Difference between Subh and Fajr Prayer

Praise be to Allah.

Fajr prayer is subh prayer – there is no difference between them. It consists of two rak’ahs . The time for Fajr prayer starts when the true dawn begins, and lasts until the sun rises. There is a prayer that comes before it, consisting of two rak'ahs, which is known as the Sunnah of subh or the two rak’ahs of Fajr. 

The phrases salat al-subh and salat al-fajr are both used in the Sunnah to refer to this prayer, such as the report narrated by Muslim (656) from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi ‘Amrah who said: ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan entered the mosque after Maghrib prayer and sat by himself. I sat beside him and he said: O son of my brother, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever prays ‘Isha in congregation, it is as if he spent half the night in prayer, and whoever prays Subh (Fajr) in congregation, it is as if he spent the entire night in prayer.” 

Al-Bukhari (556) and Muslim (608) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If one of you catches up with a rak’ah of ‘Asr prayer before the sun sets, let him complete his prayer, and if he catches up with a rak’ah of Subh (Fajr) prayer before the sun rises, let him complete his prayer.” 

As for calling it Fajr prayer , Muslim (670) narrated from Jabir ibn Samurah that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed Fajr he would sit in the place where he had prayed until the sun was well risen. 

And al-Bukhari (891) and Muslim (880) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite in Jumu’ah and in Fajr prayer, “Alif-Lam-Mim. The revelation of the Book… ” [Surat al-Sajdah, no. 32] and “Has there not been over man a period of time” [Surat al-Dahr, no. 76].  

And al-Bukhari (555) and Muslim (632) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Angels come to you in succession by night and by day, and they meet at Fajr prayer and at ‘Asr prayer, then those who stayed among you ascend and He (Allah) asks them, although He knows best, ‘How did you leave My slaves?’ They say: ‘We left them when they were praying and we came to them when they were praying.’” 

And Allah knows best.