Shaykh Sulaiman ar-Ruhaylee:
The believer, the one who’s been granted success, wakes up before Salaat al-Fajr so that he gains the benefit in the last part of the night. He prays what Allaah wills for him in it (last part of the night) and remembers Him. If mankind were to cultivate their soul upon this, they would of found within this a paradise in the Dunya.
Some worshippers of Allah that we know today, they attain delight by standing in the night (for prayer) by making Wudhu, and then (establishing) the prayer in the last part of the night up until Saalat al- Fajr; they find within this a great pleasure.
It is compulsory upon every believer to wake up for Salaat al-Fajr. If he is a man, it is compulsory upon him to wake up for Fajr and to pray it in congregation with the Muslims whenever they are called to it. If she is a woman, it is compulsory upon her to pray it on time.
It is compulsory for a believer to take the means which will aid him in waking up for Salaat al-Fajr. To take the means which will help him avoid that which leads to over-sleeping during Salaat al-Fajr. Be alert O’ brothers! The scholars say it is not permissible for a person to wake up for the night prayer if he knows from his own situation that if he prays at such time it will cause him to over sleep during Salaat al-Fajr.
So what about he who stays awake all night upon other than the obedience of Allaah?! It’s upon him that he takes the means that will aid him in waking up, and if after that tiredness still overcomes him whilst this not being from his (day to day) custom, then he is excused. However there should not be carelessness in sleep. So whoever sleeps over Salaah or forgets it then let him pray it when he remembers, there is no expiation expect that.
As for the careless one then there is no excuse for him for his sleep, rather O’ slaves of Allah, some of the people of knowledge hold, whoever intentionally allows the time for Salat al-Fajr to pass by whilst not taking the means that will aid him in waking up, he becomes a Kaafir due to this.
The affair is severely dangerous, and severely great. So it is binding upon us O’ slaves of Allaah that we give the Salaah it’s due right. Give it a great importance and prepare for it with a utmost preparation. For verily it is our most important action and our best action.
(The prayer) is the most important and best action that we do. The key to success in our actions is the prayer, so whoever preserves it then he is upon those like him; most preserved. Whoever wastes it then he is upon those like him; most wasted. Allah knows best.
Translation by DaarutTawheed