There was this Masjid where I prayed my Fajr Salat and the Mu’azzin did not recite the wording “Prayer is better than sleep”. He said that it should be said before the time of the Fajr prayer. Is he correct?
ANSWER
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
All the Jurists (fuqaha) are unanimous on the fact that the “Tathwib” (to add “Salat is better than sleep” after the call: “Come to success”) in the Adhan of Fajr (Dawn) prayer is Sunnah.
In a Hadith related by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and Imam Abu Dawud in his Sunan, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said to the companion Abu Mahzura (Allah be pleased with him):
“In the Fajr prayer, say: “Salat is better than sleep” twice”.
The wisdom behind this call is that, due to this being the time of sleep, most people are asleep, thus they should be reminded that turning to Allah Most High is much better than sleeping and curling up in the cosy bed.
Therefore to say that it is supposed to be said before the time of Fajr prayer sets in and not in the Adhan is incorrect and contrary to the clear text of the Hadith.
And Allah Knows Best
[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK