5/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1255 — Light Fajr Sunnah Prayer
Making Them Brief
Two Rak'ahs Before Fajr Hadith: Praying Them Lightly
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1255
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1255
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُخَفِّفُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَقُولُ هَلْ قَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer lightly so much so that I would say: Did he recite Surah al-Fatihah in them.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1255In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 6English translation : Book 5, Hadith 1250
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1255
This two rak'ahs before Fajr hadith from Aishah describes the lightness of the Prophet’s Sunnah prayer before dawn. She says he would pray the two rak'ahs before the dawn prayer so lightly that she would say, “Did he recite Surah al-Fatihah in them?” This does not mean the narration denies recitation. Rather, the wording shows how brief and light the prayer appeared to her. The main point is the manner described in the text: these two rak'ahs were prayed lightly. For people looking for “how did the Prophet pray Fajr Sunnah,” this hadith gives one clear detail: the prayer was short in the way Aishah observed it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The two rak'ahs before Fajr were prayed lightly in this report.
- Aishah’s question shows how brief they appeared to her.
- The narration mentions Surah al-Fatihah as part of her observation.
- The hadith focuses on the manner of the prayer, not a full legal discussion.
