SAEDNEWS: Avoiding missing the Fajr prayer is very important, as there is strong emphasis on performing the Fajr prayer at its prescribed time. There are also numerous hadiths that address the importance of this matter.
According to Saednews, Numerous hadiths emphasize the importance of performing the Fajr prayer at the earliest possible time and, whenever possible, in congregation. Although all obligatory prayers carry great merit when performed promptly and in congregation, the Fajr and Isha prayers are given particular emphasis. Therefore, Muslims are encouraged to give special attention to the Fajr prayer and make every effort not to miss it. Unfortunately, many people regularly sleep through Fajr and make up the prayer later.
The following teachings and narrations highlight the exceptional importance of Fajr and offer guidance on how to avoid missing it.
Ayatollah Bahjat was once asked:
“What should we do so that we do not miss the Fajr prayer?”
He replied:
“Whoever performs his other prayers at the beginning of their prescribed time, Allah will awaken him for the Fajr prayer.”
Let us therefore make a firm commitment to performing our prayers at their proper times and, through sincere determination, defeat Satan. Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) is reported to have said regarding prayer:
“Nothing crushes Satan's nose more effectively than prayer. So pray and crush Satan's nose.”
(Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 498)
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), quoting the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), narrated:
“Whoever wishes to rise during the night for worship, when he goes to bed should say: ‘In the name of Allah. O Allah, do not make me feel secure from Your plan, do not let me forget Your remembrance, and do not include me among the heedless. I will rise at such-and-such an hour.’ Allah, the Almighty, will appoint an angel to awaken him at that hour.”
(Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 540)
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) also said:
“No one recites the final verses of Surah al-Kahf before going to sleep except that he will awaken at the hour he wishes.”
(Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 540)
Al-Kulayni, Shaykh al-Tusi, and al-Tabrisi narrated from al-Zuhri that he said:
For a long time, I searched for Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance), spending a great deal of my wealth in the process, but I did not succeed in meeting him. Eventually, I met Muhammad ibn Uthman, one of the four special deputies of the Imam, and remained in his company for some time.
One day, I earnestly asked him to take me to Imam al-Mahdi. At first, Muhammad ibn Uthman refused. However, after I pleaded repeatedly, he finally agreed and told me to return early the following morning.
When I arrived the next morning, I saw a young man of remarkable beauty and pleasant fragrance, dressed like a merchant, accompanying him and carrying something in his sleeve.
When I saw the young man, I approached Muhammad ibn Uthman, but he indicated that I should speak with the young man instead. I asked him several questions, and he answered everything I wanted to know.
He then entered a house that was not particularly impressive.
Muhammad ibn Uthman told me:
“If you have anything else to ask, ask now, because you will not see him again after this.”
I followed the young man and tried to ask him more questions, but he did not respond. He entered the house, saying only these two sentences:
“Cursed, cursed is the one who delays the Isha prayer until the stars become visible. Cursed, cursed is the one who delays the Fajr prayer until the stars have disappeared.”
(Al-Ghaybah by al-Tusi, p. 271)
The Qur'an says:
“Indeed, the recitation at dawn is witnessed.”
(Qur'an 17:78)
The expression “recitation at dawn” is understood in this context as referring to the Fajr prayer. According to explanations found in Islamic commentary, this prayer is witnessed by the angels of both night and day.
At the beginning of the morning, the angels who watch over people during the night are replaced by the angels of the day. Since Fajr is performed at this transition, both groups of angels witness it and testify to it.
(Al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 341)
If we suspect that we have missed a prayer, we should make it up without delay. We should also remember the verse:
“Indeed, the recitation at dawn is witnessed.”
Before going to sleep, we should ask Allah sincerely:
“O Allah, awaken me for Fajr. Grant me the opportunity to enter Your illuminated gathering and join those who love You and call upon You.”
Try this sincerely. The great scholars have repeatedly advised that if a person genuinely asks Allah for help—even asking to be awakened for the night prayer—Allah can grant him success.
Instead of relying only on other people to wake us for Fajr, we should ask Allah and His angels, who are always awake and attentive, to help us rise for prayer.
If we truly understand the significance of Fajr, imagine waking up one morning and realizing that half an hour has passed since the call to prayer. We might think:
“What a great loss! The angels of the night have already departed, and they did not witness today's prayer.”
Developing such awareness can strengthen our determination to be awake at the time of Fajr for prayer and communion with Allah.
Everyone should understand the meaning of this verse and keep it firmly in mind, even repeating it to themselves throughout the day.
(Asrar va Adab-e Namaz, p. 219)
Another narration records that Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), in response to Ishaq ibn Ammar, said:
“When a servant performs the Fajr prayer at the appearance of dawn, it is recorded for him twice: once by the angels of the night and once by the angels of the day.”
(Al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 283)
Another important group of hadiths emphasizes performing Fajr in congregation.
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), quoting the Messenger of Allah, said:
“Whoever performs the Fajr and Isha prayers in congregation is under the protection and security of Allah. Whoever wrongs him has, in reality, wronged Allah, and whoever belittles him has, in reality, belittled Allah.”
(Al-Mahasin, vol. 1, p. 529)
The Prophet also said:
“If they knew the virtue contained in these two prayers, they would come to them even if they had to crawl on their hands and knees.”
(Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, p. 377)
In another narration, the Prophet said:
“Whoever performs the Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers in congregation in the mosque is as though he had spent the entire night in worship.”
(Wasa'il al-Shi'a, vol. 8, p. 295)
The Prophet once finished the Fajr prayer in the mosque and turned to his companions. He asked about several people by name and whether they had attended the congregational prayer.
The companions replied:
“No, O Messenger of Allah.”
The Prophet asked with surprise:
“Are they absent?”
He then said:
“Indeed, no prayer is more difficult for the hypocrites than Fajr and Isha.”
(Al-Mahasin, vol. 1, p. 84)
When Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) was seriously ill and approaching the final moments of his life, some medicine was brought to him.
He said:
“It is time for the Fajr prayer. First, bring me some water so that I may perform ablution and pray.”
Water was brought, and the Imam performed ablution and offered the Fajr prayer. Shortly afterward, his blessed soul departed this world.
(Muntaha al-Amal, vol. 2, p. 412)
Ayatollah Shaykh Hasan Ali Isfahani, widely known as Nakhodaki, reportedly advised his son in his will:
“If a person spends forty days in spiritual discipline and worship, but misses the Fajr prayer even once, the result of those forty days of worship will be lost.”
Given the extraordinary importance attributed to Fajr, why do some people who regularly perform their other prayers nevertheless miss Fajr without being sufficiently concerned about it?
The factors that prevent a person from maintaining Fajr can generally be divided into two main categories: physical and spiritual factors.
One of the most important practical causes of missing Fajr is a lack of organization and discipline in daily life.
Examples include having no consistent sleep schedule, failing to plan ahead so that one can wake up for Fajr, or taking on too many scattered responsibilities beyond one's capacity. Such habits can result in extreme fatigue and make waking up difficult.
Another factor that can contribute to heavy and prolonged sleep is overeating at night.
It is narrated that Jesus (peace be upon him) said to the Children of Israel:
“O Children of Israel, do not eat excessively. Whoever increases his eating also increases his sleeping; whoever increases his sleeping reduces his prayer and is consequently counted among the heedless.”
One of the most significant spiritual reasons a person may neglect Fajr is a lack of knowledge and awareness of Allah and His blessings.
Imagine that you have an appointment with an important official who has the power to solve one of your greatest problems, and you are certain that this person will be waiting for you at a specific time. Would you casually go to sleep at night and arrive late to the appointment, or would you make every effort to be there on time?
If a person truly understands even a small portion of Allah's grace and mercy—and realizes that the One with whom he speaks during prayer is the One who brought him into existence, bestowed countless blessings upon him, and has given him the opportunity to reach the highest levels of spiritual perfection and Paradise—would he approach prayer lazily?
Allah is also the One who controls the abundance and restriction of our provision, and the One in whose power are life and death.
With such awareness, a person would not approach prayer with indifference. Rather, he would eagerly rise and perform his prayer with love, devotion, and complete sincerity.
(Majmu'at-e Waram, vol. 1, p. 47)
