Bismihi Ta`ala
*RECOMMENDED TO PRAY FAJR JAMAAT EARLIER DURING RAMADHAAN.*
*The timing of Salaah comes from the sunnah of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. From numerous ahadiths, the time limits of each salaah are well defined. The Qur-aan imposes on us to read Salaah at its prescribed time. (4:103)*
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا‘*
Salaah is an obligation on the believers at its prescribed time*’(4:103)*
In between the time span prescribed by sunnah, we identify a**recommended time that the beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam adopted.**This time is recommended.**For example, there are prescription of reading Zohr later in the afternoon during Summer. And earlier during winter. But the main principle in that timing is to target the time that there will be most attendance of musallees.* *So the best time for a jamaat in a Masjid is to find the easiest time of most musallees in that area and then consult a few muftis to confirm about the suitability of that time. In fact, it is mentioned in Shami that practically, it is better to do salaah at the earlier times but can be adjusted due to later time as per most attendance of musallees:*
نَعَمْ ذَكَرَ شُرَّاحُ الْهِدَايَةِ وَغَيْرُهُمْ فِي بَابِ التَّيَمُّمِ أَنَّ أَدَاءَ الصَّلَاةِ فِي أَوَّلِ الْوَقْتِ أَفْضَلُ إلَّا إذَا تَضَمَّنَ التَّأْخِيرُ فَضِيلَةً لَا تَحْصُلُ بِدُونِهِ كَتَكْثِيرِ الْجَمَاعَةِ ؛ وَلِهَذَا كَانَ أَوْلَى لِلنِّسَاءِ أَنْ يُصَلِّينَ فِي أَوَّلِ الْوَقْتِ ؛ لِأَنَّهُنَّ لَا يَخْرُجْنَ إلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ كَذَا فِي مَبْسُوطَيْ شَمْسِ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَفَخْرِ الْإِسْلَامِ رد المحتار*
Under this principle, Zohr jamaat time of most of the world masjids are not variable but rather are fixed at about lunch time throughout the year simply because most musallee workers can attend that time.**In this very angle, the ulamas of Deoband have adopted that it is better to read Jamaat Fajr salaah earlier during Ramadhaan. This recommendation is due to because most musallees are fasting and hence will find it easier to read Fajr at about 15 minutes after sehri than the usual time.* *In fact, the beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam left us with the recommended time of Fajr in the dark, after sehri. That is some minutes after sehri. But he also said to read Fajr in the latter time(when morning is brighter) is more rewardable.(Tirmizi)**Know that Fajr salaah starts after sehri and ends at the appearance time of sun disk on the horizon. Our masjids read Fajr at about 30 minutes before sunrise because most of musallees attend that time. But note that the scenario of attendance during Ramadhaan would maximise if we pray Fajr salaah earlier.* *Ideally, to read Fajr jamaat 15 to 20 minutes after sehri would prevent people from sleeping after sehri and they would attend Jamaat right after their sehris. And also we would have adopted the also sunnah practice of reading Fajr at early time.**In fact, there is a hadith in Bukhari that support the fact that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam used to read Fajr salaah during Ramadhaan some minutes right after sehri:
*عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَتَسَحَّرْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قُلْتُ كَمْ كَانَ بَيْنَ الْأَذَانِ وَالسَّحُورِ قَالَ قَدْرُ خَمْسِينَ آيَةً بخاري*
Hazrat Zaid r.a. said: ‘We used to make sehri together with Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam and he would then stand to read Fajr. He estimated the time between sehri and Fajr jamaat about the reading time of 50 ayats’(Bukhari)**The commentators of this Hadith noted that it is recommended to eat sehri in the morning, before sehri ends. And also the fact that Fajr was early during Ramadhaan. Allamah Kashmiri r.a. described the time of reading 50 ayahs as 4 minutes after sehri.(Arfas Shazi)**Some commentators of Hidayah also described that Fajr during Ramadhaan should be done earlier than usual.(Fatawa Zakarya)**In Ma`rifus sunnan, M Yousuf Binnory noted the same trend of reading Ramadhaan Fajr earlier than usual and closer to sehri.**As a matter of sunnah principle of management, it is recommended to take into consideration the weaker ones. In our context, let`s take consideration of youths waking up for late sehri, their brushing of teeth and toilets, etc. And also time to read 2 sunnah Fajr and reach the Masjid with takbeer tahrima. Hence Fajr Jamaat during Ramadhaan is recommended at about 15-20 minutes after sehri time.**Bear in mind that we should finish sehri eating, drinking and brushing of teeth some minutes before official sehri time ends. As a matter of precaution.*
*If your Masjid does not adjust their Fajr during Ramadhaan, then talk to the mutawalli so that it becomes easier for musallis and we may follow this sunnah of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam.*
Mufti Mackoojee
@MuftiMackoojee
Islam-qna.org
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