✦ The Two Rakʿahs Before Fajr Prayer ✦
Source: Fatāwā Amonpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amonpuri
❖ The Question
What is the ruling regarding the two rakʿahs before the Fajr prayer?
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The two rakʿahs before Fajr are Sunnah Muʾakkadah. Among all the nafl prayers, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was most consistent in observing these two rakʿahs. They are Sunnah Muʾakkadah, not wājib.
❀ ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها reported:
لم يكن على شيء من النوافل أشد معاهدة منه على ركعتين قبل الصبح
“The Prophet ﷺ was more regular in observing the two rakʿahs before Fajr than in any other nafl prayer.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1169; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 724/94)
❀ Imām Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله (d. 656H) said:
استدل بهذا من قال : إنهما سنة، وهو قول كافة العلماء
“This ḥadīth is evidence for those who say these two rakʿahs are Sunnah, and this is the view of all the scholars.”
(al-Mufhim, 2/363)
❖ Conclusion
The two rakʿahs before Fajr are Sunnah Muʾakkadah. The Prophet ﷺ never abandoned them, showing their importance, yet they are not wājib.
✿ ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب ✿
