❖ The Virtue of the Two Sunnah Rak‘ahs of Fajr Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the virtue of the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr prayer?
✿ Answer:
The two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr (Dawn) prayer hold immense virtue and superiority.
◈ Qur’anic Indication:
﴿فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ﴾
“So glorify the praises of your Lord at the setting of the stars.”— [Sūrat al-Ṭūr: 49]
Some scholars interpret this verse as referring to the Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr.
❖ Ahādīth on the Virtue of Fajr Sunnahs:
① Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها
“The two rak‘ahs of Fajr are better than the world and all it contains.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 725② In another narration:
لهما أحب إلى من الدنيا جميعا
“They are more beloved to me than the entire world.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 725/97③ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها also reported:
“Among all the voluntary prayers, the Prophet ﷺ was most regular in observing the two rak‘ahs of Fajr.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1169 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 724/94④ She also narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led the ‘Ishā’ prayer, then offered eight rak‘ahs of Tahajjud, followed by two rak‘ahs in a sitting posture. After that, he prayed the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr between the Adhān and Iqāmah — a practice he never abandoned.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1159
Summary of Virtues:
✔ The two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr are:
- Better than the entire world and what it contains.
- More beloved to the Prophet ﷺ than all worldly possessions.
- The most consistently practiced Sunnah by the Prophet ﷺ.
- A practice the Prophet ﷺ never abandoned.
