Question Summary:
Will my Fajr Salah count if I hadn’t prayed my 2 Raka’at Sunnah before it?

Question Detail:

I entered the masjid for Fajr salaat, the jamat should have already started but the imam was absent. Since my Qur'an is good I was quickly pushed forward by the muazzin, however I had not yet prayed my 2 rakaat sunnat and led the people in Fardh Fajr jamaat. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The two Raka’at Sunnat before Fajr are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (Emphasized Sunnats). If one misses out there Sunnats, it constitutes a sin. These are such Sunnats that if missed, one is required to make Qadha of them after Fajr Salah until before Zawaal. ^[1]

When you were requested to lead the Fardh Salah, you should have informed the Muazzin that you did not perform your Sunnats and that they should wait until you perform your Sunnats. Nevertheless, the Fardh Salah without performing the Sunnats was valid. Make Tawbah and Istighfar for not performing the Fajr Sunnats. ^[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdullah Syed Sajid

Student Darul Iftaa
Houston, TX, USA 

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

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[1]  الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (2/ 57) 

 وقال محمد: أحب إلي أن يقضيها إلى الزوال كما في الدرر. قيل هذا قريب من الاتفاق

مجمع الأنهر في شرح ملتقى الأبحر (1/ 142)

(وعند محمد تقضى) إذا فاتت بلا فرض (بعد الطلوع) إلى الزوال استحسانا لأن النبي - عليه الصلاة والسلام - قضاها مع الفرض بعد ارتفاع الشمس غداة ليلة التعريس

فتاوی محموديہ (جلد 11/ ص 259، 260)

[2] فتاوی محموديہ (جلد 11/ ص 265)