Establishing Fajr Salaah
By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb
(Rahmatullah ‘Alayh)
In summer, when Fajr[1] is very early, many complain about their inability to get up for Fajr Salaat. …In winter, when Fajr is relatively late, many complain about their inability to get up due to the cold…
As the cliché goes : ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ …If one is sincere in wanting to perform the Fajr Salaah (or any Salaah), then come any season, any type of weather, any condition or any circumstance, the person will do all that is within his capacity, to fulfill the rights of Allah Ta’ala. More especially when keeping in mind the Hadeeth: ‘One who performs the Salaah at Fajr comes under the security of Allah…’
Due to the weakness of missing Fajr Salaah being so common, the following are prescriptions to remedy the problem of missing the Fajr Salaah:
Ø An alarm clock should be kept a distance away from the bed. Instead of just switching it off and going back to sleep, you will have to get out of bed to switch it off.
Ø If you are a deep sleeper, then use two alarm clocks, with loud alarms. Place one on either side of you – and at a distance.
Ø If your hearing is good in one ear, and weak in the other, then place the clock on that side, where you will hear it loud and clear.
Ø Sincerely make du’aa[2] before sleeping: ‘O Allah, I want to get up for Fajr Salaah. Please give me the taufeeq[3] to do so.’
Ø Tell those at home, who also awaken for the Fajr Salaah, to get you up, even if it means shaking you up.
Ø Request a friend to give you a few rings in the morning – 20 or 30 minutes before Fajr. It will not cost him any money since you know that he is ringing you for Fajr Salaah, and you won’t pick up the receiver.
Ø Do not stay awake till 2 o’ clock in the morning – in entertainment or pastimes : watching television, surfing the Internet, reading novels, etc. or in any activity, even ‘mubaah’ (permissible), which would then make it difficult to get up for Fajr. In such cases, go to bed early and begin the day early.
Ø Shaytaan makes a person feel lazy at Fajr. On awakening, read the Masnoon[4] dua:
‘All praise in due to Allah who has given us life after death (i.e. sleep).
And to Him will we be raised and returned.’
Then read [5] :
‘There is no Power and Might except with Allah.’[6]
and Ta’awwuz.
‘I seek protection in Allah from Shaytaan, the accursed.’
Even though these are suggested prescriptions, the condition of a Mu’min (Believer in Allah Ta’ala) is that he or she is also ‘aashiq’ (a sincere lover) of Allah Ta’ala. …Since when is an aashiq, ghaafil (negligent) in pleasing his or her Beloved?
If those who say that they cannot get up for the Fajr Salaah have to read an advertisement in a newspaper by a gold coin company, that all customers who arrive between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. at their premises will receive a Kruger Rand free. Will they then sleep or will they camp there the night? …Whereas a gold coin has no worth in comparison to the value of Salaah.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said: ‘The two Sunnah Rakaats of Fajr are dearer to me than the whole world.’ – If this is the value of the Sunnat, how much more valuable must be the Fardh.
Conversely, we find the Hadeeth in which Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said: ‘There isn’t any Salaah which is heavier (more difficult) on the munafiqeen (hypocrites) than Fajr and Isha.’
This statement of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) leaves a question mark for all those who complain of their inability to wake up for Fajr.
If a concerted and sincere effort was made to get up for the Fajr Salaah, after having adopted the above mentioned prescriptions, and still the person was unable to make it for Fajr with Jamaat[7], then Insha-Allah, he will not be questioned on the Day of Qiyaamah[8].
[1] Fajr : Prayer performed after true dawn and before sunrise.
[2] Du’aa : Supplication
[3] taufeeq : Divine assistance
[4] Masnoon : Sunnah – that which is a practice of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi waSallam).
[5] It should be noted that the reading of these two is not masnoon per se but helps generally in warding off shaytaani effects.
[6] Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi waSallam) explained this further : ‘There is no strength to refrain from sins but with the protection of Allah and there is no power over good deeds but with the help of Allah.’
[7] Jamaat : Congregation (Salaah in Jamaat is obligatory upon males).
[8] Day of Qiyaamah : Day of Resurrection
