Fajr is a special time of the day. Allah the Exalted takes an oath by it in Surat Al Fajr, and whatever Allah takes an oath by is something special. This is the time of the day when all creatures on the earth start waking up. The sun spreads its first rays across the horizon, birds start making tasbih of Allah, plants start their day’s cycle, and Muslims pray their first prayers of the day. It is also the time when it is the hardest for us to wake up and pray. Let us look at some of the special blessings which Allah has bestowed on this time period, so that we can utilize them and have a blessed start of every day.
- Special prayer of the Prophet (saws) for barakah
The Prophet (saws) made the following dua for his ummah:
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لأُمَّتِي فِي بُكُورِهَا
O Allah, bless my nation in their early mornings (i.e., what they do early in the morning). [ibn Majah]
- The two unit Sunnah prayer
Allah’s Messenger said: “The two Rak’ah of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it.” [Tirmidhi]
- The two unit obligatory prayer
The Prophet said,
Whoever performs the Prayer before the rising of the sun [Fajr] and before its setting [‘Asr], will not enter the Hell. [Muslim]
Also,
Whoever prays the two cooler prayer times (i.e., Fajr and `Asr) will enter Paradise. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Also,
Whoever prays Fajr is under the protection of Allaah, so do not fall short with regard to the rights of Allaah, for anyone who does that, Allaah will seize him and will throw him on his face into the Fire of Hell. [Muslim]
- Praying Fajr in congregation
He who went towards the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah would arrange a feast for him morning or evening in Paradise. [Sahih Muslim]
The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the ‘Isha’ prayer and the Fajr prayer. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl. [ibn Majah]
- Protection from shayateen:
Whoever offers the morning prayer, he is under the protection of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. [ibn Majah]