Until What Time Can Fajr Be Prayed? Its Time and Making It Up
2026-07-186 min read
Quick Answer
Fajr prayer begins at the time of true dawn (fajr al-sadiq) and can be prayed until sunrise; once the sun rises, its time is over and the prayer becomes qada (made up later). According to the majority of scholars, praying it as soon as its time begins, while it's still dim outside, is more virtuous.
Until What Time Can Fajr Be Prayed?
Fajr prayer begins at the time of true dawn (fajr al-sadiq, the whitening of the horizon) and can be prayed until sunrise. Once the sun rises, its time is over and the prayer becomes qada. Since the exact time changes every day and for every city, you need to check your location's sunrise time. The best practice is to complete the prayer as soon as its time begins, before the sun rises.
When Does Fajr's Time Begin?
Fajr's time begins with true dawn (fajr al-sadiq). True dawn is the genuine light that spreads horizontally across the horizon toward morning, shown in prayer calendars as the Fajr time. This is also the time when eating and drinking must stop for fasting.
- Start: Fajr (true dawn) — the calendar's Fajr time
- End: Sunrise (shuruq) — the calendar's sunrise time
Fajr prayer can be performed at any moment between these two times. You can see today's times for your city on the prayer times page.
What Is the Most Virtuous Time?
According to the majority of scholars, it is more virtuous to pray Fajr early, while it's still dim outside (ghalas). The Prophet ﷺ used to pray Fajr early (Bukhari, Mawaqit). So praying as soon as its time begins is both in line with the sunnah and removes the risk of missing it.
Can the Prayer Be Performed as the Sun Rises?
No. The moment the sun rises is a disliked time, and praying at that moment is makruh. Because of this:
- You should complete the prayer entirely before the sun rises.
- If the sun has already started to rise, do not begin the prayer.
- A missed prayer is made up as qada after the sun has risen the height of a spear (roughly 45 minutes).
What If I Oversleep or Miss Fajr?
A Fajr prayer missed by oversleeping or forgetting is made up as qada; this is not itself a sin. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever forgets a prayer, or oversleeps and misses it, let them pray it when they remember it. There is no other expiation for it." — Bukhari, Mawaqit, 37; Muslim, Masajid, 314
Practical steps:
- If the sun has already risen, don't start praying immediately — wait for the disliked period (about 45 minutes) to pass.
- Then make up first the 2 rak'ah sunnah, then the 2 rak'ah fard. (In the Hanafi view, Fajr's sunnah is made up together with the fard, any time before noon of that same day.)
- Take precautions like sleeping earlier and setting an alarm to avoid missing it again.
How Many Rak'ahs Is Fajr Prayer?
Fajr prayer totals 4 rak'ahs:
| Part | Rak'ahs | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnah | 2 | Confirmed sunnah (mu'akkadah — very strongly emphasized) |
| Fard | 2 | Obligatory |
Fajr's sunnah is the strongest among all the sunnah prayers. The Prophet ﷺ never left it. See how to pray Fajr for a step-by-step guide.
Summary
- Starts: At the time of Fajr (true dawn)
- Ends: When the sun rises
- Most virtuous: Early, as soon as its time begins
- If missed: Made up once the disliked period passes (roughly 45 minutes after sunrise)
- Exact time: Varies by city and day → prayer times
Related Pages
- Prayer Times for Your City — see Fajr and sunrise times.
- How Is Fajr Prayer Performed? — a rak'ah-by-rak'ah walkthrough.
- When Are the Prayer Times? (5 Daily Prayers) — start and end of all five times.
- How to Pray Salah? — a basic prayer guide.
- Morning Duas — duas to recite after prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Until what time can Fajr prayer be prayed?
Fajr prayer begins at true dawn (fajr al-sadiq, the whitening of the horizon) and can be prayed until sunrise. Once the sun rises, its time is over and the prayer becomes qada. The exact time varies by day and city, so check your location's sunrise time.
Can Fajr be prayed as the sun is rising?
No. The moment the sun rises is a disliked time, and praying at that exact moment is makruh. The prayer must be fully completed before sunrise. If the sun has started to rise, do not begin the prayer — it is instead made up as qada after the sun has risen the height of a spear (roughly 45 minutes).
What do I do if I oversleep and miss Fajr?
A Fajr prayer missed by oversleeping is made up as qada. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever forgets a prayer or oversleeps and misses it, let them pray it when they remember.' (Bukhari, Muslim). The best approach is to make up first the 2 rak'ah sunnah, then the 2 rak'ah fard, once the disliked time (about 45 minutes) has passed.
How long does Fajr's time last?
It's the span between true dawn (Fajr) and sunrise; it varies from roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on the season and city. It's shorter in summer and longer in winter. Check your city's Fajr and sunrise times for the exact duration.