However, because of his eagerness for knowledge, he would ask his sister Ḥafṣah about that time, and she would inform him that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray two light prostrations—meaning two short rakʿahs—after the dawn had broken. These are the Sunnah associated with the Dawn (Ṣubḥ) Prayer.
Points derived from the ḥadīth:
- The recommended status of the regular sunnah prayers listed above and the importance of observing them consistently.
- The ʿAṣr Prayer has no confirmed regular sunnah attached to it.
- It is preferable to perform the regular sunnahs of Maghrib, ʿIshāʾ, Fajr, and Jumuʿah at home.
- The two rakʿahs of Fajr should be performed briefly.
- Authentic reports indicate that Ẓuhr has six sunnah rakʿahs: four before it and two after it. Sunan al-Tirmidhī records the marfūʿ ḥadīth of Umm Ḥabībah: “Four before Ẓuhr and two after it.”
- Some of these rawātib precede the obligatory prayer in order to prepare the worshipper’s heart for the act of worship, while others follow it to compensate for any shortcomings that may have occurred in the obligation.
Second ḥadīth
ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet ﷺ was never more constant in any voluntary act than in the two rakʿahs of Fajr.”
In Muslim’s wording: “The two rakʿahs of Fajr are better than the world and all it contains.”
Overall meaning
This ḥadīth highlights the importance and emphatic nature of the two rakʿahs before Fajr. ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) relates that the Prophet ﷺ underscored their significance both by his practice and his statement. She affirmed that he was more diligent in maintaining them than any other supererogatory prayer, and that he ﷺ declared them to be better than the entire world and everything within it.
Points derived from the ḥadīth:
- The confirmed recommendation of the two rakʿahs before Fajr; they should not be neglected.
- Their tremendous merit, for they have been deemed better than the world and all it contains.
- The Prophet ﷺ attended to them more than to any other voluntary prayer.
- Whoever neglects them—despite their ease, immense reward, and the Lawgiver’s strong encouragement—displays weakness in his faith and deprives himself of great good.