1047/1 - Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever prays the Bardayn (dawn and afternoon) will enter Paradise.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The Bardayn: lit. the two cooler times; i.e. Fajr (dawn) and ‘Asr (afternoon) prayers.
1048/2 - Abu Zuhayr ‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “He who prays before sunrise and before sunset will not enter Hellfire,” i.e. the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Performing the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers regularly leads one to Paradise and salvation from Hellfire. Allah Almighty says: {So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise is indeed triumphant} [Āl-‘Imrān: 185]
2) There is a special merit for Fajr prayer, as the recitation of the Qur’an during it is well witnessed by the angels. {Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 78]
3) The ‘Asr prayer has a special merit as it has been singled out; it is the middle prayer mentioned in the verse: {Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer} [Surat al-Baqarah: 238]
1049/3 - Jundub ibn Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever offers the Fajr prayer will be in the protection of Allah. So, beware, O son of Adam, lest Allah calls you to account for being absent from His protection for any reason.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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“Lest Allah calls you to account for being absent from His protection”: Do not do something evil or bad, like failing to perform the Fajr prayer in congregation, and thus Allah will call you to account for the covenant (of protection) He has given you.
1) The Fajr prayer is like a key for the prayers of the day; rather, for all the deeds of the day.
2) The Fajr prayer has a special merit: Whoever offers it is in the protection and care of Allah Almighty.
1050/4 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Angels take turns among you by night and by day, and they all assemble at the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Those (angels) who spend the night among you then ascend, and their Lord asks them, though He is the best informed about them: ‘How did you leave My servants?’ They say: ‘We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1) Allah Almighty honors the believers as He made the angels take turns among them at the start and end of the day, which highlights the honor and merit of those believing servants.
2) The Fajr and ‘Asr prayers have a special merit, as they are singled out for the assembly of angels.
We know from this Hadīth an important timing; when to say the reported Dhikr in the morning and evening. The time to say the morning Dhikr starts after Fajr prayer until sunrise, and the time to say the evening Dhikr starts after the ‘Asr prayer until sunset.
1051/5 - Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), as he looked at the moon when it was full and said: “Indeed, you will see your Lord just as you see this moon, without any difficulty in seeing Him. So, if you could avoid missing a prayer before sunrise and before sunset, then do so.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] In another version: “He looked at the moon on the eve of the 14th (day of the Hijri month).”
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1) It establishes the fact that the believers will see their Lord clearly in Paradise. Indeed, this is one of the best and most sublime aspects of bliss in Paradise.
2) Offering the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers regularly is among the reasons leading to seeing Allah Almighty in Paradise.
3) The believer believes authentic reports from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and does not reject them by reason. He should not say: How can we see Allah Almighty?! Submission is the attitude of the believer regarding all religious rulings and reports.
1052/6 - Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If anyone abandons the ‘Asr prayer, his deeds will be rendered worthless.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
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1) It points out the great status of the ‘Asr prayer, as it is a measure for accepting or rejecting one’s deeds.
2) If a person abandons the ‘Asr prayer, his reward will be invalidated.