Is It Permissible to Pray the Fajr Prayer After Sunrise but Before the Eid Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum,

Is it permissible to pray the Fajr prayer after sunrise but before the Eid prayer?

Answer: Assalam alaykum wa rahmatuLlah,

The general interdiction against praying before the Eid prayer refers to voluntary prayers.

As for Fajr, it cannot be deliberately performed after sunrise. The time of Fajr is between true dawn and sunrise, and it must be prayed within that time frame. The exception is if it is unintentionally missed, in which case, it can generally be prayed at any time. But, depending on the circumstance, there could be some detail to this ruling. [see: Prohibited times for Prayers and Makeup Prayers and: Do You Have to Pray Make Up Prayers in Order?]

However, we do not rebuke those who may be somewhat lax in their religiosity or even those newly religious who pray either during sunrise itself, or thereafter. This is because (1) there is room for the acceptability of praying after the ending of Fajr according to positions in other schools, (2) they may have a legally acceptable excuse for doing so which we are unaware of, (3) their praying, even if as a makeup (qada‘), is far superior to not praying at all, and (4) commanding the good at the wrong time or in the wrong way may lead to a worse outcome, namely, their leaving the prayer altogether. But when the time is right, and on condition you have sound knowledge, you can point them with wisdom in the right direction so that they can fulfill the command correctly and in the way most pleasing to Allah Most High.

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And please also see: The Criteria of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam was born and raised in Ipswich, England, a quiet town close to the east coast of England. His journey for seeking sacred knowledge began when he privately memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown at the age of 16. He also had his first experience in leading the tarawih (nightly-Ramadan) prayers at his local mosque. Year after year he would continue this unique return to reciting the entire Quran in one blessed month both in his homeland, the UK, and also in the blessed lands of Shaam, where he now lives, studies and teaches.