Hadith 672

Commentary

The words Asbihu bis-Subh spoken by the Prophet ﷺ, correctly translated here as 'Pray the Subh early', is sometimes translated as 'Delay it until there is morning light.' It is on this basis that the adherents of the Hanafi School of Jurisprudence delay the Fajr prayer until there is clear light. Such an interpretation is clearly against the teaching and practice of the Prophet ﷺ who always performed the Fajr prayer at the earliest hour, in darkness. As such, even if the second translation is taken as correct, it would either mean: (i) 'Avoid performing the Fajr prayer at Subh Kādhīb (at the appearance of reddish blackness) but do it when you are sure of the onset of Subh Sādiq (daybreak; true dawn), or it would mean: (ii) 'Prolong the recitation of the Qur'ān so that when you finish your prayer, it is already bright morning'. It is so because the preceding Ahādīth unmistakably highlight the merit of performing each prayer at its earliest prescribed hour.