If Fajr Adhan Begins While Praying Tarawih or Witr, Should the Prayer Be Stopped?
Question
If one is praying tarawih by themselves, and they hear the fajr adhan, should they stop their prayer? What if they intended to pray witr, should they pray witr and then fajr? Jazakallah
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
The time for night prayers, including tahajjud, tarawih, and witr, extends from after Isha until the true dawn (fajr) appears. Once the time of Fajr begins, the time for voluntary night prayers ends and the obligation shifts to the Fajr prayer.
Allah says:
“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night, and the Quran of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is witnessed.”
Surat al Isra 17:78
The Prophet also said regarding Witr:
“Make the last of your prayers at night Witr.”
Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
This indicates that Witr is the final prayer of the night, but it must occur before the entrance of Fajr.
2. Scholarly Discussion
The scholars agree that the time of night prayer ends when true dawn begins. If a person is already praying a voluntary prayer when the time ends, the jurists discuss whether they should complete the prayer or stop it.
The majority of scholars state that if a person began a voluntary prayer within its proper time, they may complete that prayer, even if the time ends during it. This principle applies to many acts of worship whose time expires while the act is already underway.
Regarding Witr, the scholars differ slightly. Many scholars emphasize that Witr should be prayed before the entry of Fajr, but if a person was already praying it and Fajr begins, they may complete it. If the person has not yet started Witr and Fajr enters, then Witr should no longer be prayed at that time, though it may be made up later according to many scholars.
3. Application to the Question
If someone is praying tarawih or another voluntary night prayer and the Fajr adhan begins, the ruling depends on the situation.
If the person has already started the prayer before Fajr entered, they may complete the rakah they are praying and finish the prayer. There is no need to abruptly break the prayer.
However, once the prayer ends, they should stop the night prayers and prepare for the Fajr prayer, since the time for voluntary night prayers has ended.
If a person intended to pray Witr but had not yet begun it when Fajr entered, they should not start Witr at that time. Instead, they proceed with the Fajr prayer. Many scholars allow making up Witr later in the morning, often as an even number of rakahs.
If the person had already begun Witr before the adhan, they may complete it, since it started within the valid time.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
العبادات مبناها على التوقيف
Acts of worship are based on revelation
This principle means that the times and forms of acts of worship are determined by revelation. The Sharia has clearly defined the time window for night prayer and Witr, which ends with the entrance of Fajr. Therefore, once Fajr begins, new voluntary night prayers are not started, though a prayer already begun may be completed.
Final Ruling
If you are praying tarawih or another voluntary night prayer and the Fajr adhan begins, you may finish the prayer you already started, but you should not begin new night prayers afterward. If you had already begun Witr, you may complete it. If you had not yet started Witr when Fajr entered, you should proceed with the Fajr prayer, and Witr may be made up later according to many scholars.
And Allah knows best.