Is It Permissible to Perform the Fajr Prayer after Sunrise?

Answered by Shaykh Dr. Bassem Itani

Question

Is it permissible to perform the Fajr prayer after sunrise?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

Ruling

It is not permissible to perform the Fajr prayer at sunrise. If you wake up at sunrise and have missed the obligatory Fajr prayer, do not pray at sunrise. Instead, you should wait approximately ten minutes or a third of an hour after sunrise, then perform the sunna of Fajr along with the Fajr Fard (obligatory).

This was also experienced by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions during a journey. Some of the companions suggested stopping to rest at the end of the night. The Prophet said, “I fear that you may miss the prayer.” Bilal said, “I will wake you,” and they all rested. However, Bilal leaned against his camel and fell asleep until the Prophet woke up after sunrise. The Prophet said, “O Bilal, what about what you said?” Bilal replied, “I have never been overcome by sleep like that before.” The Prophet said, “Indeed, Allah took your souls when He wished and returned them when He wished. O Bilal, get up and call the people to prayer.” They performed ablution, and when the sun had risen higher and became bright, they prayed. [Bukhari]

This incident indicates that it is not permissible to pray at sunrise because the Prophet waited until the sun was clear and bright, and there are also prohibitions against this [‘Ayni, Umdat al-Qari]

The Prophet Muhammad instructed us (the Companions) not to pray or bury our dead during three times: “When the sun rises until it is fully up, when it is at its zenith until it begins to decline, and when it starts to set until it has fully set.” [Muslim]

The prohibition addressed to the Companions extends to all members of the community.

Summary

In conclusion, according to the Hanafi school, it is not permissible to make up missed obligatory prayers or others at sunrise, at the zenith, or at sunset due to the general prohibition at these times.

Advice

Allah guides us to maintain our prayers on time. I advise every Muslim to make their utmost effort to perform the Fajr prayer and other prayers at their prescribed times; as Allah (Most High) says,

“Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times.” [Quran, 4:103]

And to avoid any reason that may delay them from praying. If sleep overcomes you, you are not held accountable or sinful, but you must make up the prayer.

And Allah is the Guardian of success and knows best.

[Shaykh] Dr. Bassem Itani

Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all. 

Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.

His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.