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Is the Hadith on performing Fajr when there is brightness authentic?

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Question:

What is the authenticity of the following Hadith;
Raafi’ ibn Khadeej R.A. has narrated that he heard the messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) Saying:
“Offer the Fajr Salaah when it is considerably bright because its reward is greater.”
(Jami Tirmidhi; 1/40 | Sunan Abi Dawood; 1/67 | Sunan Nasa’i; 1/94) 
Please Tell me with references and with quotes of Scholars about this hadith.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The Hadīth referred to is:

عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «أَسْفِرُوا بِالفَجْرِ، فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلأَجْرِ»

Takhrīj:

From among the many books of Hadīth, the following are a few which quote the Hadīth with slight variations in the wording:
1)    Sunan Abū Dāwūd
2)    Sunan Nasa’ī
3)    Sunan Tirmidhī
4)    Musnad Ahmad
5)    Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah
6)    Musnad Bazzār
7)    Sahīh Ibn Hibbān
8)    Mu’jam al-Kabīr

Authenticity:

1)    Imam Tirmidhī rahimahullah states that the Hadīth is ‘Hasan Sahīh’[1]
2)    Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī rahimahullah states that a number of Muhaddithīn have stated this narration to be authentic.[2]
 
There is a difference of opinion among the scholars with respect to the meaning of this Hadith.
 
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best

Mufti Faraz Adam 
www.darulfiqh.com
 


[1]  «حَدِيثُ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ» (سنن الترمذي رقم الحديث 154)

[2]  وَأَمَّا مَا رَوَاهُ أَصْحَابُ السُّنَنِ وَصَحَّحَهُ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ حَدِيثِ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَسْفِرُوا بِالْفَجْرِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْأَجْرِ (فتح الباري ج 2 ص 52 دار المعرفة)

This answer was collected from DarulFiqh.com, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Faraz ibn Adam al-Mahmudi, the student of world renowned Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafizahullah).

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