

As for the six, the hadith of Ibn Umar indicates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ “used to do this.” Yet what is recorded in al-Bukhari and Muslim is that he would pray two rak‘ahs. It may be argued in support of this that the Prophet ﷺ would pray two rak‘ahs at home, while he instructed whoever performed the Friday prayer to pray four rak‘ahs afterward. This makes six rak‘ahs: four by his statement and two by his practice. However, this requires further consideration.

It is understood from the author’s statement, “The minimum sunnah prayer after the Friday prayer is two rak‘ahs,” that there is no sunnah prayer before the Friday prayer. This is indeed the case. One may pray whatever one wishes, without intending a fixed number: one may pray two rak‘ahs or as many as one wishes. But once the imam enters, one should stop.

If someone were to ask: Which do you advise for me when I come on Friday: should I occupy my time with prayer, or occupy it with recitation of the Quran?

The answer is: We hold that two rak‘ahs are essential, and they are the greeting