Q. If one arrives in the mosque at the time when the Friday sermon is already in progress, does he offer two rak’ahs in Sunnah prayer first before sitting down to listen?
M. Abdul-Mujeeb
A. Schools of Fiqh or jurisprudence differ on this question. Some recommend that when we enter the mosque on Friday, we offer two voluntary rak’ahs of prayer as greeting to the mosque and then sit down to listen to the sermon.
Others, notably Imam Malik, require such a person to sit down and listen without offering any prayer. Both have valid evidence supporting their views. Therefore, one should follow the view with which he is more comfortable. After all, these two rak’ahs are voluntary, and if one does not offer them one does not do any wrong. If one is keen to offer them for the reward, but reluctant to do so because of the objection often expressed, one may offer instead two extra rak’ahs after one finishes Friday prayer. There is no restriction on the number of voluntary rak’ahs one may offer after the obligatory prayer is over.