The Times of Salaah (1/5)

Regarding the times of salaah Allah SWT makes reference and alludes to it in various places in the Noble Quraan. “Verily Salaah for the believers is on appointed times.” Therefore we have to read salaah on that appointed time. We cannot pray salaah according to times that suit us. “Guard your salaah, especially the middle salaah.” As we guard our property, assets and wealth, more so Almighty Allah SWT wants us to guard our salaah. “The true believers are those who guard their salaah whether on a journey or at home.”

There is Ijma and consensus regarding the setting in and end time for Fajr salaah. Looking at the horizon, when the white glow disappears and the red glow appears on the horizon, this is when Fajr begins. That white glow – subh kaathib – this is still the time of Tahajjud and Suhoor. We cannot read Fajr at this time. Once the red light appears, known as Subh Saadiq, the true dawn Fajr sets in. Allah SWT says in the Quraan, “We will show them our signs on the horizon”. The end time of Fajr is just at sunrise. Therefore a person must have completed his Fajr salaah before this. If sunrise is at 6am, by 5h45am one should have completed his Fajr. If read at sunrise the salaah will be null and void. A rough estimate of the duration of Fajr is 70 to 90 minutes depending on the season.