Question:
Assalamualaikum. Hope for an explanation from the Mufti’s Office regarding the time for sunnah Subuh prayer. Is it supposed to be performed before or after the time of Subuh prayer begins? Thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Sunnah fajar prayer or sunnah Subuh prayer is an encouraged sunnah. Undeniably, there are various benefits and advantages promised for those who perform it. This is as stated in a hadith narrated by Saidatina Aisyah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا
“The two rak'ahs at dawn are better than this world and what it contains.”
Sahih Muslim (725)
Sunnah Subuh prayer is included in the category of sunnah rawatib prayer performed before the obligatory prayer to accommodate the insufficiencies when performing the obligatory prayers such as not having khusyuk or not contemplating on the verses of the Quran recited. (See Hasyiah al-Bujairimi ala al-Khatib, 1/413-414)
Furthermore, we have also written about the advantages of sunnah Subuh prayer in an article on sunnah rawatib prayer. Thus, for further in-depth information, you can refer to the following articles:
- AL-KAFI 1029: THE MU’AKKAD AND OTHER RAWATIB PRAYERS
- IRSYAD AL-HADITH SERIES 192: THE ADVANTAGES OF SUNNAH FAJAR PRAYER
The Time of Sunnah Subuh Prayer
Coming back to the above question asked, to explain the time for sunnah Subuh prayer, we present several evidences and opinions of fuqaha to understand this further.
In explaining the time for sunnah Subuh prayer, the Prophet PBUH performed it after the adhan for Subuh and clearly the time for fajar begins. This is as stated in a hadith narrated by Saidatina Aisyah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلإِقَامَةِ
“And when the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call (for the) dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly and the Mu'adhdhin had come to him, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to him for lqama.”
Sahih Muslim (736)
Moreover, in another hadith narrated by Abd al-Razaq, the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ طُلُوعِ اَلْفَجْرِ إِلَّا رَكْعَتَيْ اَلْفَجْرِ
"There is no Salat (voluntary prayer) after the break of dawn ecept the two (Sunnah) Rak'a of Fajr."
Bulugh al-Maram (28)
Imam al-San’ani stated the above hadith as an evidence of the prohibition of sunnah prayer after the sun rises before performing the obligatory Subuh prayer except for the sunnah fajar prayer. (See Subul al-Salam, 1/175)
Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi explained in his book that the opinion of the ashab of al-Syafi’e regarding the time for the sunnah prayer is before performing the obligatory prayer, after the time for the obligatory prayer begins. (See al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 4/11)
Likewise, it is stated by Imam Khatib al-Syirbini and Syeikh Umar al-Bantani, the time for sunnah rawatib prayer begins before the performance of obligatory prayer which is starting from the obligatory prayers’ time. (See Mughni al-Muhtaj, 1/457; Nihayah al-Zain, 1/101
Dr Wahbah Zuhaili stated two rakaat before fajar prayer (Subuh) and time for both is at the start of Subuh. (See al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh, 2/1057)
Conclusion
According to the above question asked and the explanation from the evidences and opinions of scholars, we can conclude that the time for sunnah Subuh prayer is after the time for Subuh prayer starts and before performing the obligatory Subuh prayer.
May Allah SWT give us all sahih understanding on His religion and bless us with taufiq and hidayah which enable us to practise His commandments the best we could.