Duha Prayer: It’s Significance, When and How It is Performed

Outline

• Introduction
• Related Articles
• What’s Duha Prayer
• The Significance of Duha Prayer
• When is Duha Prayer Performed
• How is Duha Prayer Performed

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent.

Introduction

The real journey in pursuit for salvation for the son of Adam begins after he submits to Allah and embraces Islam, with its rituals, rules and principles. The most frequently observed act of worship that Allah has prescribed upon him is prayer (ṣalāh). Thus, he’s obliged to observe prayers five times a day.

However, besides the five-times daily prayers, there are supererogatory prayers that he’s strongly encouraged to observe. The most famous of them are four:

• Qiyāmullayl
• Witr Prayer
• The Sunnah of Fajr Prayer
• Ḍuḥā Prayer

This article focuses on Duha prayer. Its significance, how, and when it’s performed.

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Related Articles

As for Qiyāmullayl, GSalam. Net has a few articles that comprehensively guide you to observe Qiyāmullayl… Check them out in the following:

• The Significance, Effects and Guidelines of Qiyamullayl
• Qiyāmullayl… Its Enhancers, Etiquettes and Stories
• Qiyāmullayl in Ramadan… The Experience and the Lessons…

As for Witr Prayer, you can check out its article here.

And as for the Sunnah of Fajr Prayer, you can check out its article here.

Now, now let’s move on to find out what the Duha prayer is.

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What’s Duha Prayer

Duha Prayer is a prayer the Muslim performs anytime between after sunrise and noon, before the sun settles in the middle of the sky.

Duha prayer is also called Ishrāq prayer, and Awwābīn prayer.

Duha prayer is also one of the emphasized supererogatory prayers which the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam observed and also encouraged the companions to give it attention.

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The Significance of Duha Prayer

There’s of aḥādīth from the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam that the indicate the significance of Duha prayer.

The first comes from Imām Muslim, who reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Dharr al-Ghifārī raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:

يُصْبِحُ عَلَى كُلِّ سُلاَمَى مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ فَكُلُّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْىٌ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ وَيُجْزِئُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَانِ يَرْكَعُهُمَا مِنَ الضُّحَى

“In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah’s glorification is an act of charity. Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is evil is an act of charity, and two raka’ahs which one prays in the Duha prayer will suffice.

We understand from this ḥadīth, that in addition to being an act of worship, two raka’ahs of Duha prayer assists the Muslim fulfilling the need to give charity to purify himself and also earn it protection.

The second ḥadīth comes from Imām Abū Dāwūd, who reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Dharr and Abū al-Dardā’ raḍiya Allāhu ’anhumā, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says.

عَنِ اللَّهِ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ابْنَ آدَمَ ارْكَعْ لِي مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ أَكْفِكَ آخِرَهُ

“Allah, the Most High said: “O Son of Adam: Perform four Raka’ahs for Me in the beginning of the day it will suffice you for the latter part of it.”

The third ḥadīth comes from Imām al-Tirmidhī, who reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:

مَنْ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَانَتْ لَهُ كَأَجْرِ حَجَّةٍ وَعُمْرَةٍ… تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ تَامَّةٍ

“Whoever prays Fajr in a congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Raka’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah…. Complete, complete, complete.”

Now that we’ve digested the significance of Duha prayer, I know you can’t wait to learn when is how it’s performed. Right? Here we go!

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When is Duha Prayer Performed

Duha prayer is performed after the and sun has risen for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. This time is extended until approximately 10-15 before Ẓuhr prayer.

I believe you remember that is not encouraged to offer prayers before sunrise (after Ṣubḥ) until the time of Duha prayers kicks in. Likewise, it’s not encouraged to offer prayers in the time within 10-15 minutes before Ẓuhr prayer. The only permissible prayers are the ones you’ve missed by the virtue of forgetfulness or oversleeping.

Imām Muslim reports from the narration of Zayd ibn Arqam raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:

صَلاَةُ الأَوَّابِينَ حِينَ تَرْمَضُ الْفِصَالُ

“The prayer of those who are penitent is observed when your weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.”

This indicates the most preferred time for offering Duha prayer. That is after the sun has risen and its heat can be felt.

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How is Duha Prayer Performed

The minimum number of raka’ahs you can offer in Duha prayer is two raka’ahs. And the maximum you can offer is infinite. Just remember that the ḥadīth above recommended four raka’ah in order to suffice your need to give charity on behalf of your body organs.

Furthermore, The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam used to pray the minimum of four raka’ahs when he offers his Duha prayer. He would then add as many raka’ahs as he wished. Imām Muslim reports from the narration of Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhā, who said:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي اَلضُّحَى أَرْبَعًا, وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اَللَّهُ

“The Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam used to pray four Raka’ahs in Duha prayer and increase (the number of Raka’ahs) as much as Allah willed.”

When offering more than two raka’ahs in your Duha prayers, one should make salām after every two raka’ahs.

Until the next post, I leave you in Allah’s protection.

Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂

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