every two calls to prayer there is a prayer; between every two calls to prayer there is a prayer; between every two calls to prayer there is a prayer.” On the third occasion he added, “for anyone who wishes.” Agreed upon.

What is meant by “the two calls” is the adhan and the iqamah.

196 – Chapter: The confirmed two-rakʿah sunnah before Fajr

1107 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ never left off four rakʿahs before Ẓuhr and two rakʿahs before the dawn prayer (1). Reported by al-Bukhārī.

1108 – She also said: The Prophet ﷺ was more constant in observing no voluntary prayer than the two rakʿahs of Fajr. Agreed upon.

1109 – She further narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The two rakʿahs of Fajr are better than the whole world and everything in it.” Reported by Muslim. Another narration states: “They are dearer to me than the entire world.”

1110 – Abū ʿAbd Allāh Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ (may Allah be pleased with him), the caller to prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, narrated that he came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to summon him (2) for the dawn prayer. ʿĀʾishah kept Bilāl occupied with a question she was asking until the morning light had grown very bright. Bilāl then stood, gave the adhan, and immediately followed it with the iqamah, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out. When he finally emerged he led the people in prayer, and Bilāl informed him that ʿĀʾishah had detained him with her question until full daylight and that this had delayed his going out. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I was praying the two rakʿahs of Fajr.” Bilāl remarked, “Messenger of Allah, the morning is already very bright!” He replied, “Even if it had become brighter than this, I would still perform those two rakʿahs, and I would pray them with excellence and composure.” Reported by Abū Dāwūd with a good chain of transmission.