Can I Pray Fajr After Sunrise Without Being Sinful?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: I can’t pray fajr prayer because I have sleep problems. Can I pray fajr at zuhr time following what is entailed by the Hadith below?
A woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when we were with him and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, my husband Safwaan ibn al-Mu’attal does not pray Fajr until the sun has risen.” Safwaan was with him, so he asked him about what she had said, and he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, we are a family who are known not to wake up until the sun has risen.” He said: “When you wake up, then pray.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2459
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
No, you must pray Fajr in its respective time, and cannot deliberately miss it.
The tradition (hadith) cited is not permission to miss the prayer as Mulla Ali al-Qari states in his Mirqat al-Mafatih. The man had an exceptional situation and it was as if he was unconscious when he was asleep; considering the circumstances, the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), from his gentleness with his Community, gave him a solution.
I’d advise consulting a doctor to help diagnose your issue and assist in resolving it. With that, supplicate daily for Allah to make it easy for you, pray the Prayer of Need (salat al-hajah) [see: How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (salat al-haja)?], and take every reasonable means to be able to wake up on time. [see: Praiseworthy Acts to Do Before Sleeping]
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.