10 Authentic Hadiths About Salat al-Ishraq, Duha, and Chasht
The voluntary prayer performed at this time is called Salat al-Ishraq.
It is also known as Salat al-Duha, Salat al-Chasht, and Salat al-Awwabin (Prayer of the frequent returners to Allah).
1. Best Time for Salat al-Awwabin
Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Arqam (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to the people of Quba while they were praying and said:
"The prayer of al-Awwabin is when the young camels’ feet become hot (due to the heat of the sun)."
(Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Salat al-Awwabin 848)
2. Preservation of Ishraq Prayer
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"No one consistently maintains the Ishraq prayer except one who frequently turns to Allah, and it is the prayer of al-Awwabin."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1223; al-Albani graded it sahih in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 1994)
3. Charity Equivalent for Every Joint
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every joint of a person must give charity each day the sun rises: saying ‘Subḥānallāh’ is charity, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’ is charity, ‘Lā ilāha illallāh’ is charity, ‘Allāhu Akbar’ is charity; enjoining good is charity, forbidding evil is charity — and all this is fulfilled by praying two rak‘ahs of Duha."
(Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Istihbab Salat al-Duha wa anna Aqalaha Rak‘atan: 720)
4. Guarantee of Allah’s Sufficiency for the Day
Allah says:
"O son of Adam, pray four rak‘ahs for Me in the beginning of the day, I will suffice you till its end."
(Abu Dawud, al-Tatawwu‘, Bab Salat al-Duha: 1289; Tirmidhi, al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Salat al-Duha: 475 – graded hasan by al-Dhahabi and sahih by Ibn Hibban)
5. Reward Equivalent to ‘Umrah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever leaves his house after performing ablution to pray Duha, he will have a reward like that of one performing ‘Umrah in a state of ihram."
(Abu Dawud, al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Fadl al-Mashi ila al-Salah: 558)
6. Avoiding Obligation by Not Always Performing It
Umm al-Mu’minin ‘Aishah (RA) said:
The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes leave certain deeds despite liking them, fearing that people would act upon them and they might become obligatory.
(Bukhari, Abuab al-Tahajjud: 1128; Muslim: 718)
After his passing, this fear ended, so Salat al-Duha remained mustahabb.
7. Number of Rak‘ahs
8. Ishraq Method after Fajr
Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have the reward of Hajj and ‘Umrah — complete, complete, complete."
(Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Safar, Bab Ma Dhukira Mimma Yustahabb al-Julūs fi al-Masjid: 586)
9. Prophet’s Practice after Fajr
Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ used to sit in his place after Fajr until the sun had risen, then he would depart."
(Muslim, al-Masajid, Bab Fadl al-Julūs fi Musallahu: 670)
10. Greater Reward than a Victorious Army
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Shall I not tell you about one who returns with greater spoils than a victorious army? It is the one who performs ablution at home, goes to the mosque, prays Fajr, and then prays Duha."
(al-Albani, Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah: 2349)
Definition and Timing
- Ḍuḥā: “The forenoon” – when the sun rises well above the horizon.
- Ishraq: “Sunrise” – when the sun has risen to the height of a spear.
The voluntary prayer performed at this time is called Salat al-Ishraq.
It is also known as Salat al-Duha, Salat al-Chasht, and Salat al-Awwabin (Prayer of the frequent returners to Allah).
Clarification from Ahadith
1. Best Time for Salat al-Awwabin
Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Arqam (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to the people of Quba while they were praying and said:
"The prayer of al-Awwabin is when the young camels’ feet become hot (due to the heat of the sun)."
(Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Salat al-Awwabin 848)
2. Preservation of Ishraq Prayer
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"No one consistently maintains the Ishraq prayer except one who frequently turns to Allah, and it is the prayer of al-Awwabin."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1223; al-Albani graded it sahih in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah 1994)
3. Charity Equivalent for Every Joint
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Every joint of a person must give charity each day the sun rises: saying ‘Subḥānallāh’ is charity, ‘Alḥamdulillāh’ is charity, ‘Lā ilāha illallāh’ is charity, ‘Allāhu Akbar’ is charity; enjoining good is charity, forbidding evil is charity — and all this is fulfilled by praying two rak‘ahs of Duha."
(Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Istihbab Salat al-Duha wa anna Aqalaha Rak‘atan: 720)
4. Guarantee of Allah’s Sufficiency for the Day
Allah says:
"O son of Adam, pray four rak‘ahs for Me in the beginning of the day, I will suffice you till its end."
(Abu Dawud, al-Tatawwu‘, Bab Salat al-Duha: 1289; Tirmidhi, al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Salat al-Duha: 475 – graded hasan by al-Dhahabi and sahih by Ibn Hibban)
5. Reward Equivalent to ‘Umrah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever leaves his house after performing ablution to pray Duha, he will have a reward like that of one performing ‘Umrah in a state of ihram."
(Abu Dawud, al-Salah, Bab Ma Ja’a fi Fadl al-Mashi ila al-Salah: 558)
6. Avoiding Obligation by Not Always Performing It
Umm al-Mu’minin ‘Aishah (RA) said:
The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes leave certain deeds despite liking them, fearing that people would act upon them and they might become obligatory.
(Bukhari, Abuab al-Tahajjud: 1128; Muslim: 718)
After his passing, this fear ended, so Salat al-Duha remained mustahabb.
7. Number of Rak‘ahs
- ‘Aishah (RA): The Prophet ﷺ prayed four rak‘ahs of Duha and would add as much as Allah willed.
(Muslim: 719) - Umm Hani (RA): On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ prayed eight rak‘ahs of Duha.
(Bukhari, al-Tahajjud, Bab Salat al-Duha fi al-Safar: 1176; Muslim: 336) - Abu Hurairah (RA): "My beloved ﷺ advised me to pray two rak‘ahs of Duha daily."
(Bukhari, al-Tahajjud, Bab Salat al-Duha fi al-Hadar: 1178; Muslim: 721)
8. Ishraq Method after Fajr
Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have the reward of Hajj and ‘Umrah — complete, complete, complete."
(Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Safar, Bab Ma Dhukira Mimma Yustahabb al-Julūs fi al-Masjid: 586)
9. Prophet’s Practice after Fajr
Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ used to sit in his place after Fajr until the sun had risen, then he would depart."
(Muslim, al-Masajid, Bab Fadl al-Julūs fi Musallahu: 670)
10. Greater Reward than a Victorious Army
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Shall I not tell you about one who returns with greater spoils than a victorious army? It is the one who performs ablution at home, goes to the mosque, prays Fajr, and then prays Duha."
(al-Albani, Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah: 2349)
