The Difference Between Fajr Prayer and the Pre-Dawn Sunnah Prayer According to Islamic Law

The two-rak'ah sunnah prayer before Subuh is often called the fajr prayer or the qabliyah Subuh prayer. According to some scholars like Imam Abu Hasan Al-Mubarakfuri, they're the same. But other scholars, like M. Quraish Shihab, say the fajr prayer is actually another name for the fard Subuh prayer. The key difference lies in the hadith wording: "rak'atay al-fajr" means the sunnah qabliyah Subuh prayer, while "shalat al-fajr" means the fard Subuh prayer (HR. Thabrani). The fard Subuh prayer is obligatory and is performed from the break of true dawn until just before sunrise (QS. Al-Isra: 78). The qabliyah Subuh prayer is a highly recommended sunnah, done after the adhan until just before the iqamah. The Prophet used to perform it briefly (HR. Hafshah). After Subuh prayer, he would usually do dhikr until the sun rose (HR. Muslim). https://mozaik.inilah.com/ibadah/adakah-perbedaan-antara-salat-fajar-dan-salat-sunnah-qabliyah-subuh