Written by: Dr. Abu Jabir Abdullah Damanvi
Allah Almighty says:
"Prostrate and draw near (to Allah)."
(Surah Al-`Alaq: 19)
Allah has made five daily prayers obligatory upon the Muslim Ummah and promised forgiveness and Paradise to those who observe them sincerely.
Besides the obligatory prayers, offering voluntary prayers (Nawafil) brings immense rewards. Among them, the most emphasized are Sunan al-Rawatib, along with other Nafl prayers like Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā (Forenoon Prayer), Qiyam al-Layl (Tahajjud), Ṣalāh al-Wudu (Prayer after Ablution), Ṣalāh al-Tahiyyat al-Masjid (Greeting the Mosque Prayer), Ṣalāh al-Istikhara, and Ṣalāh al-Tasbih.
This article focuses on the proofs and virtues regarding Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā, compiling authentic narrations to enlighten readers about its significance.
May Allah enable all Muslims to consistently observe both obligatory and voluntary prayers. Āmīn.
"Ḍuḥā linguistically refers to the time when the sun spreads its light after rising and the day progresses. The term also applies to the sunlight itself."
The Qur'an mentions:
Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā refers to the prayer performed after sunrise when the sun has sufficiently risen and before the time of Zuhr. It is also referred to as Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq and Ṣalāh al-Awwābīn. It can be prayed in two, four, or eight rak'ahs.
"Every morning, charity is due upon each joint of your body. Every Tasbihah (saying 'SubhanAllah') is charity, every Tahmidah (saying 'Alhamdulillah') is charity, every Tahlilah (saying 'La ilaha illallah') is charity, every Takbirah (saying 'Allahu Akbar') is charity; enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity. And all this is sufficiently replaced by offering two rak'ahs of Duha prayer."
(Sahih Muslim: 720)
➋ Buraidah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Man has 360 joints. Each joint must offer a charity daily. Removing harm from the road or covering a spit in the mosque counts as charity. If he cannot, two rak'ahs of Duha prayer suffice for him."
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 5242)
➌ Narration of Abu Darda' or Abu Dharr رضي الله عنهم:
"Allah, the Exalted, says: 'O son of Adam! Offer four rak'ahs for Me at the beginning of the day and I will suffice you for the rest of it.'"
(Jami' al-Tirmidhi: 475 — Sahih)
➍ Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever leaves his house in a state of purity to perform an obligatory prayer, his reward is like that of a pilgrim who has entered the state of Ihram. And whoever goes solely to perform the Duha prayer receives the reward of an Umrah."
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 558)
➎ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Should I not tell you about an act faster and greater in reward than the swiftest returning warrior with the greatest booty? A man who perfects his ablution at home, proceeds to the mosque, prays Fajr, and remains seated for Dhikr until he offers the Duha prayer."
(Musnad Abi Ya'la: 6559 — Authentic Chain)
➏ 'Amr ibn 'Abasah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Pray the Fajr prayer and then wait until the sun has fully risen before praying, for prayer at that time is attended by angels."
(Sahih Muslim: 832)
➐ Zaid ibn Arqam رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The prayer of Awwabin is performed when the young camels feel the heat of the sun."
(Sahih Muslim: 748)
➑ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said:
"No one guards the Duha prayer but the Awwab (the penitent one)."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1224; Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1/314)
➒ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"My beloved Prophet ﷺ advised me to never leave three things: Witr prayer before sleeping, two rak'ahs of Duha, and fasting three days every month."
(Sahih Muslim: 721)
May Allah enable us to perform it consistently and sincerely. Āmīn.
Introduction
In Islam, no act of worship holds as much value and significance as Ṣalāh (prayer). It is a means for the elevation of ranks, forgiveness of sins, and attaining closeness to Allah.Allah Almighty says:
"Prostrate and draw near (to Allah)."
(Surah Al-`Alaq: 19)
Allah has made five daily prayers obligatory upon the Muslim Ummah and promised forgiveness and Paradise to those who observe them sincerely.
Besides the obligatory prayers, offering voluntary prayers (Nawafil) brings immense rewards. Among them, the most emphasized are Sunan al-Rawatib, along with other Nafl prayers like Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā (Forenoon Prayer), Qiyam al-Layl (Tahajjud), Ṣalāh al-Wudu (Prayer after Ablution), Ṣalāh al-Tahiyyat al-Masjid (Greeting the Mosque Prayer), Ṣalāh al-Istikhara, and Ṣalāh al-Tasbih.
This article focuses on the proofs and virtues regarding Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā, compiling authentic narrations to enlighten readers about its significance.
May Allah enable all Muslims to consistently observe both obligatory and voluntary prayers. Āmīn.
Linguistic Meaning of Ḍuḥā
Imam Raghib al-Isfahani explains:"Ḍuḥā linguistically refers to the time when the sun spreads its light after rising and the day progresses. The term also applies to the sunlight itself."
The Qur'an mentions:
- "By the sun and its brightness (ḍuḥāhā)." (Surah Al-Shams: 1)
- "Except for an evening or its forenoon (ḍuḥāhā)." (Surah Al-Nazi'at: 46)
- "By the forenoon (ḍuḥā) and the night when it covers with darkness." (Surah Al-Ḍuḥā: 1–2)
Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā refers to the prayer performed after sunrise when the sun has sufficiently risen and before the time of Zuhr. It is also referred to as Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq and Ṣalāh al-Awwābīn. It can be prayed in two, four, or eight rak'ahs.
Virtues of Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā
➊ Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:"Every morning, charity is due upon each joint of your body. Every Tasbihah (saying 'SubhanAllah') is charity, every Tahmidah (saying 'Alhamdulillah') is charity, every Tahlilah (saying 'La ilaha illallah') is charity, every Takbirah (saying 'Allahu Akbar') is charity; enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity. And all this is sufficiently replaced by offering two rak'ahs of Duha prayer."
(Sahih Muslim: 720)
➋ Buraidah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Man has 360 joints. Each joint must offer a charity daily. Removing harm from the road or covering a spit in the mosque counts as charity. If he cannot, two rak'ahs of Duha prayer suffice for him."
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 5242)
➌ Narration of Abu Darda' or Abu Dharr رضي الله عنهم:
"Allah, the Exalted, says: 'O son of Adam! Offer four rak'ahs for Me at the beginning of the day and I will suffice you for the rest of it.'"
(Jami' al-Tirmidhi: 475 — Sahih)
➍ Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Whoever leaves his house in a state of purity to perform an obligatory prayer, his reward is like that of a pilgrim who has entered the state of Ihram. And whoever goes solely to perform the Duha prayer receives the reward of an Umrah."
(Sunan Abu Dawood: 558)
➎ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Should I not tell you about an act faster and greater in reward than the swiftest returning warrior with the greatest booty? A man who perfects his ablution at home, proceeds to the mosque, prays Fajr, and remains seated for Dhikr until he offers the Duha prayer."
(Musnad Abi Ya'la: 6559 — Authentic Chain)
➏ 'Amr ibn 'Abasah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"Pray the Fajr prayer and then wait until the sun has fully risen before praying, for prayer at that time is attended by angels."
(Sahih Muslim: 832)
➐ Zaid ibn Arqam رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The prayer of Awwabin is performed when the young camels feel the heat of the sun."
(Sahih Muslim: 748)
➑ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said:
"No one guards the Duha prayer but the Awwab (the penitent one)."
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1224; Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1/314)
➒ Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"My beloved Prophet ﷺ advised me to never leave three things: Witr prayer before sleeping, two rak'ahs of Duha, and fasting three days every month."
(Sahih Muslim: 721)
The Best Time for Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā
The optimal time for Duha prayer is after the sun rises and ascends significantly, approximately 15–20 minutes after sunrise, continuing until just before Dhuhr.Number of Rak'ahs for Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā
- Minimum: Two rak'ahs
- Preferred: Four to Eight rak'ahs
- It was the habit of the Prophet ﷺ to pray two, four, or more rak'ahs depending on the situation.
Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā in Travel
- Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه witnessed the Prophet ﷺ praying eight rak'ahs during travel.
(Musnad Ahmad: 3/146)
Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā upon Return from Journey
- A'ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray Duha only when returning from a journey.
(Sahih Muslim: 717)
Clarification about Ṣalāh al-Awwabin
Many believe that Ṣalāh al-Awwabin is prayed after Maghrib; however, authentic narrations associate Ṣalāh al-Awwabin with the Duha prayer, not Maghrib.Conclusion
Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā is a highly emphasized Sunnah prayer that brings immense rewards, forgiveness, and proximity to Allah. It is a prayer of the grateful, the penitent, and the devout. Every Muslim is encouraged to offer it regularly, especially in the forenoon after the sun has risen well.May Allah enable us to perform it consistently and sincerely. Āmīn.
