Q: I overslept and was late awakening for the fajr Salaah. Thinking it to be very late, I prayed wudhu and only the two fard of Fajr. However after reading this, I checked the perpetual calendar and realised there was still 11 minutes before sunrise. I immediately prayed both my sunnah and my fard of fajr, with 3 minutes still left for sunrise. Was this correct of me? What should I have done in this situation. Is my salaah valid?
A: After performing the fardh of Fajr, it is not permissible to perform the Sunnats of Fajr. Similarly, once you had performed the fardh, you cannot repeat performing the Fardh for the second time. However, if one had only performed the Fardh of Fajr and was unable to perform the Sunnats due to time constraints, he should perform two rakaats nafil after sunrise.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)