brightness_1 The Sunnah of Fajr is one of the regular Sunan that the Muslim performs daily

The Sunnah of Fajr is one of the regular Sunan that a Muslim performs daily. It encompasses several other Sunan. Before presenting them, it is important to present the regular Sunan that are to be performed on a daily basis called “As-Sunan Ur-Rawātib”, and they are twelve Rak‘ahs.

Ummu Habeebah, may Allāh be pleased with her, said, “I heard the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) saying, ‘Whoever prays twelve Rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.’.” (Muslim no. 728)

In another narration by At-Tirmidthiy, he added, “Four Rak‘ahs before Dthuhr, two Rak‘ahs after Dthuhr, two Rak‘ahs after Maghrib, two Rak‘ahs after ‘Ishā’, and two Rak‘ahs before Fajr prayer.” (At-Tirmidthiy no. 415)

brightness_1 The Sunnah of Fajr is legal in both travel and residence.

Characteristics of the Sunnah of Fajr:

Firstly, The Sunnah of Fajr is legal in both travel and residence. As for the rest of the Sunan, it is Sunnah to leave them out in travel, like the Sunan of Dthuhr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishā’ prayers.

brightness_1 It is Sunnah to recite the following in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr:

Characteristics of the Sunnah of Fajr:

Fourthly, It is Sunnah to recite the chapter of { قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ } in the first Rak‘ah after Al-Fātihah, and to recite the chapter of { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ } in the second Rak‘ah after Al-Fātihah.

Alternatively, one can recite the following verse in the first Rak‘ah,

{ قُولُواْ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ }

“Say O Muslims, ‘We believe in Allāh and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrāheem (Abraham), Isma’eel (Ishmael), Ishāq (Isaac), Ya‘qoob (Jacob), and to Al-Assbāt (the twelve sons of Ya‘qoob), and that which has been given to Moosā (Moses) and ‘Eissa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted in Islam.’.” (Al-Baqarah, Verse 136)

In the second Rak‘ah, one can alternativelys recite the following verse:

{قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى كَلَمَةٍ سَوَاء بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلاَّ نَعْبُدَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ وَلاَ نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضاً أَرْبَاباً مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُولُواْ اشْهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ}

“Say O Muhammad, ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), come to a just word between us and you, that we worship none but Allāh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allāh. Then, if they turn away say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims.”.’.” (Soorat Āl-‘Imrān, Verse 64)