When is it necessary to perform the morning (fajr) prayer according to the four madhhabs; at the beginning of its determined time period or close to the sunrise?

There are narrations that we have heard for years stating that it is necessary to wait at least for ten minutes after imsak in order to perform the morning prayer if it is to be performed early and that it is better and more appropriate to perform it half an hour before the sunrise. What are the virtues regarding the issue? Are there hadiths or similar information regarding the issue?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Islamic scholars hold different views regarding whether to perform the morning (fajr) prayer at the beginning of its determined time period or close to the sunrise acting upon various hadiths.  

"When the Messenger of Allah led the morning prayer, believing women would join the congregation covering themselves with their outer garments called 'mirt'; after the prayer, they would go home and nobody would recognize them."

For instance, interpreting the hadith above narrated by Hz. Aisha, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali scholars accept the reason why the women were not recognized as darkness; therefore, they hold the view that the beginning of the determined time period for the morning prayer was better for the performance of the morning prayer.    

Hanafis accept the reason why the women were not recognized as not darkness but covering their bodies; therefore, they hold the view that it is better to perform the morning prayer close to the sunrise.

Another hadith that supports the views of Hanafis is as follows:

Abu Barza narrates:

"Hz. Prophet (pbuh) started to lead the morning prayer when it was bright enough to know the person sitting next to us; he would read between sixty and one hundred verses in this prayer." (Tajrid Sarih, Translation, II/485)

However, there is something to note in the hadith: It is necessary to start the morning prayer when it is still dark in accordance with the view of the other three madhhabs in order to finish the prayer in which sixty to one hundred verses are read before the sunrise.

In another hadith, it is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) led the morning prayer when it was dark. Since all of those different views are in accordance with various applications of the Prophet (pbuh) at different times, it will be the closest preference to the Sunnah to start the morning prayer when it is dark, to lengthen it by reading the Quran for a long time and finish it when it starts to get bright.

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