was [that] when the mu'adhdhin would give the adhan and Fajr would break, he would pray two rak'ahs." Agreed upon (10). In a version narrated by Muslim: "And after Jumu'ah, two sajdahs (prostrations)." And it did not mention two rak'ahs before the morning prayer. Al-Tirmidhi narrated from 'A'isha, from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), something similar (11), and said: "It is a Sahih (authentic) hadith." His statement, "May Allah have mercy on a person who prays four [rak'ahs] before 'Asr," is an encouragement to do so; it does not classify it among the regular Sunnah prayers, as evidenced by the fact that Ibn 'Umar, who narrated it, did not memorize it [as a regular Sunnah] from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Furthermore, the hadith of 'A'isha has been contested, as a narration similar to that of Ibn 'Umar has been reported from her.
Section: The most emphasized of these rak'ahs are the two rak'ahs of Fajr. 'A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was not more diligent in [performing] any supererogatory prayer than the two rak'ahs before the morning prayer" (12). Agreed upon (13). In another wording: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) more hasty in any supererogatory prayer than the two rak'ahs before Fajr." Recorded by Muslim. He also said: "The two rak'ahs of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it." In another wording: "They are more beloved to me than the world and what is in it." Recorded by Muslim. From Abu Hurayra, who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Pray them even if horses pursue you." Recorded by Abu Dawud (14). It is recommended to perform them briefly, for 'A'isha said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to pray the two rak'ahs of Fajr and perform them lightly, such that I would say: Did he recite the Opening of the Book (Umm al-Kitab) in them?" Agreed upon (15). It is recommended to recite in them "Say, O disbelievers" [Qul ya ayyuha al-kafirun] and "Say, He is Allah, [who is] One" [Qul huwallahu ahad], based on what Abu Hurayra narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) recited in the two rak'ahs of Fajr "Say, O disbelievers" and "Say, He is Allah, [who is] One." Recorded by Muslim (16). Ibn 'Umar said: "I observed the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) for a month, and he used to recite in the two rak'ahs before Fajr 'Say, O disbelievers' and 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One'" (17). Al-Tirmidhi said: "This is a Hasan (good) hadith." From Ibn 'Abbas, who said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite in the two rak'ahs of..."
(10) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on the rak'ahs before Dhuhr, from the Book of Tahajjud. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/74. And Muslim, in: The chapter on the excellence of regular Sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory prayers and the explanation of their number, from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/504. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The chapter on the branching of the chapters of voluntary prayer and the rak'ahs of the Sunnah, from the Book of Voluntary Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/288. Al-Nasa'i, in: The chapter on prayer after Dhuhr, from the Book of Imamat. Al-Mujtaba 2/92. Al-Tirmidhi, in: The chapter on what has been narrated regarding him praying them at home, from the chapters on prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/224. Imam Malik, in: The chapter on the practice regarding the congregational prayer, from the Book of Travel. Al-Muwatta 1/166. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/6, 51, 63, 73, 74, 99, 100, 117, 141. (11) In: The chapter on what has been narrated regarding the two rak'ahs after 'Isha', from the chapters on prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/226. (12) In [manuscript] M: "The two rak'ahs of Fajr." This is the narration of al-Bukhari. What is in the original text is the narration of Muslim. (13) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The chapter on observing the two rak'ahs of Fajr and who named them voluntary [prayer], from the Book of Tahajjud. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/71, 72. And Muslim, in: The chapter on the recommendation of the two rak'ahs of the Sunnah of Fajr... etc., from the Book of the Traveler's Prayer. Sahih Muslim 1/501, 502. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The chapter on the two rak'ahs of Fajr, from the Book of Voluntary Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/289. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/43, 54, 170.
