Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
❖ Question
Can the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr be performed after the obligatory prayer?
❖ Answer
If a person is unable to offer the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr before the congregation, they have the option to:
① Offer the Sunnah rak‘ahs immediately after the obligatory prayer.
② Offer them after sunrise.
Both of these practices are proven from the Prophet ﷺ, but delaying until the sun has risen is considered preferable because the Prophet ﷺ commanded this.
✿ Noble Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر فليصلها بعد ما تطلع الشمس»
(Tirmidhi: 423, authenticated by al-Albani)
(Whoever did not offer the two rak‘ahs of Fajr should offer them after the sun has risen.)
✔ Performing Sunnah Immediately after the Obligatory Prayer
Offering the Sunnah rak‘ahs immediately after the obligatory prayer is established by the tacit approval (taqrir) of the Prophet ﷺ. For instance:
Muhammad bin Ibrahim narrates from his grandfather Qais:
«عن محمد بن إبراهيم عن جده قيس قال: خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأقيمت الصلاة، فصليت معه الصبح، ثم انصرف النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فوجدني أصلي، فقال: مهلا يا قيس أصلاتان معا؟ قلت: يا رسول الله إني لم أكن ركعت ركعتي الفجر، قال: فلا إذن.»
(Narrated by Ibn Majah, authenticated by al-Albani)
(The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out, the call to prayer was given, and I prayed the morning prayer with him. Then the Prophet ﷺ found me praying and said: “Wait, O Qais! Are you praying two prayers together?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! I had not prayed the two rak‘ahs of Fajr.” He ﷺ said: “Then it is fine.”)
✔ Summary
◈ If the Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr are missed before the congregation, they can be offered after the obligatory prayer or after sunrise.
◈ Offering them after sunrise is preferable.
◈ The tacit approval of the Prophet ﷺ establishes that it is permissible to offer the missed Sunnah rak‘ahs immediately after the obligatory prayer.
