We offer four Rak`ahs for the Jumu`ah Prayer

A 7: Offering four Rak`ahs for the Jumu`ah contradicts the Sunnah (acts, sayings or approvals of the Prophet), the acts of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and the Ijma` (consensus of scholars). There are Hadiths Mutawatir (a Hadith reported by a significant number of narrators throughout the chain of narration, whose agreement upon a lie is impossible) reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicating that he used to offer two Rak`ahs for the Jumu`ah Prayer preceded by two Khutbahs (sermons). More than one scholar reported the Ijma` that the Jumu`ah Prayer is two Rak`ahs preceded by two Khutbahs. Scholars of every Madh-hab (School of Jurisprudence) clarified that the Jumu`ah Prayer and Salat-ul-`Eid (the Festival Prayer) may be performed behind the upright and the Fasiq (someone flagrantly violating Islamic law) Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer). Being infallible is not a prerequisite for being the Imam in these Salahs (Prayers) for none is infallible but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and other prophets before him. During the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Jumu`ah Prayer was offered in one of the villages of `Abdul Qays in Bahrain that was called Jawatha. Moreover, it was offered in towns and villages during the era of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, like `Aly, (may Allah be pleased with him) and in the era of Ahl-ul-Bayt (members of the Prophet's extended Muslim family) after him like Al-Hasan, Al-Husayn, `Aly ibn Al-Husayn, Muhammad (Part No. 7; Page No. 72) ibn `Aly Al-Baqir, Ja`far ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq and other Imams from Ahl-ul-Bayt renowned for knowledge and virtue, may Allah be pleased with them all. None of them denied that the Jumu`ah is two Rak`ahs preceded by two Khutbahs. Moreover, they did not state that the Imam should be infallible and just for the Salah to be valid. They prayed behind the Muslim rulers in Makkah, Al-Madinah, the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine) Iraq where some of the Imams were just, whereas others were not. It was not reported from any of them that he repeated the Salah they offered behind their contemporary Muslim Imams, even if they were not known for being just and even if they were known for their Fisq (flagrant violation of Islamic law), like Al-Hajjaj and his likes who lacked the qualities of justice. It becomes clear that the truth which Allah sent with our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and was followed and practiced by his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) after him, including `Aly and his sons (may Allah be pleased with them all) is that the Jumu`ah is two Rak`ahs preceded by two Khutbahs and that it should be offered in towns and villages. As for those who live in the desert and women, they are not required to offer the Jumu`ah Prayer. Rather, they should pray the Zhuhr (Noon) Prayer as four Rak`ahs unless they are on a journey. In this case, they may offer Zhuhr Prayer as two Rak`ahs (the Salah of the traveler) or offer the Jumu`ah Prayer with people in towns and villages. In addition, it is not obligatory for the traveler to offer Jumu`ah Prayer, however, if he offers it with the residents, it would be sufficient for him and he would not have to offer Zhuhr Prayer.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.