Question:
What is Salat al-Ishraq, and what is its correct time?
Answer:
Ishraq means “sunrise”: when the sun has risen and become somewhat high, performing voluntary prayers at that time is called Salat al-Ishraq. Qasim Shaybani (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates:
ان زيد بن ارقم راي قوما يصلون من الضحي فقال اما قد علموا ان الصلاة فى غير هذه الساعة افضل ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : صلاة الاوابين حين ترمض الفصال
“Sayyiduna Zayd bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a people praying Salat al-Duha, and he said: ‘Do these people not know that prayer at a time other than this is more virtuous? Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Salat al-Awwabin is at the time when the young camels’ feet are scorched by the intensity of the heat.'”
In another hadith it is narrated:
خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم علٰي اهل قباء وهم يصلون الضحٰي فقال صلاة الاوابين اذا رمضت الفصال من الضحٰي
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to the people of Quba while they were praying Salat al-Duha, and he ﷺ said: Salat al-Awwabin is at the time when the young camels’ feet are scorched by the intensity of the sunlight.”
From this authentic hadith it is known that “Salat al-Duha”, i.e. Salat al-Ishraq, is more virtuous when performed in well-lit sunshine rather than at its earliest time.
Maulana Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri (may Allah preserve him) says:
“This time is somewhat before midday.”
And the Prophet ﷺ designated this very time as “Salat al-Awwabin”. Awwabin is the plural of awwab, and an awwab is a person who turns much to Allah with sincerity and righteous deeds seeking forgiveness for his sins. Shortly before midday, people generally take rest and repose, while the awwab sets aside comfort and rest and engages in the worship of Allah; therefore this time has been designated as the most virtuous time for Salat al-Duha.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يحافظ على الصلاة الضحٰي الا اواب قال وهى صلاة الاوابين
“Only the awwab preserves Salat al-Duha.” And he said: “This is Salat al-Awwabin.”
From this hadith too it is known that the second name of Salat al-Duha is Salat al-Awwabin.
Scholars in general have designated Salat al-Ishraq as Salat al-Duha itself, though some have made a distinction.
Maulana Ubaidullah Rahmani Mubarakpuri (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned: “Salat al-Ishraq is performed in the early forenoon (dhuha sughra), and Salat al-Duha is performed in the late forenoon (dhuha kubra).” In the hadiths in which the Prophet ﷺ encouraged Salat al-Ishraq, it is mentioned that a person sits after the Fajr prayer waiting until the sun rises, and then prays two rak’ahs.
Mulla Ali Qari said: the verified view is that the earliest time of Salat al-Duha is when the time of disliked prayer has passed, and its latest time is before midday; so the prayer performed at its earliest time is called Salat al-Ishraq, and the prayer performed up to its latest time is named Salat al-Duha.
A narration states:
“When the sun rises from its place and rises to the height of one or two spears, just as it is at the time of the Asr prayer before sunset, the Prophet ﷺ would pray two rak’ahs, then wait until the sunlight became intense, and then he ﷺ would pray four rak’ahs.”
Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) has graded this hadith as hasan.
From this it is known that the difference between Salat al-Duha and Salat al-Ishraq is this: if the prayer is performed some time after sunrise, it is called Salat al-Ishraq, and if the sun is well risen, the sunlight has become intense, and the prayer is performed before midday, then it is Salat al-Duha. والله اعلم
Considering the six rak’ahs after Maghrib as Salat al-Awwabin is not established, as some Hanafis hold; rather, this view contradicts the earlier authentic hadiths, because in them only “Salat al-Duha” is called “Salat al-Awwabin”.
