The Importance of Maintaining the Fajr Prayer in Its Time, and the Factors That Aid in Doing So

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good. More than once, Shaykh Salih, you have asked us about the factors that help in performing the Fajr prayer in congregation, and in its time, of course. Is there a word, even if repeated, on this topic? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
There is no doubt that attending the congregational prayer, especially the Fajr prayer, is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) for every Muslim, for men. The Fajr prayer specifically, along with the 'Isha' prayer, means that these two prayers are particularly emphasized for the Muslim to attend; because they are in a time when people sleep and rest, so it is a place where they are likely to be delayed. Therefore, the Lawgiver emphasized them. He said: This is because they are in the time of rest, sleep, and drowsiness. And Allah the Exalted emphasized the Fajr prayer. He said: The angels attend it; the recording angels who descend at night and those who descend by day gather in the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer. Therefore, these two prayers are the best of the five prayers. He said: The intended meaning is the Fajr prayer and the 'Asr prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And this does not mean that one should limit oneself to these two prayers, but this is an explanation of their virtue. He said: The middle prayer, according to the stronger position, is the 'Asr prayer.
And it was said that it is the Fajr prayer. In any case, these two prayers have a great distinction. And although maintaining all the prayers is an obligatory and binding matter. He said: . He said: . He said: and .
So this is a matter that every Muslim must observe: to pray the prayer in its time, and it is obligatory for men to pray in congregation in the mosques. Among the things that help in attending the Fajr prayer are: first, that a person sleeps early in order to wake up early, because people today are afflicted with staying up late and delaying sleep, then they sleep and the sleep becomes heavy on them in the last part of the night. The second matter is the resolve to get up, and the sincere intention to get up. If he resolves, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, will help him. If he cares about getting up and intends it, he will be aided in doing so. The third matter is that he employs the means that help him to wake up, which is that he instructs someone to wake him up, and that he sets an alarm clock to ring at the time of need and the time of getting up. All of these are among the means that help him to get up for the Fajr prayer. And the greatest of these is the resolve, the intention, and the purpose. If Allah knows that from him, He will help him to get up and grant him success. Yes.