Question:

This questioner says: Regarding the voluntary prayer of Dhuhr, does it have a middle testimony, or is it four continuous rak'ahs? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.

Answer:

The Sunnah is two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, he prays two rak'ahs, then he says the tasleem, then two rak'ahs, then he says the tasleem; based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: The prayers of the night and day are two by two, so four before Dhuhr with two tasleems, and four after it with two tasleems. If he prays only two rak'ahs after it, the Sunnah, then there is no problem. If he adds to it, he prays four after it, which is better based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: Whoever maintains four before Dhuhr and four after it, Allah will forbid him from the Fire. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray four before it and two after it, this is the Sunnah.

So whoever adds to it and prays four before it and four after it, it becomes eight, four before it and four after it. That would be better, and he has this good: Whoever maintains four before noon and four after it, God Almighty will forbid him from the Fire. Yes, but it should be two by two, and he will be saved from every two. This is the Sunnah.