The Reward of Praying at Dawn and Before Sunset
Hadith: Narrated Umarah ibn Ruwaybah:
A man from Basrah said: “Tell me what you heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He replied: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘No one will enter Hell who has prayed before the rising of the sun and before its setting’ (meaning the dawn and the afternoon prayers).”
He said three times: “Have you heard it from him?” He replied: “Yes — my ears heard it, and my heart memorised it.” The man then said: “And I heard him (the Prophet ﷺ) say that.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud
🌤 The Value of Fajr and Asr Prayers
This hadith beautifully highlights the immense importance of the Fajr (dawn) and Asr (afternoon) prayers. These two times of day are often when people are most distracted — either beginning their day or winding down — yet they hold tremendous spiritual value.
✨ Protection from Hellfire
The Prophet ﷺ gave glad tidings that those who consistently perform these two prayers with sincerity and devotion will be protected from the punishment of Hell. This shows how Allah’s mercy is vast and how regular prayer shields believers from sin and despair.
💧 Lessons from This Hadith
- Never neglect the Fajr and Asr prayers — they are gateways to Paradise.
- Faith and consistency are key; even short prayers performed regularly hold great reward.
- The companions valued authenticity — repeating words of the Prophet ﷺ carefully and truthfully.
- Allah’s promise of mercy is tied to simple yet profound acts of devotion.
💭 Reflection
In our fast-paced lives, the early dawn and late afternoon may seem like ordinary times. But for a believer, they are sacred moments — opportunities to stand before Allah, earn protection, and reconnect with the One who grants peace and success.
