Can I Delay Fajr Until Late Morning If I Overslept?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: What is the ruling in regards to fajr prayer If I was to wake up just after its time has lapsed and decide to then continue my sleep and pray before Duhr but after I wake up.

I have heard of the Hadith that if we miss the prayer due to sleep we should perform it as soon as we are able to so I’m assuming a ruling would be derived from this?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

According to the Hanafi school, it would be permitted to delay making up one’s missed Fajr prayer until later in the same morning (and before the noon (Dhuhr) prayer). [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

There would be nothing wrong, per se, with doing this.

However, missing a prayer is an extremely serious matter. Deciding to continue with one’s sleep could be regarded as poor adab or ‘not the right thing to do’. Somebody serious about their religion would arise immediately, perform the makeup (qada) and repent for their sin. It is mentioned that the prayer is one of the first things one will be asked about on the Last Day. One would do well to keep it in check.

Making up Missed Prayers (qada)

It is obligatory to make up one’s missed prayers (qada). There is scholarly consensus, from those whose opinion counts, on this as noted by Imam Nawawi (Allah be pleased with him) in his al-Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘Whoever forgets a prayer must perform it when they remember it.’ [Bukhari; Muslim]

And Allah knows best and He alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani