If the Sun Begins to Rise While I Am Still in Fajr Prayer. Is My Prayer Valid in Shafi’i School?

Answered by Shaykh Farid Dingle

Question

I was late for the Fajr prayer; only two minutes were left. I finished just at sunrise after praying the qirats, tashahudd, durud, and dua masura quickly while keeping up with the Fara’id, Sunan, and Wajibat.

Is my prayer valid or not?

Answer

Thank you for your important question.

It is not permissible to intentionally delay Fajr until one can only pray a part of the prayer on time. However, if one ends up praying part of the prayer while the sun is rising, the prayer is still valid. [Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “If one of you sleeps through a prayer time or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

According to Shafi’i school, this applies to any time of day, including sunrise.

I pray this helps.
[Shaykh] Farid Dingle
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.