Duha Prayer
Duha prayer, also referred to as Salat Al-Ishraq, is a voluntary prayer. Its timing started about 10 to 20 minutes after sunrise and ended about 10 to 45 minutes before the Dhuhr prayer. It is permissible to perform two or more rakats in multiples of two. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform Duha prayer, and he (ﷺ) advised his companions to pray Duha as well.
Abu Dharr reported Allah's Messenger (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, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is disreputable is an act of charity, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice." (Muslim, 720)
As we learned from above hadith that praying two rakats in the forenoon is an act of charity. As well as, saying سُبْحَانَ اللهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ اللهِ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Moreover, Narrated Abu Huraira: "My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ)) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rakats of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping." (Bukhari, 1981)
It is permissible to pray more than two even rakats as mentioned in the hadith below the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed eight rakats on the conquest of Makkah. Muadha asked Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) "how many rakats Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed at the forenoon prayer. She replied: "Four rakats, but sometimes more as he pleased."" (Muslim, 719a). Moreover, Narrated Ibn Abu Laila: Only Um Hani told us that she had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) offering the Duha (forenoon prayer). She said, "On the day of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet (ﷺ) took a bath in my house and offered eight rakats. I never saw him praying such a light prayer, but he performed perfect prostration and bowing." (Bukhari, 1103)
Narrated Abu Umamah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If anyone goes out from his house after performing ablution for saying the prescribed prayer in congregation (in the mosque), his reward will be like that of one who goes for hajj pilgrimage after wearing ihram (robe worn by the hajj pilgrims). And he who goes out to say the mid-morning (Duha) prayer, and takes the trouble for this purpose, will take the reward like that of a person who performs umrah. And a prayer followed by a prayer with no worldly talk during the gap between them will be recorded in Illiyyun." (Abi Dawud, 558)
Narrated Simak: "I asked Jabir b. Samurah: Did you sit in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? He replied: Yes, very often. He would not stand from the place he prayed the dawn prayer till the sunrise. When the sun rose, he would stand (to pray Duha)." (Abi Dawud, 1294)
Narrated Abu Buraydah: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "A human being has three hundred and sixty joints for each of which he must give alms. The people asked him: Who is capable of doing this? He replied: "It may be mucus in the mosque which you bury, and something which you remove from the road; but if you do not find such, two rakats in the forenoon will be sufficient for you." (Abi Dawud, 5242)
After Fajr prayer, sit, make Dhikr and the morning Adhkar. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala said: “O you who believed! remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon.” (33:41-42) Furthermore, take this opportunity to read or memorize the Quran and reflect on its meaning and pray Duha 10 to 20 minutes after sunrise. The reward of praying Duha is as someone who performs umrah and given charity. Who did not want that.
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel rushed and overwhelmed. But even if you're an early riser or working from home, taking just 5 to 10 minutes to offer the Duha prayer before starting your day can make a world of difference. Trust me, the tranquility and calmness you'll experience will positively impact your entire day. I still remember the sense of peace I felt the first time I prayed Duha, and it's something I've made a point of doing ever since. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity to connect with Allah and start my day with a sense of purpose and serenity.
I often complete my Fajr prayer, morning Adhkar, and daily Quranic verses before the time for Duha prayer arrives. However, I ensure I finish my morning routine and pray Duha right before leaving for work. Alhamdulillah, I've developed a habit of performing ablution before heading to work, making it convenient to perform wudu for other prayers while I'm out, especially when using public restrooms. I simply wipe over my socks. If I'm unable to pray Duha earlier, I perform it after performing wudu before leaving for work. Praying Duha brings tranquility and peace, awakening us to mindfulness in our actions. Allah will reward us as He is The Best Rewarder, Who rewards His servants.
If you're unable to pray Duha during the week, let's make an effort to offer it over the weekend.
If you have any suggestions on how to incorporate the Duha prayer into our daily routine, please share them with me. Thank you. May Allah reward you for your kindness.
O Allah, make it easy for us to worship You in the way You love to be worshipped and forgive our shortcomings.