If you arrive for the Fajr prayer and the mu'adhdhin has called for the prayer, and you have not prayed the two rak'ahs of the sunnah, is it permissible for you to pray them after the Fajr prayer?

The questioner : He says: If you arrive for the Fajr prayer and the mu'adhdhin has called for the prayer, and you have not prayed the two rak'ahs of the sunnah, is it permissible for you to pray them after the Fajr prayer?

The Shaykh : The sunnah of Fajr is a confirmed sunnah, and it is the most emphasized of the twelve rawatib. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was consistent in praying them, whether resident or traveling. The sunnah in them is to make them light, meaning that a person should shorten them, but with tranquility. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shorten them so much that I used to say: Does he only recite Umm al-Qur'an?" He would recite in the first rak'ah and in the second rak'ah . If he wished, he would recite in the first to the end of the verse in Surat al-Baqarah, and in the second the verse in Al-Imran. If he recited something else, there is no blame on him. This is only by way of preference. They are to be prayed before the prayer, as is well known. But if you arrive and the imam is in the Fajr prayer and you have not prayed them, pray them after you are finished with the prayer and its dhikr, and there is no blame on you for this. If you delay them until after the sun has risen and reached the height of a spear, there is nothing wrong with that, except if you fear forgetting them or being preoccupied with them, then pray them after the Fajr prayer and its dhikr.

The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for the noble listening brothers.
Our noble brothers.