When Should a Person Offer Sunnah Prayers If the Iqamah Has Been Called?
This excerpt is taken from Abu Adnan Muhammad Munir Qamar Nawabuddin’s book "Rak‘aat of the Five Daily Prayers with Witr and Tahajjud".
If someone has not offered the Sunnah prayers until the Iqamah is called, then when should they perform them?
The answer to this is found in two types of Ahadith:
In a narration from Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi it is stated:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر فليصلها بعد ما تطلع الشمس
Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi with Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/493, Jami‘ al-Usul by Ibn al-Athir 7/17
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr should pray them after the sun has risen."
The wording in al-Daraqutni and al-Hakim is:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر حتى تطلع الشمس فليصلها
Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr until the sun has risen, let him pray them."
However, the commentator of Tirmidhi, Allama ‘Abd al-Rahman, declared this narration unreliable. (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/493)
Similarly, in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah under the reports from the Companions, and in al-Muwatta’ of Imam Malik from the Balaghat of Imam Malik, it is mentioned that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RA) once missed the Sunnah of Fajr, so he prayed them after sunrise.
References: Muwatta’ with al-Tanwir al-Hawalik 1/138, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/494, Jami‘ al-Usul 7/17
This narration from Ibn ‘Umar (RA) is a mauquf action (restricted to him). The earlier narration is marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ) but its text is unreliable.
Moreover, Imam al-Shawkani writes in Nayl al-Awtar that this narration does not explicitly prove that one who could not pray them before the obligatory prayer cannot pray them before sunrise. Rather, it merely states that if the Sunnah were missed, they may be prayed after sunrise.
It is clear that if the Sunnah was missed in its prescribed time, it will be prayed in the qada’ time. The narration contains nothing indicating prohibition of praying them after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise. This is supported by the wording of al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Hakim:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر حتى تطلع الشمس فليصلها
Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/25
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr until the sun rose, let him pray them."
The permission and absence of dislike for praying Sunnah after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise is also found in Hadith.
The Hadith says that from Fajr until sunrise, there is no prayer. However, other Ahadith clarify that this applies to general voluntary prayers, not the Sunnah of Fajr.
Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, al-Hakim, Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq, Ibn Abi Shaybah, and Musnad Ahmad narrate from Qays ibn ‘Amr (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ came out from his house and the Iqamah for Fajr was called. I prayed Fajr with him. After finishing the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ saw me praying again and asked:
مهلا يا قيس أصلاتان معا
"Wait, O Qays! Are you praying two prayers at the same time?"
I said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I did not pray the first two Sunnah rak‘ahs."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
فلا إذن
"Then there is no problem."
References: Abu Dawud with ‘Awn al-Ma‘bud 4/144, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/487, Ibn Majah 1/365, Ibn Khuzaymah 2/164, Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/254
In al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm, ‘Ata’ narrates from an Ansari Companion (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying after Fajr. Upon inquiry, the man said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I had not prayed the Sunnah, so I am praying them now."
فلم يقل له شيئا
"The Prophet ﷺ did not say anything to him."
Reference: al-Muhalla 2/154, Issue 308
In Sunan Abu Dawud, the Prophet ﷺ told a Companion (RA):
صلوة الصبح ركعتان
"The prayer of Fajr is two rak‘ahs (meaning the obligatory prayer)."
The Companion replied: "I had not prayed the two Sunnah rak‘ahs, so I prayed them now."
فسكت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained silent."
Reference: Abu Dawud 4/144
In al-Tamhid by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Sahl ibn Sa‘d (RA) says:
وكان إذا رضي شيئا سكت
"Whenever the Prophet ﷺ approved of something, he would remain silent."
In Sahih Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaymah, through authentic narrators, Qays (RA) reports that he prayed Fajr with the Prophet ﷺ but had not prayed the Sunnah. After the obligatory prayer, he stood to pray the Sunnah while the Prophet ﷺ watched him and:
فلم ينكر عليه
"The Prophet ﷺ did not disapprove."
References: Ibn Khuzaymah 2/163, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/490
In Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, a Companion (RA) said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! When I arrived, you had already begun the prayer, and I had not prayed the Sunnah. I disliked praying them during your leading of the congregation, so I prayed them after the obligatory prayer."
ولم يأمره ولم ينهه
"The Prophet ﷺ neither ordered him nor forbade him."
Reference: Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/654
In Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, via al-Tabarani al-Kabir, there is a narration (with some discussion on its chain) cited by Allama Shams al-Haqq al-‘Azimabadi in his work I‘lam Ahl al-‘Asr bi Ahkam Rak‘atay al-Fajr from Ibn al-Athir, who graded it sound.
Thabit ibn Qays (RA) said: "I entered the mosque while the Prophet ﷺ was praying. When he finished, I prayed the Sunnah of Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ looked at me. When I finished, he said:
ألم تصل معنا؟
'Did you not pray with us?'
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I am praying the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr because I had not prayed them at home.'
فلم يعب ذلك على
"He did not criticize me for this."
Reference: I‘lam Ahl al-‘Asr, p. 231
These narrations clearly establish that the Prophet ﷺ saw multiple instances where the Sunnah of Fajr was prayed after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise, yet he neither objected nor prohibited it. In some cases, he explicitly said "Then there is no problem", and in others, he remained silent — which, as per the Sunnah, indicates approval.
Statements from ‘Ata’, Tawus, and Ibn Jurayj also indicate its permissibility, as recorded in Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq (vol. 2, p. 442).
And as narrated in al-Tamhid:
وكان إذا رضي شيئا سكت
"Whenever the Prophet ﷺ approved of something, he would remain silent."
Otherwise, remaining silent upon seeing something prohibited would contradict the Prophetic role, so he would certainly have prohibited it — but he did not.
This excerpt is taken from Abu Adnan Muhammad Munir Qamar Nawabuddin’s book "Rak‘aat of the Five Daily Prayers with Witr and Tahajjud".
The Question
If someone has not offered the Sunnah prayers until the Iqamah is called, then when should they perform them?
The answer to this is found in two types of Ahadith:
① Ahadith Mentioning the Sunnah After Sunrise
In a narration from Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi it is stated:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر فليصلها بعد ما تطلع الشمس
Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi with Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/493, Jami‘ al-Usul by Ibn al-Athir 7/17
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr should pray them after the sun has risen."
The wording in al-Daraqutni and al-Hakim is:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر حتى تطلع الشمس فليصلها
Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr until the sun has risen, let him pray them."
However, the commentator of Tirmidhi, Allama ‘Abd al-Rahman, declared this narration unreliable. (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/493)
Similarly, in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah under the reports from the Companions, and in al-Muwatta’ of Imam Malik from the Balaghat of Imam Malik, it is mentioned that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RA) once missed the Sunnah of Fajr, so he prayed them after sunrise.
References: Muwatta’ with al-Tanwir al-Hawalik 1/138, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/494, Jami‘ al-Usul 7/17
Response Regarding These Reports
This narration from Ibn ‘Umar (RA) is a mauquf action (restricted to him). The earlier narration is marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ) but its text is unreliable.
Moreover, Imam al-Shawkani writes in Nayl al-Awtar that this narration does not explicitly prove that one who could not pray them before the obligatory prayer cannot pray them before sunrise. Rather, it merely states that if the Sunnah were missed, they may be prayed after sunrise.
It is clear that if the Sunnah was missed in its prescribed time, it will be prayed in the qada’ time. The narration contains nothing indicating prohibition of praying them after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise. This is supported by the wording of al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Hakim:
من لم يصل ركعتي الفجر حتى تطلع الشمس فليصلها
Nayl al-Awtar 2/3/25
"Whoever did not pray the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr until the sun rose, let him pray them."
② Proofs for Offering Sunnah Immediately After the Obligatory Prayer
The permission and absence of dislike for praying Sunnah after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise is also found in Hadith.
The Hadith says that from Fajr until sunrise, there is no prayer. However, other Ahadith clarify that this applies to general voluntary prayers, not the Sunnah of Fajr.
Evidence 1
Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, al-Hakim, Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq, Ibn Abi Shaybah, and Musnad Ahmad narrate from Qays ibn ‘Amr (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ came out from his house and the Iqamah for Fajr was called. I prayed Fajr with him. After finishing the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ saw me praying again and asked:
مهلا يا قيس أصلاتان معا
"Wait, O Qays! Are you praying two prayers at the same time?"
I said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I did not pray the first two Sunnah rak‘ahs."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
فلا إذن
"Then there is no problem."
References: Abu Dawud with ‘Awn al-Ma‘bud 4/144, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/487, Ibn Majah 1/365, Ibn Khuzaymah 2/164, Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/254
Evidence 2
In al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm, ‘Ata’ narrates from an Ansari Companion (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ saw a man praying after Fajr. Upon inquiry, the man said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I had not prayed the Sunnah, so I am praying them now."
فلم يقل له شيئا
"The Prophet ﷺ did not say anything to him."
Reference: al-Muhalla 2/154, Issue 308
Evidence 3
In Sunan Abu Dawud, the Prophet ﷺ told a Companion (RA):
صلوة الصبح ركعتان
"The prayer of Fajr is two rak‘ahs (meaning the obligatory prayer)."
The Companion replied: "I had not prayed the two Sunnah rak‘ahs, so I prayed them now."
فسكت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained silent."
Reference: Abu Dawud 4/144
In al-Tamhid by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Sahl ibn Sa‘d (RA) says:
وكان إذا رضي شيئا سكت
"Whenever the Prophet ﷺ approved of something, he would remain silent."
Evidence 4
In Sahih Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaymah, through authentic narrators, Qays (RA) reports that he prayed Fajr with the Prophet ﷺ but had not prayed the Sunnah. After the obligatory prayer, he stood to pray the Sunnah while the Prophet ﷺ watched him and:
فلم ينكر عليه
"The Prophet ﷺ did not disapprove."
References: Ibn Khuzaymah 2/163, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 2/490
Evidence 5
In Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, a Companion (RA) said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! When I arrived, you had already begun the prayer, and I had not prayed the Sunnah. I disliked praying them during your leading of the congregation, so I prayed them after the obligatory prayer."
ولم يأمره ولم ينهه
"The Prophet ﷺ neither ordered him nor forbade him."
Reference: Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/654
Evidence 6
In Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, via al-Tabarani al-Kabir, there is a narration (with some discussion on its chain) cited by Allama Shams al-Haqq al-‘Azimabadi in his work I‘lam Ahl al-‘Asr bi Ahkam Rak‘atay al-Fajr from Ibn al-Athir, who graded it sound.
Thabit ibn Qays (RA) said: "I entered the mosque while the Prophet ﷺ was praying. When he finished, I prayed the Sunnah of Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ looked at me. When I finished, he said:
ألم تصل معنا؟
'Did you not pray with us?'
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I am praying the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr because I had not prayed them at home.'
فلم يعب ذلك على
"He did not criticize me for this."
Reference: I‘lam Ahl al-‘Asr, p. 231
Conclusion from All the Ahadith
These narrations clearly establish that the Prophet ﷺ saw multiple instances where the Sunnah of Fajr was prayed after the obligatory prayer but before sunrise, yet he neither objected nor prohibited it. In some cases, he explicitly said "Then there is no problem", and in others, he remained silent — which, as per the Sunnah, indicates approval.
Statements from ‘Ata’, Tawus, and Ibn Jurayj also indicate its permissibility, as recorded in Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq (vol. 2, p. 442).
And as narrated in al-Tamhid:
وكان إذا رضي شيئا سكت
"Whenever the Prophet ﷺ approved of something, he would remain silent."
Otherwise, remaining silent upon seeing something prohibited would contradict the Prophetic role, so he would certainly have prohibited it — but he did not.
