15 Tips to Help you Wake Up for Fajr

by Asma bint Shameem

We MUST pray each prayer at its own time and exert EVERY POSSIBLE effort to do so regularly. 

Salaah is “THE absolute, most important” part of a Muslim’s life.

It’s the very first thing we’ll be asked about when we stand in front of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

If the Salaah is good, everything else will be good. 

If the Salaah is lacking, then everything else is of NO USE. 

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." 

(al-Tabarani; saheeh by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503)

After all, what distinguishes us from the non Muslims?

It’s the Salaah, of course. 

So we MUST do our BEST to pray on time and exert every effort that we can to make it possible. 

ALL the five daily prayers are CRUCIAL but Fajr prayer is especially important because it is the first prayer of the day.

How can we expect Allaah to bless us and help us during the day if we start the day off disobeying Him if we miss the fajr salaah?

So if you can’t wake up for Fajr, it’s incumbent upon you to IDENTIFY those factors that play a role in missing this Salaah. 

🔺 Some Tips to help in waking up for Fajr

1. sleep early

2. try to sleep and wake up around the same time every day

3. Take a short midday nap

4. eat dinner early at least a few hours before bedtime.

5. use TWO or THREE separate ALARMS

6. don’t be on your laptop or phone just before bedtime

7. make wudhu when you go to bed 

8. say the bedtime adhkaar 

9. make duaa to Allaah to help you wake up in time for Fajr. 

10. stay away from sins during the day especially music. 

11. keep good company 

12. have a ‘Fajr buddy’ who can call you at Fajr and make sure you’re up. 

13. Drink 2-3 glasses of water at bedtime.

This way you will “have” to wake up (to use the bathroom) by the time fajr arrives.

14. Be ‘motivated’ for Fajr by reading all the virtues and rewards for praying on time.

15. Last but not least, be SINCERE in your intention to worship Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala and please Him.

These are only some of the things you can do to help you wake up. 

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

“It’s obligatory that every Muslim fears Allaah, and establishes the five daily prayers in their fixed times in the masjid in congregation.

And a person should be diligent in utilizing every means to achieve this.

Some of the means that will aid in praying (Fajr) in congregation is:

1- Going to bed early.

2- Setting an alarm for a suitable time to get up to pray in congregation.

3- Being diligent in asking Allaah to aid (you) and give (you) the success (to do this.)

4- Saying the legislated words of remembrance before going to sleep.

And by doing these things, Allaah willing, Allaah will give a person the success to get up and pray in congregation.”

And Allaah knows best