690. Time For The BEGINNING And END Of Fajr Prayer

By Asma bint Shameem 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise.” (Muslim)

So the time for Fajr STARTS after the true dawn which is when the redness or whiteness of the true dawn appears and spreads horizontally upon the eastern horizon.

And LASTS until just before sunrise, that is, when the top edge of the sun begins to rise above the horizon. 

The BEST time to pray Fajr is at it’s EARLY time.

That’s what the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and the Sahaabah used to do. 

Proof:

Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah Radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam used to pray Fajr when it was still dark (ghalas).”(al-Bukhaari 560 and Muslim 646)

And our Mother Aishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa said that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam used to pray Fajr when it was still dark (ghalas) and the believing women would depart and no one would recognize them because it was so dark, or they would not recognize one another.” (al-Bukhaari 872 and Muslim 645)

The scholars said:

“The word “ghalas'' refers to the darkness at the end of the night, as it says in the dictionary, and that is the beginning of the dawn.” (Subul al-Salam)

Imaam al-Nawawi said: 

“The words “and no one would recognize them because it was so dark” refer to the fact that it was still nighttime and dark. 

Al-Dawudi said: What this means is that no one could tell if they were women or men.”  (Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi) 

Mughهth ibn Sumay said: 

“I prayed Fajr with ‘Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr Radhi Allaahu anhu in the darkness at the end of the night just before daybreak, and when he said the tasleem I turned to Ibn ‘Umar and said, What is this prayer? 

He said:

“This is how we prayed with the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam and with Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. 

When ‘Umar was stabbed, ‘Uthman delayed it until there was light.” (Ibn Majah 671; Saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Majah)

Ibn Qudamah said:

“With regard to Fajr prayer, it is *better* to pray when it is still dark. This is the view of Malik, al-Shafi'i and Ishaq. 

There is also evidence to this effect narrated from Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Ibn Mas’ud, Abu Musa, Ibn al-Zubayr and ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz.” (al-Mughni 1/540)

Although it’s good to read the Fajr prayer *early* as soon as its time begins, some times it may happen that your alarm didn’t go off or you overslept, etc.

In that situation, you MAY pray it later as long as the sun hasn’t begun to rise. 

But that’s the “*emergency* time for Fajr prayer.”

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

‘If one of you catches a Sajdah from the Asr prayer before the sunsets, then he should complete his prayer.  

If one of you catches a Sajdah from the morning prayer before the sunrises then he should complete his prayer.’

(al-Bukhaari) 

So if you have enough time to make one sajdah, you can pray your Fajr and your prayer will count In Shaa’ Allaah. 

But we shouldn’t be making it a “routine” to pray so late. 

Imaan An-Nawawi said:

“This is a clear evidence that whoever caught and prayed a Rak’ah of the morning or Asr prayer, and then the prayer time finished before he gave Salam then his prayer is not null and void, rather he should complete it, and his prayer is correct.”

And Allaah knows best