Sunnah Prayer Before Fajr (All You Need To Know)

Sunnah Prayer Before Fajr is a unique and brief prayer that has two Raka’as. It is among the 12 Sunnah Prayers Before And After Fard Prayers. You are about to learn its significance, the time and how to pray it.

2 Rakat Sunnah Prayer Before Fajr Hadith

The following is an authentic Hadith on 2 rakat Sunnah before Fajr.

Aisha Radiyallahu Anha reported that The Prophet Muhammad SAW did not attach more importance to any Nawafil prayer than the two Raka’as of prayer before dawn ( Fajr ) prayer.

[Bukhari and Muslim]

The Sunnah of Fajr, which is the two rakah before it, has the following distinguishing features.

Firstly, it is Sunnah to be brief while observing them, and prolonging them is contrary to the Sunnah.

Rather, it is so short that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that

The Messenger of Allah SAW used to be brief in them so much so that she said, did he recite Surah Fatihah or not.

This is due to its brevity.

Secondly, it is recommended to recite some specific Surahs in them.

It is either Suratul Kafirun in the first raka’ah and Suratul Ikhlas.

Thirdly, the messenger of Allah SAW was not more diligent in performing any supererogatory prayer than the two rak’ah Sunnah Prayer before the Fajr Prayer.

Prophet Muhammad SAW observed it assiduously.

Fourthly, the Prophet peace be upon him informed us that it is better than the world and what it contains, and it is more beloved to him than the world and what it contains.

Fifthly, the Prophet Muhammad SAW never left it whether on a journey or in residence.

The Sunnah of Fajr has these unique qualities.

• It is important for one to safeguard it and adhere to it while on a journey or resident.
• If you miss it before the Salat, you should observe it after the Salat.
• You may observe it at that moment or wait until the sun has risen to about the length of a spear.

Therefore, we should try our best and strive for what the Prophet SAW strove for and follow his Sunnah to the best of our ability.

We have earlier explained that the Prophet Muhammad SAW used to observe an optional Prayer of two rak’ah before Fajr and that it is distinguished from the other regular optional prayers due to the aforementioned merits.

Benefits Of 2 Rakat Before Fajr

There are a lot of benefit of these two Sunnah rakat before Fajr, one of them is from an authentic Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim.

Aisha Radiyallahu Anha reported that the Prophet Muhammad SAW said,

The two Raka’as before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.

[Muslim]

Another narration goes:

The two Raka’as before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are dearer to me than the whole world.

How Do You Do Sunnah For Fajr?

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him used to pray them with shorter chapters or verses. He used not lengthen, not prolong or spend longer time in it.

It is reported that he, would recite Surah Kafirun in the first raka’ah and Surah Ikhlas in the second raka’ah.

So, it is Sunnah to read in these two rak’ahs Al Kafirun and Al Ikhlas.

This is due to the fact that Imam Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) read in the two rak’ahs of Fajr: Qul yaa ayyuhal kaafiroon and Qul huwa Allaahu Ahad.

There is another narration that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite verse on hundred and thirty six (136) of Surah Al Baqara in the first raka’ah and verse two hundred and fifty two (52) or sixty four (64) of surah Al Imran in the second raka’ah.

This gives you a variety of options to recite for your Sunnah of Fajr prayers.

However, you can opt for any other short Surahs or verses of your choice.

But it is still better and best to follow in the footsteps of the our beloved Prophet Mohammad SAW.

How To Pray To 2 Rakat Sunnah Before Fajr

• After takbir, read surah Fatiha and surah Kafirun in the first raka’a.
• In the second raka’a, read surah Fatiha and surah Ikhlas.

Note

If you miss the Sunnah prayer before Fajr, you may offer it after Fajr prayer.

When To Pray Sunnah Before Fajr

The sunnah before Fajr prayer is performed after the adhan (or after the second adhan) that shows the arrival of the time for dawn (Fajr) prayers.

In other words, the two light raka’as are performed between the azan and the iqamah of fajr prayer.

If you oversleep and wake up after daybreak, you can still perform the sunnah of the Fajr prayer before offering your fajr prayer.

Similarly, if you arrive at the mosque for subh prayer before performing your sunnah of Fajr prayer and discover that the congregation (Jam’ah) has begun praying the dawn prayer, you can join the Jam’ah first, in fact, you must join the Jam’ah first, and then you can make up for your sunnah of Fajr prayer after the subh prayer is completed.

The Messenger of Allah once saw one of his companions praying after they have finished fajr prayers.

When the Prophet SAW asked him why he was praying again, the companion answered that he missed his sunnah of Fajr prayers, and was making up for it. The Messenger of Allah did not say anything, and that indicates an approval.

Abu Abdullah Bilal bin Rabah Radiyallahu Anhu, Mu’adhdhin of Messenger of Allah SAW reported that he to inform the Messenger of Allah SAW about the time of the dawn (Fajr) prayer, and Aisha Radiyallahu Anha kept him busy and began to ask him about something till the day grew bright.

Then Abu Abdullah got up and informed the Messenger of Allah SAW of the time of Salat. He informed him again but the Messenger of Allah did not came out immediately to lead As-Salat.

When Prophet SAW came out, he led As Salat.

Bilal said to him: Aishah (Radiyallahu Anha) kept me busy and thus diverted my attention by asking about something and the morning grew bright.

You also came out late. Upon that the Messenger of Allah SAW said,

I was engaged in performing two Rak’ah of Fajr prayer.

Bilal said:

O Messenger of Allah! You delayed As-Salat so long as the morning grew bright.

He replied,

Even if the morning had become brighter than it had, I would have performed two Rak’ah of prayer in an excellent manner.

[Abu Dawud]

Allah knows best.