Does the above law of awaking prior to dawn apply in today’s times?[1]
In today’s times one is not required to awaken prior to dawn. The reason for this is because the order of life and sleeping schedule has changed since previous generations[2], and in order to receive enough sleep, sleeping past dawn is required. One is not required to shorten his learning schedule at night in order to wake up prior to dawn.[3]
[1] Mishmeres Shalom 1:1; See Pischeiy Teshuvah 1:1; M”B 1:9
The Elya Raba and Peri Megadim write in the name of Poskim that if awaking prior to dawn will cause one to sleep during his prayer then it is better for him to sleep as much as required than to awaken early and sleep during Davening. This applies even if one will not fall asleep during Davening but will not have a clear mind for prayer and learning Torah. [Mishmeres Shalom ibid]
[2] Today we no longer follow the same sleeping schedule as was followed in previous times. Back then people went to sleep immediately after nightfall. This is no longer accustomed today. Hence the times of waking up from sleep have also changed. Hashem does not demand the impossible from his creations and hence waking up past dawn even initially is justified in today’s times. [Mishmeres Shalom ibid]
[3] Pischeiy Teshuvah ibid