Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is it permissible to delay the fajr jama’at till half or quarter of an hour before sunrise in order for more people to come?
If such a jama’at is held, is it better for one to pray on his own at the beginning of the time or to wait for the delayed congregation and pray then.
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
Yes, it is permitted to perform the Fajr prayer in congregation late in its time (in the last 30 minutes or so), and recommended to do so.
This is because of the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him),
“Pray Fajr when it is bright, for it is greater in reward.” [Related by Tirmidhi]
The wisdom behind doing so, in congregation, is to make it easier for people to get to the congregation at a time when it is otherwise difficult for them to do so. [ Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah ]
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani
142 – حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ هُوَ ابْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَقَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ قَالَ
سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ أَسْفِرُوا بِالْفَجْرِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْأَجْرِ