[Q 677] Imam Leading Fajr Without Sunnah

Question

Can an imam lead the Fajr prayer without first offering the two Sunnah rak’ahs of Fajr?

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

The Sunnah prayers of Fajr are among the Sunan Mu’akkadah; rather, their emphasis is very high in Shari’ah. Therefore, to leave them occasionally without a Shar’i excuse is isa’at (i.e., a bad and blameworthy act), whereas making it a habit is fisq and sin. However, if the time for the Fard prayer becomes constrained, it is permissible for the Imam to lead the Fard prayer without performing the Sunnah of Fajr; because in such a situation, performing the Sunnah of Fajr is also makruh. However, the Sunnah of Fajr cannot be abandoned merely due to the congregation being late.

The Sunnah of Fajr is among the Sunan Mu’akkadah. As stated in Al-Ashbah wal-Nadhair and Durr al-Mukhtar, and the wording is from the latter:

“وسن مؤكدا۔۔۔۔۔ركعتان قبل الصبح”

(Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Witr wal-Nawafil, vol. 2, p. 545-46, published Quetta)

Regarding the ruling on abandoning Sunan Mu’akkadah prayers, it is stated in Fatawa Ridawiyyah:

“There are twelve rak’ahs of Sunnah Mu’akkadah in a day and night: two before Fajr, four before Dhuhr and two after Dhuhr, and two after Maghrib and two after Isha. Whoever leaves any of these even once or twice is worthy of blame and censure. And one who habitually leaves any of them is a sinner (gunahgar), a fasiq, and deserving of punishment.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol. 6, p. 509, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

It is stated in Bahar-e-Shari’at:

“If the time for Fard becomes constrained, then every prayer, even the Sunnah of Fajr and Dhuhr, is makruh.”

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, part 3, p. 457, Maktabat al-Madinah, Karachi)

Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 24th July 2026