This chapter focuses on the two short units of prayer offered before the dawn (Fajr) prayer. Though voluntary, the Prophet held to them with unusual constancy.
The hadith show how dear he held this small prayer, never neglecting it and prizing it above worldly things. The lesson is the quiet weight of a steady habit, kept even when circumstances make it easy to let slip.
Hadith 1100
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان لا يدع أربعًا قبل الظهر، وركعتين قبل الغداة ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four Rak'ah prayer before the Zuhr prayer and two Rak'ah prayers before dawn (Fajr) prayer. [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
Aishah reports that the Prophet was constant in two voluntary prayers in particular: four units before Zuhr and two units before the dawn prayer, never leaving them out.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1100 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 110
Hadith 1101
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها قالت: لم يكن النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم على شيء من النوافل أشد تعاهدًا منه على ركعتي الفجر". ((متفق عليه)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) did not attach more importance to any Nawafil prayer than the two Rak'ah of prayer before dawn (Fajr) prayer. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Among all his voluntary prayers, the Prophet gave none more care than the two units before dawn. It shows how highly he valued this small, regular prayer.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1101 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 111
Hadith 1102
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها" ((رواه مسلم)). وفي رواية لهما لأحب إلي من الدنيا جميعًا.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains." [Muslim] Another narration goes: "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are dearer to me than the whole world."
In plain words
The Prophet said the two units before the dawn prayer are better and dearer to him than the whole world and everything in it, pointing to how precious this brief prayer is.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1102 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 112
Hadith 1103
Abu 'Abdullah Bilal bin Rabah (May Allah be pleased with him) the Mu'adhdhin of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reported:
وعن أبي عبد الله بلال بن رباح، رضي الله عنه مؤذن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه أتى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليؤذنه بصلاة الغداة، فشغلت عائشة بلالا بأمر سألته عنه، حتى أصبح جدا فقام بلال فآذنه بالصلاة، وتابع أذانه، فلم يخرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلما خرج صلى بالناس، فأخبره أن عائشة شغلته بأمر سألته عنه حتى أصبح جدا، وأنه أبطأ عليه بالخروج، فقال -يعني النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم -: "إني كنت ركعت ركعتي الفجر" فقال: يا رسول الله إنك أصبحت جدا؟ فقال: "لو أصبحت أكثر مما أصبحت، لركعتهما وأحسنتهما، وأجملتهما". ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد حسن)).
I went to inform the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the time of the dawn (Fajr) prayer, and 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) kept me busy and began to ask me about something till the day grew bright. Then I got up and informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of the time of Salat. I informed him again but he did not came out immediately to lead As- Salat. When he came out, he led As-Salat. I said to him: 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) kept me busy and thus diverted my attention by asking about something and the morning grew bright. You also came out late. Upon that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I was engaged in performing two Rak'ah of Fajr prayer." Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him)said: "O Messenger of Allah! You delayed As-Salat so long as the morning grew bright." He (ﷺ) replied, "Even if the morning had become brighter than it had, I would have performed two Rak'ah of prayer in an excellent manner." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
When Bilal found the Prophet slow to come out for the dawn prayer, the Prophet explained he had been praying the two units of Fajr, and said he would pray them well even if dawn had grown brighter. It shows his attachment to this prayer.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1103 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 113