Comprehensive Guide to Fajr Prayer, Fajr Rakats, Dhikr, and Dua

Table of Contents

Hi, dear readers! Are you searching for an explanation of the Fajr prayer, Fajr rakats, dhikr for Fajr, and dua for Fajr? If your answer is “Yes,” then congratulations! You have found the right article. Why? Because this is exactly what I will explain here. As Muslims, understanding these topics is essential, and that is why I've written this article. So, read it to the end!

Specifically, this article covers five important aspects of the Fajr prayer. Let's dive into each of these topics in detail.

What Is Fajr Prayer?

The first essential aspect of Fajr prayer that we will discuss is: "What is Fajr prayer?" Understanding this concept is crucial because it lays the foundation for the rest of the discussion.

In general, Islamic teachings emphasize that Fajr prayer (صلاة الصبح) is one of the five obligatory prayers in Islam. It is mandatory for every mature Muslim who has no valid excuse to miss it. Neglecting the Fajr prayer without justification is a sin.

Can You Pray Fajr Early?

The time for Fajr prayer begins at the true dawn (الفجر الصادق) and lasts until just before the sun rises. This timing is confirmed by several authentic hadiths.

Hadith About Fajr Prayer and Its Timing

Here are some of the hadiths that explain the Fajr prayer and its timing:

عنْ مُحَمَدِ بْنِ عَمْرُ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ، قَالَ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ الْحَجَّاجُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَسَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ فَقَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي الْظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ نَقِيَةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ وَالْعِشَاءَ أَحْيَانًا يُؤَخِّرُهَا وَأَحْيَانًا يُعَجِّلُهَا، كَانَ إِذَا رَآَهُمْ قَدْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَجَّلَ، وَإِذَا رَآَهُمْ قَدْ أَبْطَؤُوا أَخْرَ، وَالْصُبْحَ كَانُوا أَوْ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّيهَا بِغَلَسٝ

Translation:

From Muhammad bin Amr bin al-Hasan bin Ali: When Hajjaj came to Medina, we asked Jabir bin Abdullah about the timings of prayer as observed by the Holy Prophet SAW. He said: The Messenger of Allah SAW used to pray the afternoon prayer in the midday heat, the afternoon prayer when the sun was still bright, the evening prayer after the sun had completely set, and the night prayer either delayed or at earlier hours depending on the congregation's readiness. As for the morning prayer, he SAW observed it during the darkness before dawn.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ :‏‏ وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ كَطُولِهِ مَا لَمْ يَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَغِبِ الشَّفَقُ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ الأَوْسَطِ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ مِنْ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَمْسِكْ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ

Translation:

From Abdullah bin Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah SAW said: The time for the noon prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and lasts until the shadow of a man equals his height. The afternoon prayer lasts until the sun becomes pale. The evening prayer lasts until the twilight disappears. The night prayer extends until the middle of the night, and the morning prayer lasts from the break of dawn until sunrise. When the sun rises, refrain from prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.

How Many Rakats in Fajr?

This is a brief explanation of the Fajr prayer, the hadith about it, and its times. As Muslims, we must understand these teachings.

How Many Rakats in Fajr?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the Fajr prayer is: How many rakats are in Fajr? Here's the answer:

In general, Islamic teachings specify that Fajr consists of two rakats. This is obligatory and must be performed by all Muslims.

Hadith about Rakats in Fajr

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا افْتُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَانِ رَكْعَتَانِ إِلَّا الْمَغْرِبَ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَرْبَعًا فِي الْحَضَرِ وَأَقَرَّ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى فَرْضِهَا الْأَوَّلِ فِي السَّفَرِ

Translation:

From Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad SAW: The Messenger of Allah SAW was initially obligated to perform two rakats for each prayer except Maghrib, which consisted of three rakats. Later, Allah increased Zuhr, Asr, and Isha to four rakats while traveling retained its original two rakats.

This clarifies that the Fajr prayer comprises two rakats as an essential part of Islamic worship.

How Do You Pray Fajr Prayer?

Another important question is: How do you pray the Fajr prayer? Below is a step-by-step guide:

• Purify Yourself: Perform wudu (ablution) or ghusl (if necessary) to cleanse yourself of minor or major impurities.
• Make the Intention (Niyyah):

Arabic Niyyah for Fajr Prayer:

أُصَلِّي فَرْضَ الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

(I intend to perform the Fajr prayer, two rakats, facing the Qiblah, as an obligation, for Allah Taala.)

• Perform Obligatory Movements: These include takbir, bowing (ruku), standing (i'tidal), prostration (sujood), sitting (tashahud), and more.
• Recite the Required Verses and Prayers: Read Surah al-Fatihah, additional Quranic verses, and the specific prayers for each position in salah.

This is a concise guide to performing Fajr prayer properly.

Dhikr After Fajr Prayer

The importance of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) after the Fajr prayer cannot be overstated. Some of the best dhikr include:

• Recite Tasbih (سُبْحَانَ اللهِ) 33 times.
• Recite Tahmid (الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ) 33 times.
• Recite Takbir (اللهُ أَكْبَرُ) 33 times.
• Recite Tahlil (لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ): Once.
• Read Ayatul Kursi (2:255): Once.
• Recite Surah al-Ikhlas (قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ): Once.

Hadith About Dhikr Fajr

The hadith about dhikr Fajr is as follows:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ؛ مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللهَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ ، وَحَمِدَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ ، وَكَبَّرَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ , فَتِلْكَ تِسْعٌ وَتِسْعُوْنَ ، وَقَالَ تَمَامَ الْمِائَةِ ؛ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ ، غُفِرَتْ خَطَايَاهُ وَلَوْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites tasbih (subhanAllah) 33 times, tahmid (alhamdulillah) 33 times, and takbir (Allahu Akbar) 33 times after every prayer, making a total of 99, and then completes it with, 'La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer,' all his sins will be forgiven, even if they are as much as the foam of the sea." This hadith is narrated by Muslim.

عَنْ أَبِيْ أُمَامَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ؛ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؛ مَنْ قَرَأَ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ مَكْتُوْبَةٍ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ مِنْ دُخُوْلِ الْجَنَّةِ إِلَّا الْمَوْتُ . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ . وَزَادَ فِيْهِ الطَّبْرَانِيُّ ؛ وَقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ

From Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever reads Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise except death.'" This hadith is narrated by an-Nasa'i, with an additional narration by at-Tabarani: "And say, 'He is Allah, the One (قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ).'"

These hadiths emphasize the immense blessings of dhikr Fajr and other dhikr recited after obligatory prayers.

Dua Fajr

The next important aspect of Fajr is dua Fajr. Understanding and practicing dua after Fajr prayer holds significant spiritual benefits. Among the recommended duas is the Qunut Prayer.

General Dua After Fajr Prayer

After Fajr prayer, a person can ask Allah for anything permissible. However, there are specific duas that hold great importance. Below are two examples:

Dua for Parents

One of the most significant duas is for parents:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِيْ صَغِيْرًا

"O my Lord, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy on them as they raised me when I was little."

This dua highlights the duty of Muslims to pray for their parents, as emphasized in the Quran and hadith:

وَقَضٰى رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْٓا اِلَّآ اِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ اِحْسٰنًاۗ اِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ اَحَدُهُمَآ اَوْ كِلٰهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَّهُمَآ اُفٍّ وَّلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيْمًا

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment." (Al-Isra' [17]: 23).

وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُلْ رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيٰنِيْ صَغِيْرًا

"And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, 'My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" (Al-Isra' [17]: 24).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also emphasized serving one's parents in the following hadith:

عَنْ عَبْدِاللهِ بْنِ عَمْرُو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ : جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَأْذِنُهُ فِيْ الْجِهَادِ ، فَقَالَ : أَحَيٌّ وَالِدَاكَ ؟ ، قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، قَالَ : فَفِيْهِمَا فَجَاهِدْ

From Abdullah bin Umar radliyallahu anhuma, he said, "Someone came to the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to ask him for permission to do jihad. He then asked, "Are your parents still alive?" The person replied, "Yes." He said, "Do good to both of them."

Dua for Dhikr and Gratitude

Another essential dua is to seek Allah's help in remembering Him and being grateful:

عَنْ مُعَاذٍ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَهُ ؛ أُوْصِيْكَ يَا مُعَاذُ لَا تَدَعَنَّ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ ؛ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

From Mu'adz bin Jabal radiyallahu anhu, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had said to him, "I will instruct you, O Mu'adz, after every prayer do not leave dhikr, "O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful for Your favors, and worship You well." The hadith was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Daud, and an-Nasa'i.

Conclusion

The practices of dhikr Fajr, dua Fajr, and reciting Quranic verses such as Ayat al-Kursi after prayer are essential elements of a Muslim's life. They not only bring spiritual blessings but also help strengthen one's connection with Allah. As Muslims, we should strive to implement these practices consistently and with sincerity.