What Is the Objective Behind the Timing of Fajr?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

What is the objective of the nature of Fajr’s timing?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

The timing of Fajr, like the other five prayers, is a devotional matter. Its exact limits come from revelation, not human reasoning. The main purpose is for us to submit to Allah’s command.

The Ruling and Its Basis

Allah (Most High) says: “Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times.” [Quran 4:103]

Those appointed times were taught to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) directly, when Jibril (Allah bless him and give him peace) led him in prayer at the beginning and end of each prayer’s time and said: “The time is between these two.” [Tirmidhi]

The start of Fajr at true dawn is based on this, and not on any human rationale, and Allah knows best.

There is a difference between the legal reason for a ruling and its wisdom. Fajr begins when true dawn appears, and this is the basis for the ruling.

We might notice some wisdom, such as starting the day with prayer before anything else, and Allah says that the dawn recitation is “certainly witnessed” by the angels [Quran 17:78].

Still, the ruling does not depend on our understanding of these reasons. When the wisdom is not clear, scholars remind us that the main point is to submit. Many say that obeying in such cases brings even greater reward because it shows trust in Allah.

The Principle and Practical Guidance

We follow Sacred Law because Allah has commanded it. Any wisdom we discover is a gift, not a requirement. Pray Fajr at its proper time, and let your acceptance of this be an act of worship.

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.