Fajr prayer

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Fajr prayer
Desert Dawn.jpg
Official nameصلاة الفجر، صلاة الصبح، صلاة الغداة
Observed by Muslims
TypeIslam
SignificanceMorning prayer
BeginsDawn
EndsSunrise
FrequencyDaily

The fajr prayer, [a] alternatively transliterated as fadjr prayer, and also known as the subh prayer, [b] [c] is a salah (ritual prayer) offered in the early morning. Consisting of two rak'a (units), it is performed between the break of dawn and sunrise. [2] [3] It is one of two prayers mentioned by name in the Qur'an. [4] [5] Due to its timing, Islamic belief holds the fajr prayer to be of great importance. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims begin fasting with the fajr prayer.

Contents

Performance

The fajr prayer consists of two compulsory (fardh) units of prayer (rak'a). In addition, the voluntary sunnah prayer consists of two units of prayer and can be performed before the compulsory prayer. [6]

In fajr, Al-Fatiha and the additional surah are to be read aloud (jahr), as during Maghrib and Isha. [7] It is commonly performed silently when waking up in the morning. [8]

The prayer includes wudu (ritual purification) and salat (ritual prayer). [9]

Fajr replaced salat al-duha as the morning prayer before the five prayers were standardized. [10]

Textual references

Qur'an

Qur'an 11:114 commands Muhammad to recite at dawn. [11] This verse is taken as foundational for prescribing the times for prayer. [12]

In Qur'an 17:78, dawn is one of the three times that prayer is to be performed. [13] According to Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's commentary on angels ( Al-Haba'ik fi Akhbar al-Mala'ik ), this verse describes the witnessing of dawn prayer by the angels of the day and the night. [14]

The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the Isha prayer and the Fajr prayer. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.

Muhammad,narrated by Ibn Majah in Sunan Ibn Majah

Timings

The timings for the prayer are prescribed by the hadith. [15]

SchoolStart timeEnd time
Ahmadi Islam dawn [16] a few minutes before sunrise [16]
Quranist Islam dawn [17] [18] [19] sunrise [17] [18] [19]
Shia Islam true dawn [20] sunrise [20]
Sunni Islam "the true dawn" (al-fajr al-sadiq) The true dawn is indicated by a white line appearing across the horizon, in contrast to "the false dawn" (al-fajr al-kadhib) shortly before which appears as a vertical line. [21] [20] [1] sunrise; in the Maliki school, until ifsar or until sunrise with a valid excuse [20] [1]

See also

The other Islamic obligatory prayers, which are, in chronological order following the fajr prayer: Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha.

Notes

  1. Arabic: صَلَاةُ الْفَجْر, romanized: Ṣalāt al-Fajr
  2. Arabic: صَلَاةُ الْصُبْح, romanized: Ṣalāt al-Ṣubḥ
  3. Some Malikis do not use them interchangeably, referring to the two-rakat voluntary Sunnah prayer as "fajr" and the two-rakat mandatory fardh prayer as "Subh" [1]

Related Research Articles

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In Islam, a Nafl Prayer, or optional prayer, is a type of a non-obligatory prayer. They are believed to give extra reward to the person performing them, similar to sunnah prayers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunnah prayer</span> Optional ritual prayer in Islam

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<i>Salah</i> Form of daily obligatory prayer in Islam

Salah is the practice of formal worship in Islam, consisting of a series of ritual prayers performed at prescribed times daily. Facing the Kaaba in Mecca, it consists of units known as rak'ah, which include a specific set of physical postures, recitation from the Quran, and prayers from the Sunnah. The number of rak'ah varies depending on the specific prayer. Variations in practice are observed among adherents of different madhahib. The term salah may denote worship in general or specifically refer to the obligatory prayers performed by Muslims five times daily, or, in some traditions, three times daily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congregational prayer (Islam)</span> Islamic prayer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sign prayer</span> One of the Shia obligatory prayers

The signs prayer is one of the Muslim prayers that is optional for Sunni Muslims, but mandatory for Shīʿa Muslims. When solar or lunar eclipses, earthquakes, thunder, or other natural phenomena occur, Muslims may have to pray Ṣalāt al-ʾĀyāt. In Twelver Shia Islam, al-Ayat Prayer consists of two Rakats, and there are five Ruku in each. It is for specific conditions and have been described in detail in resalah of marja's.

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