If the one who prays sits in his place remembering Allah until the sun rises, does he still attain the reward mentioned in that if he changes his location?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. The questioner says: The one who wants to sit after Fajr.
The Shaykh : The one who what?
The questioner : The one who wants to sit after the Fajr prayer, remembering Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), until the sun rises. If he moves from his place, is there any blame on him?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, the hadith states that if he sits in his place of prayer remembering Allah, and then the sun rises and he prays two rak'ahs, it is like the reward of a 'Umrah and Hajj. In my mind, I have some doubt about whether it is authentic or not. However, it is established in *Sahih Muslim* that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sit until the sun rose. Good, meaning until it rises and the yellowness disappears from it. In any case, if we assume the hadith is authentic, it says "in his place of prayer." Does this mean the place where he is sitting, or his place of prayer, which is broader than that? There is no doubt that remaining in the place where he prayed Fajr is more preferable, unless there is a circle of knowledge to which he goes to listen to knowledge, for seeking knowledge is better than voluntary prayer. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Nothing is equal to knowledge" and he said: "Discussing [knowledge] for a night is more beloved to me than keeping it awake [in worship]" But the knowledge intended is that which a person aims to use to remove ignorance from himself and his community, to protect the Shari'ah and act upon it, and to call people to it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And the summary of the answer now is that we say remaining in his place is more preferable. But if he gets up from it to listen to knowledge, or if he gets up to walk around for fear of drowsiness taking over him, then we hope that he will have a share in that reward. Yes.
The Shaykh : The one who what?
The questioner : The one who wants to sit after the Fajr prayer, remembering Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), until the sun rises. If he moves from his place, is there any blame on him?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, the hadith states that if he sits in his place of prayer remembering Allah, and then the sun rises and he prays two rak'ahs, it is like the reward of a 'Umrah and Hajj. In my mind, I have some doubt about whether it is authentic or not. However, it is established in *Sahih Muslim* that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sit until the sun rose. Good, meaning until it rises and the yellowness disappears from it. In any case, if we assume the hadith is authentic, it says "in his place of prayer." Does this mean the place where he is sitting, or his place of prayer, which is broader than that? There is no doubt that remaining in the place where he prayed Fajr is more preferable, unless there is a circle of knowledge to which he goes to listen to knowledge, for seeking knowledge is better than voluntary prayer. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Nothing is equal to knowledge" and he said: "Discussing [knowledge] for a night is more beloved to me than keeping it awake [in worship]" But the knowledge intended is that which a person aims to use to remove ignorance from himself and his community, to protect the Shari'ah and act upon it, and to call people to it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And the summary of the answer now is that we say remaining in his place is more preferable. But if he gets up from it to listen to knowledge, or if he gets up to walk around for fear of drowsiness taking over him, then we hope that he will have a share in that reward. Yes.