Questioner:

There is a man who does not pray al-Fajr until after sunrise. He does this continually, but he prays the rest of the prayers at the Masjid. What is the ruling of that? – may Allāh reward you.

Shaykh Muḥammed ibn Ṣāliḥ Al-‘Uthaymīn:

Prayer is an issue of tremendous importance and its significance is great. It is the backbone of Islam, and as such, there is no Islam for the person who has no performance of prayer.

This man in the question who continually does not pray al-Fajr until after sunrise, but prays the rest of the prayers on time with the congregation, we ask Allah to grant him guidance and to complete His favour upon him so that he prays al-Fajr in congregation (if he resides near a masjid) and thus his prayer is then complete in the manner that is required.

The fact that he continually does not pray al-Fajr until after sunrise indicates to his undervalue of it and lack of committed concern for it. So, we say to him: if this is your Salat on a continual basis, then there is no Salat for you! Meaning: the Fajr prayer is not accepted because it is prayed at other than its appointed time without a legislated excuse. It is authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs an action that is not in accordance to our command, it will be rejected”. meaning: returned to him. No doubt, performing prayer after its appointed time without a legislated excuse is an action that is not in accordance to the command of Allah and His messenger ﷺ so it is rejected.

This man might say: I’m asleep, and when a person is asleep the pen of accountability does not record his bad deeds. It is authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever is asleep during the time of prayer or forgets to pray it, must pray it once he remembers”. So, we say to him: The type of sleep that a person is excused for is the sleep that is accidental not habitual. As for the sleep that becomes the daily routine of a person and, due to it, he does not pray Al-Fajr except that its time has elapsed, this sleep is not an excuse!

So, it is for our brother to fear Allah ﷻ and to complete what Allah has blessed him with of Islam by praying al-Fajr prayer with the congregation. We ask Allah to aid us and the brother.