verse, along with its bowing, prostration, and the rest of the acts of prayer. This indicates that he would perform it very promptly.

Third: as regards its underlying meaning, performing it promptly is better because a person does not know what may happen to him. The time may enter while he is healthy and well, meeting all the conditions of prayer, then something may arise that prevents him from performing the prayer, or from performing it completely—such as illness, death, imprisonment, or the like. Sound judgment therefore dictates that he should perform it early.

As for those who hold that delaying the dawn prayer is better, citing the hadith, “Pray the dawn prayer when it has become bright, for that brings greater reward for you” (1), then—if this hadith is authentic—what is meant is: do not perform it hastily until the isfār (the brightening of dawn) becomes clear to you and you are certain of it. In this way, we reconcile the Prophet’s regular and unvarying practice of praying it while still dark with this hadith.

If it is asked: What is the wisdom behind assigning it to these times?