To offer Salah (Prayer) in a Masjid

Q 1: How can we offer the Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer with the congregation? What is the number of its Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) along with the supererogatory prayer?

A: The Jumu`ah Prayer is only two Jahry Rak`ahs (Prayer recited out loud). As for the supererogatory prayer, there is no fixed number of Rak`ahs before it; a person might offer any number of Rak`ahs he wants, and two Rak`ahs at home or four Rak`ahs in the Masjid after it. It was related in the Sahih (authentic) Book of Muslim and the Four Books of Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes), on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Part No. 8; Page No. 275) said, When any one of you offers the Jumu`ah Prayer, he should offer four Rak`ahs afterwards. In the Two Sahih Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and the Sunan, it was reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer two Rak`ahs at home after the Jumu`ah Prayer.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.