What Is Salat Al-Duha?

Duḥa is linguistically defined as the time of sunrise.  It is an optional two-rakʿah prayer that the Prophet ﷺ prayed frequently and advised the companions to pray, and its time is between sunrise and Dhuhr.

Duha prayer is also called Ishrāq prayer, and Awwābīn prayer. The ruling is that Duha prayer is a sunnah mu’akkadah (confirmed Sunnah), which entails massive rewards and blessings if established, but there is no sin on the one who leaves it.

When To Pray Salat Al-Duha?

The time for Salat al-Duha extends from after sunrise (approximately 15 min. after sunrise) and ends before midday when the sun reaches its zenith. The most preferred time for Duha prayer is at the hottest part of the day, when the sun has reached its zenith (its highest point), and this is approximately halfway between sunrise and Dhuhr prayer.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 
‘It is preferable to offer Duha prayer when the sun’s heat has become so intense that even the young of the camels feel it.’
Muslim 748

How To Pray Salat Al-Duha?

Duha prayer is to be offered like other Sunnah prayers two rakahs by two.

The minimum number of raka’ahs you can offer in Duha prayer is two raka’ahs. There is no clear report that indicates a restriction on the number of rakʿahs for Duha prayer. Just remember that the Hadith recommends four raka’ah in order to suffice your need to give charity on behalf of your body organs.

Jubair narrated from Abu Ad-Darda, or Abu Dharr, that :

Allah's Messenger narrated that Allah, Blessed and Most High said: "Son of Adam: Perform four Rak'ah for Me in the beginning of the day it will suffice you for the latter part of it."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 475

What Is The Maximum Number Of Rak’ah For Duha Prayer?

With regard to the maximum number of Duha prayer , there is no text that defines that, but it is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed Duha with four rak‘ahs, and with more than that, and with eight rak‘ahs, as on the day of the conquest of Makkah.

Mu'adha asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) how many rak'ahs Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed at the forenoon prayer. She replied:

Four rak'ahs, but sometimes more as he pleased.

Sahih Muslim 719

Narrated by Sa'id b. Abu Hind :

His (the Holy Prophet's) daughter Fatimah provided him privacy with the help of his cloth, and when he had taken a bath he took it up and wrapped it around him and then stood and offered eight rak'ahs of the forenoon prayer.

Sahih Muslim 336

Benefits Of Praying Salat Al-Duha

1. It fulfills charity on every joint in your body.

This hadith emphasizes the status and virtue of Duha prayer, two rakʿahs of which is sufficient as a charity on behalf of every joint in the body, and a sign of genuine gratitude to Allah S.W.T.

Abu Dharr reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:
“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 distreputable is an act of charity, and two rak’ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.”

Sahih Muslim 720

2. It is the prayer of the oft-repentant.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“None is diligent in establishing Duha prayer except one who is oft-repentant (awwāb), and it is the prayer of the oft-repentant.”

The term “Salat al-Awwabeen” comes from this narration, in which the Messenger ﷺ emphasizes that only the oft-repentant are persistent in praying Duha prayer habitually. Thus, one of the signs of true repentance is to return to Allah (swt) by not only cutting off a major sin, but striving diligently to increase in one’s voluntary deeds, especially the optional prayers.

3. It was an advice from the Messenger of Allah himself.

The advice of the Prophet ﷺ to Abu Hurayrah indicates the virtues of Duha prayer, and the vast rewards of the prayer as well as its significance.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

My friend (the Prophet PBUH) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rak`at of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1981

4. Under certain conditions, the reward for praying it is equivalent to a complete Hajj and ʿUmrah.

If Salat Al-Duha is performed after remembering Allah from the time of Fajr prayer, it’s equivalent to the complete reward of Hajj & Umrah.

Anas bin Malik narrated that :

The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rak'ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah." He said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Complete, complete, complete.'"
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 586

(Note: This doesn’t fulfill the requirement to perform Hajj)

5. Making it a habit leads to forgiveness of one’s sins.

Abu Hurairah narrated that :

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever continuously performs the two Rak'ah of Ad-Duha his sins will be forgiven, even if they be like the foam of the sea."

Tirmidhi (476)

How to pray Duha Prayer?

how many Rak’ah to pray?

The minimum number that has been reported in the case of Duha prayer is two rak‘ahs. Muslim (720) narrated from the hadith of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “…and two rak’ahs offered in the forenoon (Duha) will suffice for that.”

Al-Bukhari (1981) and Muslim (721) narrated from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “My close friend (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) advised me to do three things: to fast three days of every month, to pray two rak‘ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before going to sleep.

With regard to the maximum number of Duha prayer , there is no text that defines that, but it is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed Duha with four rak‘ahs, and with more than that, and with eight rak‘ahs, as on the day of the conquest of Makkah.

Muslim (719) narrated that Mu‘adhah (may Allah have mercy on her) asked ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): How many (rak’ahs) did the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) pray in Duha? She said: Four rak‘ahs, and however many more he wanted.

Muslim (336) narrated that Umm Hani (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) got up to do ghusl, and Fatimah screened him. Then he took his garment and wrapped it around himself, then he prayed eight rak’ahs of Duha prayer.

Way to pray Duha prayer:-

The prying of two rak’ah Duha prayer is same as we pray normal 2 rak’ah Prayer for example same as Fajr prayer if you don’t know how to pray 2 Rak’ah click below button.