Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:“May Allah have mercy on the person who offers four rak‘ahs before ‘Asr.”(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The narrator named Abu Muthanna is Muslim bin Muthanna; he is among the trustworthy narrators from the people of Kufa. The statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him):“Four,”by this he meant that it should be done with two salutations, as Ya‘la bin ‘Ata has narrated with his chain from Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:“The prayers of the night and day are to be offered two by two.”