Hadith 550

Footnotes

1. 1

   [1] As-Sâffât 37:177.

Commentary

1. "The more you delay Fajr, the greater the reward" means offer it delayed. Though it is permitted, it is not excellent. Because the practice of the Prophet ﷺ was to offer the prayer in darkness, as has been reported above. Therefore the meaning of this report has been variously interpreted. For instance, making the beginning of the prayer in the darkness, recitation (of the Qur'an) should be prolonged until you enter upon the time when the dawn becomes white. In the translation of the other narration, this meaning has been adopted, and this is in accordance with the Prophet's ﷺ action. Or shining of the dawn denotes whiteness (on the rim of the sky) and not on the Earth. This means the prayer should be offered when the eastern sky becomes lit or manifest. However, the darkness will still lingers on the Earth. This implication is also according to the Prophet's ﷺ custom. Or this command relates especially to those mosques where the size of the gathering is huge. The worshippers are of various types and they cannot assemble early. Or this command relates especially to nights in (the end of) which the moon shines, so that certainty of the daybreak is established. Or this injunction specifically relates to the nights, which are short, so that worshippers could easily join the congregation. The greater the number of the worshippers, the greater the reward. And Allāh knows best! 2. The second report signifies the prayer should be started in darkness and in the process of recitation if the light becomes bright, there is no harm in that.