Salat al-Ishraq, Chasht, Duha and Salat al-Awwabin
Definition and Time
Duha means: “the rising of the day”
Ishraq means: “sunrise”
When the sun rises and is one spear’s length high, optional prayers are performed at that time, which is called Salat al-Ishraq.
The same prayer is also called Salat al-Chasht, Salat al-Duha, and Salat al-Awwabin (the prayer of those who turn back to Allah).
Clarification from the Ahadith
◈ Sayyidina Zayd bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to the people of Quba while they were praying. He ﷺ said:
“The time of the prayer of the Awwabin is when the feet of the young camels become hot.”
◈ Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Only one who turns to Allah Almighty abundantly guards the Ishraq prayer, and this is Salat al-Awwabin.”
The narration in which the prayer offered between Maghrib and Isha is called Salat al-Awwabin is mursal (da’if).
Fatwa
Fadilat al-Shaykh Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman al-Jibrin (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
“The time of Salat al-Duha begins when the sun is one spear’s length high and continues until shortly before midday (about half an hour before). The preferable time is when the intensity of the heat causes the feet of the young camels to begin to burn.”
The Virtues of Salat al-Ishraq
Reward Equal to Charity
◈ Sayyidina Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“It is binding on every person to give charity for every joint (of his body). Saying Subhan Allah, al-Hamdu lillah, La ilaha illa Allah and Allahu Akbar is charity. Enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity. And two rak’ahs of Duha suffice for all of these.”
Sufficiency for the Whole Day
◈ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Allah Almighty says: O son of Adam, pray four rak’ahs purely for Me in the first part of the day, and I will suffice you until the evening of that day.”
Hafiz al-Dhahabi called it hasan and qawi al-isnad, and Imam Ibn Hibban declared it sahih.
Reward Equal to Umrah
◈ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs wudu and leaves his house for Salat al-Duha receives a reward like that of one who sets out for Umrah in the state of ihram.”
The Fear of Obligation and Its Removal
◈ Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would leave some deeds although he liked them,
fearing that people would start practicing them and they would become obligatory.
After his death, this fear ended, so Salat al-Chasht is now recommended.
Number of Rak’ahs of Salat al-Ishraq
◈ Sayyida Mu’adhah asked Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
“How many rak’ahs did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray for Salat al-Duha?”
She said:
“Four rak’ahs, and more as much as Allah willed.”
◈ Sayyida Umm Hani (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bathed on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and prayed eight rak’ahs of Salat al-Duha.”
It is known that Salat al-Chasht may be two, four or eight rak’ahs.
◈ Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“My beloved Prophet ﷺ advised me of three things:
three fasts every lunar month (13, 14, 15),
two rak’ahs of Chasht,
and Witr before sleeping.”
The Method of Ishraq after Fajr
◈ Sayyidina Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever prays the Fajr prayer in congregation, then remains sitting remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak’ahs after sunrise, will have the reward of Hajj and Umrah.” Indeed, he said three times: “a complete Hajj and Umrah, a complete Hajj and Umrah, a complete Hajj and Umrah.”
◈ Sayyidina Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sit in the masjid after the Fajr prayer until the sun rose,
and when the sun rose, he would get up and leave.”
◈ Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army, and they obtained a great spoil.
Someone said: We have never seen an army with greater spoil than this.
He ﷺ said:
“Shall I not tell you of a person who brought back even greater spoils than them and returned sooner? The person who performed wudu at home, then went calmly to the masjid, prayed the Fajr prayer and then prayed the Chasht prayer: he is the one who brings the greatest spoils and returns the quickest.”
