There is an hour and a half between dawn and sunrise in the prayer timetable. Is this correct?

Question: 8048

My question, may Allah bless you, is about the time for Salat al-Fajr (early morning prayer): when does it begin? Here in Egypt there is a difference between the time of the prayer given in the timetable and the time of sunrise. This difference is no less than an hour and a half. Is this correct?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

The time for Salat al-Fajr is from the break of dawn until the time the sun rises. Whenever you pray during this time, you have performed the prayer on time. Whoever deliberately delays it until the sun has risen has committed a major sin, and some scholars say that he is like one who does not pray it at all. We must beware of delaying prayers until after their time is over. The length of the period between dawn and sunrise is approximately one and a half hours, as is stated in the timetable. These timetables have become a means for people to know the times for the prayers to the hour and minute, and we should pay attention to that, because the prayers are the foundation of Islam. The Muslim must pray regularly and on time, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawaat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours)” [al-Mu’minoon 23:9]

“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – ‘Asr)” [al-Baqarah 2:238]

The “middle salaah” is Salat al-‘Asr.

Source:

Islam Q&A - Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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