What is the ruling on praying as much as I wish after the Fajr Sunnah prayer and before the Iqamah for the congregational prayer?
Scholars have differed regarding voluntary prayers after Fajr and before the Fajr (obligatory) prayer. The Hanbalis prohibited it, except for the Sunnah of Fajr, citing the Hadith of Ibn 'Umar, "Do not pray after Fajr except for two rak'ahs," and arguing that the prohibition is related to the time. However, they have another narration, which is the view of the Shafi'is, that the prohibition is related to performing the Fajr prayer, not the advent of Fajr, citing the Hadith of Abu Sa'id and 'Amr ibn 'Abasah, "There is no prayer after the 'Asr prayer until the sun sets, and no prayer after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises," and the Hadith, "Pray the Fajr prayer, then refrain from praying until the sun rises."
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymin preferred this opinion: the time after the Fajr prayer until sunrise is a time of prohibition, and the time before the Fajr prayer is not a time of prohibition. However, only the performance of the two rak'ahs of Fajr is legislated during this time, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not perform any other voluntary prayers during it. He interpreted the Hadith prohibiting prayer after Fajr as negating desirability, not prohibition, meaning it is not legislated even if it is not forbidden. This is supported by the action of Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab with a man who prayed more than two rak'ahs after Fajr, to whom he said: "May Allah not punish you for prayer, but He will punish you for going against the Sunnah."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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