Chapter: It is recommended to pray Duha, the least of which is two rak`ah, the best of which is eight, and the average of which is four or six, and encouragement to do so regularly

'Abdullah bin Shaqiq reported: I asked 'A'isha whether the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, except when he came back from a journey.

'Abdullah bin Shaqiq reported: I asked 'A'isha whether the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, but when he came back from the journey.

'Urwa reported 'A'isha to be saying: I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing the supererogatory prayer of the forenoon, but I observed it. And if the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) abandoned any act which he in fact loved to do, it was out of fear that if the people practiced it constantly, it might become obligatory for them.

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.

A hadith like this has been reported by the same chain of transmitters, but with this alteration that the transmitter said: "As Allah pleased."

Mua'ada 'Adawiyya reported 'A'isha as saying: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe four rak'ahs in the forenoon prayer and he sometimes observed more as Allah pleased.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.

Abdul Rahman bin Abu Laila reported: No one has ever narrated to me that he saw the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) observing the forenoon prayer, except Umm Hani. She, however, narrated that the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) entered her house on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and prayed eight rak'ahs (adding): I never saw a shorter prayer than it except that he performed the bowing and prostration completely. But (one of the narrators) Ibn Bashshar in his narration made no mention of the word: "Never".

'Abdullah bin Harith bin Naufal reported: I had been asking about, as I was desirous to find one among people who should inform me, whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the forenoon prayer, but I found none to narrate that to me except Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (the real sister of Hadrat 'Ali), who told me that on the day of the Conquest the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came (to our house) after the dawn had (sufficiently) arisen. A cloth was brought and privacy was provided for him (the Holy Prophet). He took a bath and then stood up and observed eight rak'ahs. I do not know whether his Qiyam (standing posture) was longer, or bending or prostration or all of them were of equal duration. She (Umm Hani) further said: I never saw him saying this Nafl prayer prior to it or subsequently. (Al-Muradi narrated on the authority of Yunus that he made no mention of the words: "He informed me." )

Abu Murra, the freed slave of Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib, reported Umm Hani to be saying: I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and found him taking bath, and Fatimah, his daughter, had provided him privacy with the help of a cloth. I gave him salutation and he said: Who is she? I said: It is Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Greeting for Umm Hani. When he had completed the bath, he stood up and observed eight rak'ahs wrapped up in one cloth. When he turned back (after the prayer), I said to him: Messenger of Allah, the son of my mother 'Ali bin Abu Talib is going to kill a person, Fulan bin Hubaira whom I have given protection. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We too have given protection whom you have given protection, O Umm Hani. Umm Hani said: It was the forenoon (prayer).

Abu Murra narrated on the authority of Umm Hani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the Conquest of Makkah observed in her house eight rak'ahs of prayer in one cloth, its opposite corners having been tied from the opposite sides.

Abu Dharr (RA) 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 disreputable is an act of charity, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported. My friend (the Holy Prophet, may peace be upon him) has instructed me to do three things: three fasts during every month, two rak'ahs of the forenoon prayer, and observing Witr prayer before going to bed.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) by another chain of transmitters.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: My friend Abu'l-Qasim (ﷺ) instructed me to do three things, and the rest of the hadith is the same.

Abu Murra, the freed slave of Umm Hani, narrated on the authority of Abu Darda': My Friend (ﷺ) instructed me in three (acts), and I would never abandon them as long as I live. (And these three things are): Three fasts during every month, the forenoon prayer, and that I should not sleep till I have observed the Witr prayer.