We kindly ask you to clarify the encouragement found in the Prophet’s Sunnah to regularly perform the Sunnah prayer of Fajr, and to explain its virtue and prescribed time.

The Sunnah prayer performed before Fajr is strongly emphasized in the Prophet’s Sunnah, where it is reported that it is better than the world and all that it contains and that it is among the best deeds by which a Muslim draws closer to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never abandoned the prayer, whether while traveling or at home.

 ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The two rakʿahs of Fajr are better than the world and all that it contains,” and that he said concerning the two rakʿahs of Sunnah performed at the break of dawn, “They are more beloved to me than the entire world” (recorded by Muslim).[1] In yet another report, she said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not more committed to any of the voluntary prayers than he was to the two [Sunnah] rak’ahs of Fajr” (Bukhari and Muslim).[2]

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not abandon the two rakʿahs of Fajr, even if horses were to chase you”
(recorded by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad, Abu Dawud and al-Bayhaqi in their respective Sunan, al-Bazzar in Al-Musnad, and al-Tahawi in Sharh Maʿani al-Athar).

The basic principle is that the two Sunnah rakʿahs of Fajr are to be performed before the obligatory prayer. This is based on a report from Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever prays twelve rakʿahs in a day and night will have a house built for him in Paradise: four before Dhuhr and two after it, two after Maghrib, two after ‘Isha, and two before Fajr” (recorded by al-Tirmidhi in Al-Sunan and by al-Tabarani in Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir). This is the view adopted by the leading scholars and jurists of the recognized schools of jurisprudence.[3]

And Allah Almighty knows best.