Derived from: Fatawa Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
Can the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr be performed after the obligatory prayer?
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.
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.)
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.”)
◈ 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.
❖ 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.
