Search In Fatwa

Time of the first Fajr Athaan

Question

Regarding the first Athaan of Fajr, when should it be given, i.e., how long before the arrival of Fajr?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The scholars may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them differed in opinion with regard to the first Fajr Athaan. The Shaafi'ee and Hanbali schools are of the view that its time is the second (last) part of the night. Nonetheless, the Maaliki school is of the view that it is in the sixth last part of the night. The evidence that the second view is the most correct is the narration reported by Ibn 'Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him which reads: "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) had two persons who called the Athaan, Bilaal and Ibn Umm Maktoom  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktoom calls for the Athaan." He [Ibn 'Umar] said: "The difference between the two is very short, as long as it would take one to descend, and the other one to ascend." [Muslim] This is evidence that the first Athaan is close to the time of the beginning of the real time of Fajr. Ibn Hajar may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: 'This is evidence for those who are of the opinion that the time of the first Athaan is the time of Suhoor [the predawn meal]." The other evidence is the narration reported by Ibn Mas'ood  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The Athaan given by Bilaal  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him should not prevent you from having your Suhoor, as he calls when it is still night so that a person who is performing night prayer would end his prayer, and so that the sleeping people would wake up." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] So, Bilaal  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him used to call Athaan by Suhoor time.

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa