09/18/2026
Context of Tirmidhi 422
This hadith is about Qais ibn ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه), who had missed the two Sunnah rak‘ahs that are normally prayed before the obligatory Fajr prayer.
The congregational Fajr prayer had already begun, so Qais joined Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and prayed the Fard Fajr with him. Afterward, Qais stood and prayed another two rak‘ahs. The Prophet ﷺ noticed him and asked, in effect, why he appeared to be praying two Fajr prayers.
Qais explained that these were not another Fard Fajr. They were the two Sunnah rak‘ahs before Fajr that he had missed. Upon hearing the explanation, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Then there is no harm.”
So the narration is used as evidence that a person who misses the two Sunnah rak‘ahs before Fajr because the obligatory congregation has started may join the congregation first and make up the missed Sunnah afterward.
So the main lesson is: do not miss the obligatory Fajr congregation in order to perform the Sunnah first. Join the Fard prayer; the missed Sunnah can be made up afterward according to the applicable scholarly view.
Reference: Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 422, Book of Salah.