[Fajr | Zuhr | Asr | Maghrib | Isha]
1. Quran
وَالْفَجْرِ
By the dawn. (Al-Fajr 89:1)
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
And by the dawn when it breathes. (At-Takwir 81:18)
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember. (Hud 11:114)
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech – in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless. (Al-A’raf 7:205)
ۖ وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. (Al-Kahf 18:28)
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ
So be patient, [O Muhammad], over what they say and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting. (Qaf 50:39)
فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ
So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning. (Ghafir 40:55)
وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
And [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. (Al-Isra 17:78)
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And exalt Him morning and afternoon. (Al-Ahzab 33:42)
فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ
So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning. (Ar-Rum 30:17)
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحْ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ
And remember your Lord much and exalt [Him with praise] in the evening and the morning. (Aal Imran 3:41)
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
In houses (mosques), which Allah has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in them His Name is glorified in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings. (An-Nur 24:36)
ۖ وَلَا تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ
And do not send away those who call upon their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His countenance. (Al-An’am 6:52)
وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And mention the name of your Lord [in prayer] morning and evening. (Ad-Dahr 76:25)
۩ وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَالُهُم بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
And to Allah prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons. (Ar-R’ad 13:15)
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [ Allah ] in the morning and afternoon. (Maryam 19:11)
إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِشْرَاقِ
With him We had subjected the mountains that they join him in celebrating Allah’s glory, evening and morning (Sad 38:18)
لِّتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
That you [people] may believe in Allah and His Messenger and honor him and respect the Prophet and exalt Allah morning and afternoon. (Al-Fath 48:9)
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ۖ وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied. (Taha 20:130)
2. Hadith
2.1 It was narrated that Salman (رضي الله عنه) said : “I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying:
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ غَدَا بِرَايَةِ الإِيمَانِ وَمَنْ غَدَا إِلَى السُّوقِ غَدَا بِرَايَةِ إِبْلِيسَ
‘Whoever goes to the Morning prayer first thing in the morning, he goes out with the banner of faith but whoever goes out to the marketplace first thing in the morning, he goes out under the banner of Iblis (Satan)’.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2234)
2.2 Narrated `Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى شَىْءٍ مِنَ النَّوَافِلِ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُ تَعَاهُدًا عَلَى رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was never more regular and particular in offering any Nawafil than the two rak`at (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.
2.3 Narrated Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ لاَ يَدَعُ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) never missed four rak`at before the Zuhr prayer and two rak`at before the Fajr prayer.
2.4 It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) recited:
وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
“And recite the Qur’an during the Fajr. Verily, the recitation of the Qur’an during Fajr is ever witnessed.”
He said:
تَشْهَدُهُ مَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ
“It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the day.”
2.5 Aishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that : Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
“The two Rak’ah of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.”
2.6 It was narrated from Samurah bin Jundab (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
“Whoever offers the morning prayer, he is under the protection of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.”
2.7 It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لأُمَّتِي فِي بُكُورِهَا يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ
“O Allah, bless my nation early in the morning of Thursday. “
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2237)
2.8 It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
غَدْوَةٌ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
“Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the evening, is more virtuous than the world and what is in it.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 24, Hadith 2755)
2.9 It was narrated that Amr bin Huraith (رضي الله عنه) said:
سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ ﴿ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ ﴾
“I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) reciting: ‘When the sun is wound round.’ (Surah At-Takwir 81) in Fajr. “
2.10 Rafi bin Khadlj (رضي الله عنه) said: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying:
أَسْفِرُوا بِالْفَجْرِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلأَجْرِ
‘Perform Fajr at AI-Isfar (when the dawn breaks and lights before sunrise), for indeed its reward is greater’.”
2.11 It was narrated that ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها) said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to perform two Rak’ah before Fajr, and he used to say:
﴾ نِعْمَ السُّورَتَانِ هُمَا يُقْرَأُ بِهِمَا فِي رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ ﴿ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴾ وَ ﴿ قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
‘The best two Surah to recite in the two Rak’ah of Fajr are: “Say: Allah is One” [Al-Ikhlas (112)] and “Say: O you disbelievers.” [Al-Kafirun (109)]
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1150)
2.12 It was narrated that Bilal (رضي الله عنه) came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) to call him for the Fajr prayer, and was told: “He is sleeping.” He said:
الصَّلاَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ الصَّلاَةُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ النَّوْمِ
“The prayer is better than sleep, the prayer is better than sleep.”
These words were approved of in the Adhan for the Fajr, and that is how it remained.
2.14 Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
من غدا إلى المسجد أو راح، أعد الله له في الجنة نزلا كلما غدا أو راح
“He who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Jannah whenever he goes to the mosque in the morning and returns from it in the evening.”
2.15 Umm Habibah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ صَلَّى فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بُنِيَ لَهُ بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَهَا وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ
“Whoever prays twelve Rak’ah in a day and night, a house will be built from him in Paradise: Four Rak’ah before Zuhr, two Rak’ah after it, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, two Rak’ah after Isha, and two Rak’ah before Fajr in the morning Salat.”
2.16 Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ
“Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings.”
2.17 Ata’ b. Yasar reported, on the authority of Abu Huraira (رضی الله عنهم), the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) as saying:
مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْ رَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ نُزُلاً كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ
He who went towards the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah would arrange a feast for him morning or evening in Paradise.
2.18 It was narrated from Abu Barzah (رضي الله عنه) that
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ مَا بَيْنَ السِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ
The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to recite between sixty and one hundred (Verses) in Fajr prayer.
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 818)
2.19 Rafi’ b. Khadij (رضي الله عنه) reported the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) as saying:
أَصْبِحُوا بِالصُّبْحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لأُجُورِكُمْ
Offer Fajr prayer at dawn, for it is most productive of rewards to you or most productive of reward.
2.20 It was narrated from Mahmud bin Labid (رضي الله عنه), from some men among his people who were of the Ansar, that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَا أَسْفَرْتُمْ بِالْفَجْرِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ بِالأَجْرِ
“The more you delay Fajr, the greater the reward.”
(Sunan an-Nasa’i Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 550)
2.21 ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) reported that a mention was made of a man who slept the whole night till morning. The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) remarked:
ذَاكَ رَجُلٌ بَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ
That is a man in whose ears (or in whose ear) the devil urinated.
2.22 Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reports that Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
“Do not leave the two rak’ahs of Fajr, even if you were being attacked by cavalry.”
(Ahmad and Al-Bahaiqi)
2.23 Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrated that : the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَانَتْ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ حَجَّةٍ وَعُمْرَةٍ . قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ
“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rak’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah.” He said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Complete, complete, complete’.”
2.26 ‘Umara bin Ruwaiba is reported to have said on the authority of his father (رضی الله عنهم): I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying:
لَنْ يَلِجَ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا
He who observes prayer before the rising of the sun and its setting, i.e. the dawn prayer and the afternoon prayer, would not enter the (Hell) fire.
2.27 It was narrated that Hafsah (رضي الله عنها) said:
أَرْبَعٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُنَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صِيَامَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَالْعَشْرَ وَثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ
“There are four things which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) never gave up: Fasting ‘Ashura’, (fasting during) the ten days, (fasting) three days of each month, and praying two Rak’ahs before Al-Ghadah (Fajr).”
2.28 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said:
أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ النَّوْمِ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَ
“My dearest friend (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) advised me (to do) three things: ‘To sleep after praying Witr, to fast three days each month, and to pray two rak’ahs of Fajr’.”
2.29 Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه) reported: Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
من صلى البردين دخل الجنة
“He who observes the Fajr and ‘Asr (prayers) will enter Jannah.”
(Riyad as-Salihin Book 1, Hadith 132)
2.30 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ بِحَبْلٍ فِيهِ ثَلاَثُ عُقَدٍ فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِذَا قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ فَإِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ انْحَلَّتْ عُقَدُهُ كُلُّهَا فَيُصْبِحُ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ قَدْ أَصَابَ خَيْرًا وَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ أَصْبَحَ كَسِلاً خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ لَمْ يُصِبْ خَيْرًا
‘At night Satan ties a rope in which there are three knots to the nape of the neck of anyone of you. If he wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is untied. If he performs ablution, another knot is untied, and if he gets up to pray, all the knots are untied, so he wakes up energetic and cheerful, he has already earned something good. But if he does not do that, he wakes up bad-tempered, having earned nothing good.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1329)
2.31 Jarir b. Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) is reported to have said:
كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ فَقَالَ ” أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ لاَ تُضَامُّونَ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى صَلاَةٍ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ” . يَعْنِي الْعَصْرَ وَالْفَجْرَ
We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) that he looked at the full moon and observed: You shall see your Lord as you are seeing this moon, and you will not be harmed by seeing Him. So if you can, do not let yourselves be overpowered in case of prayer observed before the rising of the sun and its setting, i.e. the ‘Asr prayer and the morning prayer.
Jarir (رضي الله عنه) then recited:
﴾ ﴿ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا
“Celebrate the praise of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting” (Taha 20:130).
2.32 Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلاَئِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ، ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ، فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ وَهْوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ، وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ
“Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and `Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, “In what state did you leave my slaves?” The angels reply: “When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying.”
2.33 Narrated Fudalah (رضي الله عنه):
عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَكَانَ فِيمَا عَلَّمَنِي ” وَحَافِظْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ ” . قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ سَاعَاتٌ لِي فِيهَا أَشْغَالٌ فَمُرْنِي بِأَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ إِذَا أَنَا فَعَلْتُهُ أَجْزَأَ عَنِّي فَقَالَ ” حَافِظْ عَلَى الْعَصْرَيْنِ ” . وَمَا كَانَتْ مِنْ لُغَتِنَا فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الْعَصْرَانِ فَقَالَ ” صَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَصَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا
The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) taught me and what he taught me is this: Observe the five prayers regularly. He said: I told (him): I have many works at these times; so give me a comprehensive advice which, if I follow, should be enough for me. He said: Observe the two afternoon prayers (Al-Asrayn). But the term Al-Asrayn (two afternoon prayers) was not used in our language. Hence I said: What is Al-Asrayn? He said: A prayer before the sunrise and a prayer before the sunset (i.e. the dawn and the afternoon prayers).
2.34 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه): Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
أَثْقَلُ اَلصَّلَاةِ عَلَى اَلْمُنَافِقِينَ: صَلَاةُ اَلْعِشَاءِ, وَصَلَاةُ اَلْفَجْرِ, وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا
“The most burdensome prayers for hypocrites are the ‘Isha’ and the Fajr prayers and if they knew what (rewards) these (prayers) contain, they would have come to them (in the mosques), even though they had to crawl on their knees.”
(Bulugh al-Maram Book 2, Hadith 306)
2.35 Uthman bin Affan (رضي الله عنه) narrated that : Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ شَهِدَ الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ كَانَ لَهُ قِيَامُ نِصْفِ لَيْلَةٍ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ وَالْفَجْرَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ كَانَ لَهُ كَقِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ
“Whoever attends Isha (prayer) in congregation, then he has (the reward as if he had) stood half of the night. And whoever prays Isha and Fajr in congregation, then he has (the reward as if he had) spend the entire night standing (in prayer).”
2.37 Jundub bin Sufyan (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
من صلى الصبح فهو في ذمة الله فانظر يابن آدم، لا يطلبنك الله من ذمته بشيء
“He who offers the dawn (Fajr) prayers will come under the Protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Allah should call you to account in any respect from (for withdrawing) His Protection.”
2.38 It was narrated from Abu Salam (رضي الله عنه), that : the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: “There is no Muslim – or no person, or slave (of Allah) – who says, in the morning and evening:
رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا
‘I am content with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion and Muhammad as my Prophet’,
but he will have a promise from Allah to make him pleased on the Day of Resurrection.”
2.39 It was narrated from Abu Saeed (رضي الله عنه) that : the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: “Whoever says, following the morning prayer:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate. His is the dominion, all praise is to Him, in His Hand is all goodness, and He is Able to do all things’,
it will be as if he freed slave from among the sons of Isma’il.”
2.40 It was narrated from `Abdullah bin `Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ عَالَ ثَلاَثَةً مِنَ الأَيْتَامِ كَانَ كَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَهُ وَصَامَ نَهَارَهُ وَغَدَا وَرَاحَ شَاهِرًا سَيْفَهُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُنْتُ أَنَا وَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَخَوَيْنِ كَهَاتَيْنِ أُخْتَانِ . وَأَلْصَقَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةَ وَالْوُسْطَى
“Whoever raises three orphans, is like the one who spends his nights in prayer and fasts during the day, and goes out morning and evening drawing his sword in the cause of Allah. In Paradise, he and I will be brothers like these two sisters. And he held up his forefinger and middle finger together.”
2.41 Sakhr bin Wada’ah Al-Ghamidi (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
اللهم بارك لأمتي في بكورها
“O Allah! Bless my people in the early part of the day (morning).”
Whenever he dispatched a detachment or an army-unit, he would dispatch it at the beginning of the day (soon after dawn).
The narrator, Sakhr (رضي الله عنه) was a merchant, and he used to send off his merchandise at the beginning of the day. So his trade flourished and he made a good fortune.
2.42 Narrated Abu Hurairah and Ibn ‘Abbas (رضی الله عنهم): That the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
غَدْوَةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ رَوْحَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
“Going out in the morning in the cause of Allah, or in the afternoon, is better than the world and what is in it.”
2.43 Narrated Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa: My father (رضی الله عنهم) said, “Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
مَنْ صَلَّى الْبَرْدَيْنِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
‘Whoever prays the two cool prayers (`Asr and Fajr) will go to Paradise.’ “
2.44 Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا
“If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of `Isha’ and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.”
2.45 Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ وَحِينَ يُمْسِي سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ لَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَحَدٌ قَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ أَوْ زَادَ عَلَيْهِ
“Whoever says in the morning and in the evening ‘Glory is to Allah and with His Praise’ a hundred times, none shall bring better than him on the Day of Judgment except one who did the same as him, or increased upon it.”
2.46 Az-Zubair bin `Awwam (رضي الله عنه) narrated: that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
مَا مِنْ صَبَاحٍ يُصْبِحُ الْعِبَادُ فِيهِ إِلاَّ وَمُنَادٍ يُنَادِي سَبِّحُوا الْمَلِكَ الْقُدُّوسَ
“There is not a morning that the slave of Allah reached except that a caller calls out: ‘Glorify the King, the Free of Deficiencies’. ”
2.47 ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
م يكن النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم على شيء من النوافل أشد تعاهدًا منه على ركعتي الفجر
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) did not attach more importance to any Nawafil prayer than the two Rak’ah of prayer before dawn (Fajr) prayer.
2.48 Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to recite during the two Rak’ah of Fajr prayer:
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ
“Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” (Al-Baqarah 2:136)
which is in Surat Al-Baqarah in the first Rak’ah and the Verse:
فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ مِنْهُمُ الْكُفْرَ قَالَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
“But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, “Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah ?” The disciples said,” We are supporters for Allah . We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].” (Aal Imran 3:52)
in the second Rak’ah. According to another narration, he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) recited from Surat Aal-‘Imran the Verses:
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah .” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].” (Aal Imran 3:64).
2.49 Narrated ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها):
انَ اَلنَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -إِذَا صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ اِضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ اَلْأَيْمَنِ
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to lie down on his right side, after praying the two (voluntary) Rak’at of the Fajr (prayer).
(Bulugh al-Maram Book 2, Hadith 269)
2.50 Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
إذا صلى أحدكم ركعتي الفجر، فليضطجع على يمينه
“When anyone of you has performed two of Sunnah before the Fajr prayer, he should lie down on his right side.”
2.51 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
إِذَا أَصْبَحَ ابْنُ آدَمَ فَإِنَّ الأَعْضَاءَ كُلَّهَا تُكَفِّرُ اللِّسَانَ فَتَقُولُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِينَا فَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ بِكَ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَمْتَ اسْتَقَمْنَا وَإِنِ اعْوَجَجْتَ اعْوَجَجْنَا
“When the son of Adam (عليه السلام) wakes up in the morning, all of his body parts bow to the tongue and say: ‘Fear Allah regarding us, we are only part of you. If you are straight we are straight and if you are crooked we are crooked.”
2.52 Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi Qatada : My father (رضی الله عنهم) said,
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُطَوِّلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مِنْ صَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ، وَيُقَصِّرُ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ، وَيَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ
“The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to prolong the first rak`a of the Zuhr prayer and shorten the second one and used to do the same in the Fajr prayer.”
2.53 Narrated Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) :
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَمُرُّ بِبَابِ فَاطِمَةَ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ إِذَا خَرَجَ إِلَى صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ يَقُولُ ” الصَّلاَةَ يَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ : ﴿ إنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ﴾”
“For six months, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) would pass by the door of Fatimah when going to the Fajr prayer saying: ‘As-Salat O People of the house! ﴾Allah only wishes to remove the Rijs from you, O members of the family, and to purify you with thorough purification﴿ (Al-Ahzab 33:33)’.”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3206)
2.54 Jabir bin Samura (رضي الله عنه) reported:
إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ بِـ ﴿ ق وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ ﴾ وَكَانَ صَلاَتُهُ بَعْدُ تَخْفِيفًا
The Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to recite in the morning prayer “Qaf. By the Glorious Quran” (Qaf 50) and his prayer afterward shortened.
2.55 It was narrated that Anas (رضي الله عنه) said:
صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ بِغَلَسٍ وَهُوَ قَرِيبٌ مِنْهُمْ فَأَغَارَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالَ “ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ خَرِبَتْ خَيْبَرُ – مَرَّتَيْنِ – إِنَّا إِذَا نَزَلْنَا بِسَاحَةِ قَوْمٍ فَسَاءَ صَبَاحُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ ”
“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) prayed Fajr on the day of Khaibar during the time it was still dark, when he was near the enemy. Then he attacked them and said: ‘Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed!’ Twice. ‘Then, when it descends in their courtyard, evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!'” (As-Saffat 37:177)
(Sunan an-Nasa’i Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 548)
2.56 Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه):
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْجُمُعَةِ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ ﴿ الم * تَنْزِيلُ ﴾ السَّجْدَةَ وَ ﴿ هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى ﴾الإِنْسَانِ
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to recite the following in the Fajr prayer of Friday, “Alif, Lam, Mim, Tanzil” (Surat As-Sajdah 32) and “Hal-ata-ala-l-Insani” (i.e. Surah-Ad-Dahr 76).
2.57 Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه): that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
وَإِدْبَارُ النُّجُومِ
And at the setting of the stars (At-Tur 52:49)
(about) the two Rak’ah before Fajr.
وَإِدْبَارُ السُّجُودِ
And after the prostrations (Qaf 50:40)
The two Rak’at after Al-Maghrib.
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3275)
2.58 Hadhrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
“Whoever prays Fajr in light (at the breaking of dawn), Allah will forgive him, enlighten his grave and heart and accept his prayer.”
(Daylami)
2.59 Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,
“My Ummah will continue to remain on Fitrah (true path) till they perform Fajr in light (when the dawn breaks).”
(Mu’jam Al-Awsat)
3.’Ulama
3.1 Al-Kandhlawi (رحمه الله) writes:
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) once deputed in ]ihaad a Jamaat towards Najd, They returned victorious very soon with a handsome booty. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saw the people envying them and wondering at their quick and lucrative return, he said to them,
“Shall I inform you of a group of people who earn much more in a much shorter time? They are those who perform their Fajr with Jamaat and keep sitting after prayer till a little while after sunrise and then offer two rakaats of salaat.”
(Fazail-e-Namaz, p25-26)
3.2 Al-Kandhlawi (رحمه الله) writes:
Hadhrat Sulaimaan bin Abi Hathmah (رضي الله عنه) is one of the eminent people of the early days of Islam. He was born during the lifetime of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), but was too young then to have had the honour of listening to any hadith from him. During the Caliphate of Hadhrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) he was made in charge of the market. One day Hadhrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) found him missing in Fajr salaat. Hadhrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) went to his house and inquired from his mother why Sulaimaan was not present in Fajr. She replied, “He kept saying nafl salaat throughout the night, and sleep overpowered him at the time of Fajr.” At this, Hadhrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) remarked
“I would prefer my Fajr with jamaat to my offering nafl salaat all night long.”
(Fazail-e-Namaz, p62-63)
4. See also:
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