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Significance and Benefits of Fajr Prayer

Fajr prayer is one of Islam’s five daily prayers, held before sunrise. It is extremely important and beneficial not only spiritually, but also in the mental and physical aspects of a Muslim’s life.

It’s a wonderful way for Muslims to connect with their Creator in the early morning hours. A strong connection with the creator is what gives meaning to this life. The best part about praying Fajr is that it improves one’s mental and spiritual fitness!

The problem is that the vast majority of Muslims are missing out on the numerous benefits of Fajr prayer due to a lack of knowledge or ignorance.

This article will assist you in escaping that situation by educating you on the effects of Fajr on your well-being and the steps you can take to make Fajr prayer an essential part of your life.

Understanding Fajr Prayer

Concept and Importance

Fajr is the early morning prayer in Islam, and it is very important. It is one of the five daily prayers performed by Muslims, and it helps us begin our day by remembering Allah (SWT).

Fajr prayer is also the first prayer of the day, and it reminds us to maintain our connection with Allah (SWT). It has numerous spiritual and psychological benefits for our minds and hearts, such as making us feel more peaceful, disciplined, and productive.

Quranic Verses and Hadith:

The importance and benefits of Fajr prayer have been emphasized by Allah in the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through Hadiths. Allah says in Surah Al-Isra (17:78) of the Quran:

اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِدُلُوۡكِ الشَّمۡسِ اِلٰى غَسَقِ الَّيۡلِ وَقُرۡاٰنَ الۡـفَجۡرِ​ؕ اِنَّ قُرۡاٰنَ الۡـفَجۡرِ كَانَ مَشۡهُوۡدًا

“Establish the prayer at the meridian of the sun until the darkness of the night, and the Qur’an at dawn; indeed, the recitation of the Qur’an at dawn is ever witnessed.”

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in an authentic Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslims:

“Whoever prays the Fajr prayer is under Allah’s protection.”

These divine words inspire us to pray Fajr with diligence, mindfulness, and sincerity.

Rakats and Time

Fajr Prayer consists of four Rakats:

Two Sunnah and two Fard (required)

Everyone should strive to pray the Sunnah because, according to Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“‏ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها‏‏ “

“The two Rak’ah before dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all that it contains.”

Riyad as-Salihin 1102

The time for offering Fajr prayer begins at dawn and ends shortly before sunrise. This is known as “Subh Sadiq,” and it is critical to pray during this window because the time for fajr expires after sunrise.

Dawn and Barakah

“Barakah” is a term that refers to divine blessings and abundance. The Fajr prayer is closely linked to receiving Barakah from Allah (SWT). When we rise early for the sake of Allah (SWT), he sends down his mercy and showers us with his blessing.

We will notice an increase in our energy levels and productivity if we begin our day with Fajr. That is due to the Blessings of this time!

Spiritual Benefits of Fajr

Connection with Allah:

Praying is the most effective way to connect with Allah (SWT). One must sacrifice his or her sleep, to perform the Fajr prayer. That is why it forms a strong bond with Allah. Unlike other prayer times, there are fewer distractions during Fajr, making a person more attentive to his Lord.

Love and Fear of Allah

Do you understand what true love is?

It is when a person leaves the comfort of their bed and their lovely wife or husband to seek Allah’s (SWT) mercy and blessings. It is a state of love and fear because a person wakes up for Allah’s (SWT) love and fears that he or she will displease their lord.

This reminds us to be conscious of our actions throughout the day and to strive to please Allah (SWT) in everything we do.

Inner Peace and Positive Energy

We feel a sense of inner peace and positive energy when we devote ourselves to Fajr prayer. This is especially important for our mental health, as explained in the Salat health benefits review.

Our spiritual and mental faculties are revitalized by early morning worship, allowing us to begin our day with a clear and focused mind. As a result, we benefit from improved mental health, reduced stress, and increased productivity throughout the day.

Worldly Benefits of Fajr

Increased Productivity:

Early mornings are the most free of distractions. While people are sleeping, we can use that time to accomplish a great deal!

There is a large gap between Fajr and Dhuhr from a Muslim perspective, so if we start working after Fajr, we won’t have to take breaks for prayers. Increased output!

Reduced Risk of Depression:

People who wake up one hour earlier than usual are less likely to suffer from depression, according to Harvard Health. They are more likely to be optimistic and to cope well with adversity. Getting up for Fajr definitely meets this criterion!

Regulates Our Circadian Rhythm

Our brains have a biological clock that tells us when to sleep and when to wake up. This is known as the circadian rhythm. It operates with the assistance of sunlight. As a result, if we get up early and expose ourselves to sunlight, our body clock will reset to its natural time of waking up earlier.

Promotes Quality Sleep

We have to go to bed earlier because we woke up for Fajr. Sleeping earlier allows us to get more restful and fulfilling sleep.

Getting enough sleep can provide us with:

• Protection from chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
• Improved mood and concentration.
• Keeping healthy weight.
• Reducing sickness.

Rewards and Protection

Heavenly Rewards:

‏ خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ كَتَبَهُنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ لَمْ يُضَيِّعْ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا اسْتِخْفَافًا بِحَقِّهِنَّ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِ بِهِنَّ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

“Allah has prescribed five prayers for His slaves; whoever comes with them, not missing any of them out of recognition of their importance, has a promise from Allah that He will admit him to Paradise…” Abu Dawood (1420) and an-Nasaa’i (461)

Praying four of these five prayers is relatively simple, but praying Fajr is the most difficult, and whoever succeeds will be admitted to Paradise!

Protection of Allah:

According to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH),

‏ مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَطْلُبَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَىْءٍ فَيُدْرِكَهُ فَيَكُبَّهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

“Whoever prays Fajr is under Allah’s protection, so do not shortchange Allah’s rights; for anyone who does, Allah will seize him and throw him on his face into the Fire of Hell.” Muslim (657)

It is a special protocol given by Allah (SWT) to only those who pray Fajr.

Witnessing by Angels:

Fajr and Asr angles, according to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), exist.

When the Asr angels depart at the time of Fajr and Allah (SWT) inquires about the state of the believers, the angels respond, “When we found them, they were praying, and when we left them, they were praying” Sahih al-Bukhari 555

By doing so, Allah makes them witnesses to our prayers.

Guard Against Sins and Hellfire

By praying Fajr on a regular basis, we strengthen our connection with Allah (SWT), making it easier to resist temptation and avoid sins that lead to hellfire.

By fully embracing the Fajr prayer, we receive heavenly rewards, Allah’s protection, angels’ witnessing, and protection from sins and hellfire. Let us continue to seek the numerous blessings and benefits that Allah (SWT) has promised to those who perform this cherished prayer.

Making Fajr Prayer A Habit

What’s Wrong With us?

Many people find it difficult to wake up early in the morning and use this as an excuse to skip Fajr prayers. When we think about it, we haven’t prioritized Fajr above all else. If we have an early morning office meeting or class, we set the alarm and get up early!  But when it comes to praying Fajr, we make excuses like “we can’t get up that early.”

We can get up early to meet our bosses or teachers, but we won’t get up for Allah?

The following quote perfectly describes our situation:

“We wake up to earn rizq (provision), but we don’t wake up to thank the person who gives us the rizq (provision).”

This sums up our predicament; may Allah SWT have mercy on us.

Science of Waking up Earlier

Insights gained from delving deeper into the science of sleep can help us better plan for waking up for Fajr. Here are three fundamental factors that influence our sleeping patterns.

Circadian Rhythm: As previously stated, our body’s sleepiness and alertness are dependent on circadian rhythm, which works by detecting light in our environment. If we want to naturally wake up early, we must reset our circadian rhythm.

Adenosine is a receptor responsible for sleep hunger. The sensation we usually have before going to bed.

Melatonin is a hormone that helps us sleep; it is released by our bodies before we sleep.

Three-pointers to help you manage the above:

• Expose yourself to sunlight as soon as you wake up: This will cause your circadian rhythm to shift, and you will begin falling asleep earlier.
• Caffeine is an antagonist to adenosine, which means that it neutralizes adenosine and keeps us awake. That is why we feel more energized after drinking coffee after waking up. So, drink coffee or tea in the morning but avoid it in the afternoon because it takes approximately 10 hours to digest.
• Do not look at a screen one hour before going to bed: All digital screens emit blue light, which reduces the production of melatonin, making it difficult to fall asleep.

The information above was obtained from Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast.

For better sleep, follow the famous 10-3-2-1-0 rule:

• No caffeine 10 hours before bedtime
• No food 3 hours before bedtime
• No work 2 hours before bedtime
• No screens one hour before bedtime
• snoozing the alarm 0 times in the morning

It summarizes all of the effective methods for getting enough sleep, but waking up earlier requires working on resetting your circadian rhythm.

Alarming Hadith for Those Who Leave Fajr Prayer

When the prophet inquired about the person whose head was being crushed, the two men replied, “It was a person who had knowledge of the Quran but he neither recites it nor acts on its orders, and sleeps, neglecting the enjoined prayers.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 7047:

Set Your Fajr Alarm

Set an alarm for 30 minutes before Fajr to allow for the necessary preparations, including Wudu. Read a few pages of the Holy Quran if you have time before Athan. Always remember that if you want to be wealthy, you must pray the two sunnah Rakats of Fajr.

Importance of Congregation:

The reward for praying in congregation is 27 times greater than praying alone, according to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith, 645).

It not only increases rewards, but it also promotes brotherhood among all Muslims who pray together in the Masjid. This is why Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized congregational prayers so much.

Overcoming Sleep and Effort

No matter how many times we try to wake up for Fajr, Satan (Shytan) will always be present to prevent us from doing so. Continue to push yourself out of bed!

If you press the snooze button after you have woken up to your alarm, you will be trapped by Satan (Shytan) and will miss your Fajr prayer.

When you open your eyes, try to jump out of bed and perform ablution (wudu) as soon as possible because…

According to the Prophet (PBUH),

“‏ إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ ـ أُرَاهُ ـ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَلْيَسْتَنْثِرْ ثَلاَثًا، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبِيتُ عَلَى خَيْشُومِهِ ‏”‏‏.‏

“If any of you awakens and performs the ablution, he should wash his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out three times, because Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all night.” Sahih al-Bukhari 3295

Making Fajr prayer a daily habit necessitates consistency and a strong sense of discipline. The numerous benefits and rewards associated with this early morning act of worship, however, make it well worth the effort.

Let us strive to perfect our Fajr prayer practice so that we can reap the spiritual and communal benefits that come with it.

Conclusion

Fajr is one of the greatest gifts that Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon us. Apart from making a person spiritually fit, it also improves a person’s overall well-being.

Regular Fajr performance can result in increased productivity, better sleep, and a lower risk of depression.

Many people struggle to do it because they do not prioritize it above all else. However, if you take simple steps such as getting enough sunlight, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, and not looking at screens, you can make it a daily habit!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the health benefits of Fajr prayer?

For us, the Fajr prayer has numerous health benefits. Praying first thing in the morning improves blood circulation, mental clarity, and energy levels throughout the day. Physical movement during prayer helps us maintain flexibility, strengthen muscles, and improve our overall physical fitness.

Which Hadith mentions the benefits of Fajr prayer?

Several Hadiths emphasize the significance and benefits of Fajr prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The two Rakats of Fajr are better than the world and all that it contains.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 725) This Hadith demonstrates the immense spiritual reward and blessings associated with Fajr prayer.

How does Fajr prayer contribute to one’s beauty?

Fajr prayer can improve both our inner and outer beauty. Fajr prayer purifies our hearts and souls, leaving us with a sense of inner peace and calm, because it is a time when our souls are connected with the Creator. Additionally, waking up early and praying Fajr helps regulate our sleep pattern, which benefits our skin’s health and gives it a fresh and rejuvenated appearance.

What are the advantages of praying Fajr at the mosque?

Praying Fajr at the mosque has numerous spiritual and social benefits. The communal aspect of praying together strengthens our bonds with our Muslim brothers and sisters, fostering unity and brotherhood. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated that praying in congregation is 27 times more rewarding than praying alone (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 645). As a result, praying Fajr at the mosque multiplies the spiritual blessings and benefits we receive.