Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 197
Briefness to be Adopted in Performing the two Rak’ah Sunnah before Fajr Prayer,
their time and the Surah to recite in them
1104. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform two Rak`ah short prayer between the Adhan (call to prayer) and the Iqamah of the dawn (Fajr) prayers.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration, `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform two supererogatory Rak`ah prayer of Fajr and make them so short in duration that I used to think whether he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) had recited Surat Al-Fatihah (in it) or not.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In the narration of Muslim, `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to hear the Adhan (of Fajr prayer) he would perform two supererogatory Rak`ah prayer and would make them short.
1105. Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform two short Rak`ah prayer when it was dawn and the Mu’adhdhin had called Adhan (for the Fajr prayer).
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1106. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to perform his optional night prayers at night, two Rak`ah followed by two Rak`ah, and at the end he would conclude with an odd Rak`ah (Witr). Then he would perform two Rak`ah prayer before the dawn (Fajr) prayer after hearing the Adhan, and he would make them so brief as if he could hear the Iqamah being called.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
1107. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite during the two Rak`ah of Fajr prayer: “Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us...” (2:136) which is in Surat Al-Baqarah in the first Rak`ah and the Verse: “We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e., we submit to Allah.” (3:52) in the second Rak`ah.
According to another narration, he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) recited from Surat Al-`Imran the Verses: “Come to a word which is just between us and you…” (3:64).
[Muslim].
1108. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) recited in the two supererogatory Rak`ah of the Fajr prayer Surat Al-Kafirun (No. 109) [in the first Rak`ah], and Surat Al-Ikhlas (No. 112) [in the second Rak`ah].
[Muslim].
1109.Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I observed the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) for one month reciting in the two supererogatory Rak`ah of the Fajr prayer Surat Al-Kafirun (No. 109) [in the first Rak`ah], and Surat Al-Ikhlas (No. 112) [in the second Rak`ah].
[At-Tirmidhi].
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