ISSUES ABOUT THE SUNNAH OF SALATUL

FAJR

1-NO OTHER SALAH WHEN THE FARD SALAH BEGINS (GENERAL

RULE):

The normal rule is that once a Fard Salah is in progress no other Salah is to be said.
This is stated in a Hadith:
(1)

 " 

$ "
# 
 
!    


   
  

 
  

%
&'(*) 
)
Abu Huraira reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying:
When the prayer commences then there is no prayer (valid), but the obligatory
prayer.
{Sahih Muslim, Kitabul Salah, Hadith 1160 }

At times the Holy Prophet (PBUH) even showed his displeasure for the people
offering the Sunnah Salah of Fajr while the Obligatory Salah had begun.
(2)

"
# 
 
! 0  
./ ,
-!,



   
  

   ',
+!
 & 8
  


   
  

  ',
5

6
#

7 
 $   (
3
4) ,
1#

2
:

 ;# 3< &
, ! :

 ;# 


   
  

  ',
   
9
 

<3&
, !

Allah's Apostle passed by a man praying two Rakat after the Iqama (had been
pronounced). When Allah's Apostle completed the prayer, the people gathered
around him (the Prophet) or that man and Allah's Apostle said to him
(protesting), Are there four Rakat in Fajr prayer? Are there four Rakat in Fajr
prayer?"

{Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul Adhan, Hadith 623}

2-MANY SAHABAH OFFERED SUNNAH OF SALATUL FAJR WHILE THE
FARD SALAH WAS BEING OFFERED IN CONGREGATION:

Having said this, there are also evidences that Sahabah used to offer Sunnah of Fajr
while the Obligatory Salah was in progress.

(3)

6

 
& )DC 2! : 'C
2 <3$ 
7 3 
:   A ? '
@ >  & =
 
> 
#

$ I
C$ A "
# 
 
! 0  
A 6 G
 H ) " #

 
F  
  
E
 ,

.   (
3
4)
6
Malik Ibn Magool narrates that I heard Naafi say I awakened Ibn Umar R.A.
for Fajr Salah, the Fajr salah had already started, he (Abdullah Ibn Umar
R.A.)got up and performed two rakats of salah.

{Ma'ni al-Athar vol. 2 p.165. Imam Nimawi classified it as Sahih in Athar as

Sunan Hadith 719}

-----------------------

(4)

" 

$ 5
P 'H 9
 

 0
G
O
 
) MN0 2
+ 4 
7! K
L,
0 &!  

$ I ' C ) S
>
MN0 2

R A 0 G
O
 
) % 
Q 
7 $   (
3
4)
6 1#

$ A 6 G
 H )
. " 
#
Abu Darda R.A. states I entered the Masjid when the people had stood row by
row in Fajr salah. He performed two rakats of salah on one side of the mosque,
and then joined the congregation

{Ma'ni al-Athar vol. 2 p.166. Imam Nimawi classified it as Hasan in Athar as

Sunan Hadith 722}
 -------------------------

(5)

1#

2 I 
>V
 A?L'3O
 >
 & KU 
/":  A
'> &! &   0  
 

"6 G
 H )  (
3
4) ,


 *
2  
A?%2
, 
    (
3
4) ,
#

$ :

 ;#
Abdullah Ibn Musa narrates that Abdullah Ibn Masood R.A .entered the
Mosque whilst the Imam had commenced Salat ul Fajr, he performed his
Sunnah towards the pillar because he had as yet not performed his Sunnah.

{Mu'jam al-Tabarani al-Kabeer vol. 8 p.212 Hadith 9279. Imam Haithmi said its
narrators are sound ref. Majama al-Zawaid vol.2 p.75 }

-------------------------

(6)

6

  & S
>
"
0@
) " 

$ 0
G
O
 
) )N
L
:   A W?  G
 > &!  

. 1#

2 I 
>X)
 A  F  
  
E
 ,
9
? 

 &

9
? 

 & 
>!
A Z
# $ M N
0
$ 
F  
  
E
 ,
6

  & 
>Y$



 $ A I 
>X) S
>
M N
L

R A   (
3
4) ,
#

$ A 
F  
  
E
 ,

  (
3
4) ,
S
4 6
$ I
C$ A \
 
] 
 3
 [ 
(Q
A  7
*>
6

  & 0
3
 I 
>X)
Abi Majliz said: I entered the mosque at the time of Fajr Salah with Abdullah
bin Umar and Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, and the
Imam was in prayer so Ibn Umar joined the Salah while Ibn Abbas, may Allah
be pleased with them, offered two rakaat (sunnah) then he entered the Salah
with Imam. When the Imam ended the Salah Ibn Umar sat at his place until the
sun rose then he stood up and offered two rakaat (sunnah).
{Ma'ni al-Athar vol. 2 p.164. Imam Nimawi classified it as Sahih in Athar as
Sunan Hadith 726}

------------------------

(7)

b 9  NL a ! _  37 : 'C2 +4 7! K L,0 ^! 

h F34,d h A 0GOg f, ' > %2, e +0d "c#
Y$ A 9 e ]>! h A i4  MG! d h A F4d
: # 9 S>
It is narrated from Abu Darda (RA) he used to say: 'Yes, By Allah! If I enter the
mosque and people are offering (Fajr) Salah then I'll get behind one of the
pillars of the mosque then I'll offer the two rakaat (Sunnah) and I'll make them
perfect and I'll not make haste in their making perfect then I'll turn to the people
and offer with them the morning Salah (in congregation).

{Musannaf Abdul Razzaq vol.2 p.443 Hadith 4020}[1]

There are more evidences of Sahaba doing it.

-------------------------

It seems quite strange that Holy Prophet (PBUH) forbade something and Sahabah,
and the luminaries among them did the very same. In this case, though there is no
strong evidence for it, we tend to believe that probably Holy Prophet (PBUH) later
allowed offering Sunnah of Fajr while the congregational obligatory Salah was in
practice. This idea is also supported by a weak Hadith.
(8)

"' c$ "'#      _  _ ', +

: # j34, d %&'(*g d
It is narrated from Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘When the
obligatory Salah begins then no other prayer should be performed besides the
obligatory Salah, except the two Sunnah raka' of Fajr
{Sunan al-Baihiqi al-Kubra vol.2 p.483. It is Daeef (weak) as two of its narrators
are weak}

We resort to this thought that Holy Prophet (PBUH) would have allowed it later for
its impossible that great Sahaba who enjoyed high status (Abdullah bin Masood was
the Chief Jurist of Kufa, Abdullah bin Umar was the Chief Jurist of Medina and
Abdullah bin Abbas was that of Makkah) practice it without any evidence at all and
in clear contradiction to the statement of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). And moreover
Sayyidina Abu Darda makes such an unequivocal statement. It is also not possible
that these Sahabah didn’t know the statements of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Ibn
Abbas even narrates a Hadith similar to Hadith # 2 above (Musnad Ahmed, with an
authentic chain)
Rest Allah knows the best !!!

Now we come to the question as to when can a person offer the two rakaat of Sunnah
of Fajr salah if he missed it before obligatory (Fardh) salah.

3-NO SALAH AFTER THE FAJR TILL THE SUNRISE:

Holy Prophet (PBUH) forbade offering any salah after the obligatory (Fard) Salah of
Fajr till the sunrise.

----------------------
(9)

  l


 



   
  

  ',

F7
  " 6
26
k &!  

\
 
] n

6 @ l

(Q
6 #
 3
) 0
3 &

\
 
] S
)ml

(Q
6 G
 H ) 0
3 &

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle forbade the offering of two prayers: (1) after the Morning Prayer till
the sunrises. (2) After the Asr prayer till the sun sets.

{Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul Mawaqeet, Hadith 553}

---------------

4-ONE WHO MISSED THE SUNNAH OF SALATUL FAJR SHOULD OFFER

IT AFTER THE SUNRISE:

(10)
 6 G
 H )  (
3
4) ,
1M#

2    >



  
  

  ',
 
\
 
] S )ml

> 0
3 &

F 1#

) $
Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “He who has
not offered the two rakaat of fajr may offer them after sunrise.”

{Jami' Tirmidhi, Kitabul Salah, Hadith 423. Classified as Sahih by Imam Nimawi
in Athar as Sunan Hadith 739 and by Allama Albani in Sahih wa Daeef Sunan
Tirmidhi}

--------------------

If one misses it he should offer it after the sun rise for this is proved from the practice
of Learned Sahaba.

(11)

9
? 

 & 
>!
A Z
# $ M N
0
$ 
F  
  
E
 ,
6

  & 
>Y$



 $ A I 
>X) S
>
M N
L

R A   (
3
4) ,
#

$ A 
F  
  
E
 ,

  (
3
4) ,
S
4 6
$ I
C$ A \
 
] 
 3
 [ 
(Q
A  7
*>
6

  & 0
3
 I 
>X)
Abi Majliz said: I entered the mosque at the time of Fajr Salah with Abdullah
bin Umar and Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, and the
Imam was in prayer so Ibn Umar joined the Salah while Ibn Abbas, may Allah
be pleased with them, offered two rakaat (sunnah) then he entered the Salah
with Imam. When the Imam ended the Salah Ibn Umar sat at his place until the
sunrise then he stood up and offered two rakaat (sunnah).

{Ma'ni al-Athar vol. 2 p.164. Imam Nimawi classified it as Sahih in Athar as

Sunan Hadith 726}

-----------------

5-CAN ONE OFFER SUNNAH OF SALATUL FAJR JUST AFTER THE

FARD SALAH BEFORE THE SUNRISE?

There is a Hadith which says that Holy Prophet saw a person offering two rakaat after
obligatory (Fardh) salah of fajr but dint say him anything. It goes as:

(12)
  3
>

  #

$ "
# 
 
Y$ 


  
  

  ',
o

6
N

 C$ 1

! 70
/
'
$ 


   
  

; 
 5

6
#

7
R :

 ;#

 3 4 ,
 4!   7    ',

2 
 )  <3>
+ 
l

! \
   
2 .F >

+)   $   6 G
 H )  (
3
4) ,

Muhammad ibn Ibrahim reported from his grandfather, Sayyidina Qays that as
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) came out, the iqamah of the (fajr) salah was called.
So, he offered the prayer with him. Then, the Prophet (PBUH) turned back and
saw him offer salah. He said, O Qays! Wait! will you pray two salah together?
He said, “O Messenger of Allah! I had not offered the two rakaat (sunnah) of
fajr.’ The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘Then there is no harm.”

{Jami' Tirmidhi, Kitabul Salah, Hadith 422. After quoting this hadith Imam Tirmidhi
writes, 'The Sanad of this Hadith is not connected. Muhammad bin Ibrahim Taymi did
not hear any Hadith from Qays.'

Imam Nimawi classified it as Daeef in Athas as Sunan Hadith 733}

Imam Tahawi after quoting this Hadith in Mushkil al-Athar 9/132-133 (Hadith 3488-
3489) writes; 'This Hadith is one of the Munqata (disconnected) Ahadith the likes of
which are not taken as evidence by the experts of Isnad (Chain of Narrators).'

It is also found many other books but with the similar chain. It is found in Sunan Abu
Dawud (Hadith 1076), Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 1144), Musnad Ahmed (Hadith
22642), Mustadrik al-Hakim 3/23-24 (Hadith 967 & 968), Sunan Darqutni (Hadith
1455), Sahih Ibn Khuzaima (Hadith 1053), Sunan al-Baihiqi al-Kubra 2/456,483.

This Hadith is reported with another isnad (chain of narrators) in Baihiqi (2/483), Ibn
Khuzaima (Hadith 1052), Darqutni (Hadith 1454), Ibn Hibban (Hadith 2515) and
Mushkil al-Athar (Hadith 3487).

After quoting the hadith in Mushkil al-Athar through that Chain Imam Tahawi writes,
'And this is the Hadith which has been rejected (called Munkar) by the people with
the knowledge of Hadith because of Asad bin Musa (a narrator in that chain).'

We can see that the Hadith is Daeef so we should not offer Sunnah of Fajr before the
sunrise if we miss it before the fard salah.

6-CONCLUSION:

The best is to offer the Sunnah of Fajr well before the Fard Salah begins but if one
reaches the mosque at a time when Fard Salah is in progress then if the person is sure
that he will be able to offer the Sunnah after the sunrise then he should join the
congregation and offer the sunnah salah after the sunrise for this way he will be safe
from all sorts of doubt and act on all the Ahadith. But if he fears that he will not be
able to offer the sunnah of fajr after sunrise then he may offer the them at the rear or
behind some pillar provided he is confident that he will not miss the Fard salah itself.

This is what the scholars opine and this is what is in the light of Sahih Ahadith as
stated above.

INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!!

[1]I could not find the ruling of any scholar about the status of this Hadith.