Q: How authentic is the Hadith which says: May Allah be merciful to a person who offers four Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) before `Asr (Afternoon) Prayer. ? May Allah reward you with the best.

A: This Hadith was related by Al-Tirmidhy in his Sunan as follows: On the authority of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: May Allah be merciful to a person who offers four Rak`ahs before `Asr Prayer. He commented: "It is a Hadith Hasan Gharib (a good Hadith that is strange to come from this chain of narration)." The Hadith was also related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban, and Ibn Khuzaymah on the authority of Ibn `Umar. Its Sanad (chain of the narrators) included Muhammad ibn Mahran (Part No. 3; Page No. 270) concerning whom there was some debate. As for offering voluntary Salah before `Asr Prayer, the following Hadith was reported on the authority of `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to offer four Rak`ahs before `Asr Prayer.... (Related by Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y, and Ahmad) Al-Tirmidhy said: "It is a Hadith Hasan (a Hadith whose chain of narration contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish)."May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.