Is the two-rak'ah Sunnah prayer before Fajr obligatory, and is its performance required, or is it sufficient to pray two rak'ahs?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The two rak'ahs of Fajr are considered a by most scholars and are not obligatory. The Malikis have two opinions regarding them: that they are a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) or a desirable act (raghibah), which is a rank below Sunnah but above a supererogatory act (nafilah). The Sunnah of Fajr consists of two rak'ahs, and it is necessary to specify the intention for the Sunnah of Fajr. The intention of a general supererogatory prayer is not sufficient; rather, there must be an intention to specify that it is the Sunnah of Fajr.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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