This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh an-Nabī ﷺ, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbdur-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus.
① Ishrāq: Because it is offered at the time of sunrise.
② Ḍuḥā: Due to the spread of light.
③ Awwābīn: The time when the feet of young camels begin to feel the heat.
يصبح على كل سلامى من أحدكم صدقة فكل تسبيحة صدقة وكل تحميدة صدقة وكل تهليلة صدقة وكل تكبيرة صدقة وأمر بالمعروف صدقة ونهي عن المنكر صدقة ويجزئ من ذلك ركعتان يركعهما من الضحى
“When a person begins his morning, charity is due upon every joint of his body. Saying Subḥānallāh is charity, saying Al-ḥamdu lillāh is charity, saying Lā ilāha illallāh is charity, saying Allāhu Akbar is charity, enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity—and two rakʿahs of the Ḍuḥā prayer suffice for all of that.”
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
من خرج من بيته متطهرا إلى صلاة مكتوبة فأجره كأجر الحاج المحرم ومن خرج إلى تسبيح الضحى لا ينصبه إلا إياه فأجره كأجر المعتمر
“Whoever leaves his house in a state of purification to perform an obligatory prayer will have the reward of a pilgrim in iḥrām. And whoever goes out to perform the Ḍuḥā prayer, and nothing drives him except that purpose, will have the reward of one who performs ʿUmrah.”
❀ Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:
أوصاني خليلي بثلاث لا أدعهن حتى أموت: صوم ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر وصلاة الضحى ونوم على وتر
“My beloved friend (the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) advised me with three things which I will not abandon until I die: fasting three days of every month, observing the Ishrāq (Ḍuḥā) prayer, and sleeping after praying Witr.”
❀ Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā and Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq are the Ṣalāh of the Awwābīn. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يحافظ على صلاة الضحى إلا أواب قال وهى صلاة الأوابين
“Only a truly devout person regularly observes the Ḍuḥā prayer, and it is the prayer of the Awwābīn.”
صلاة الأوابين حين ترمض الفصال
“The prayer of the Awwābīn is at the time when the feet of young camels begin to burn.”
✔ The time of Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq extends from complete sunrise until the time of zawāl (midday decline).
“My beloved friend (the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) advised me with three things which I will not abandon until I die: fasting three days of every month, observing the Ishrāq prayer, and praying Witr before sleeping.”
Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq
This prayer has three different names due to its various descriptions:① Ishrāq: Because it is offered at the time of sunrise.
② Ḍuḥā: Due to the spread of light.
③ Awwābīn: The time when the feet of young camels begin to feel the heat.
Importance of Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:يصبح على كل سلامى من أحدكم صدقة فكل تسبيحة صدقة وكل تحميدة صدقة وكل تهليلة صدقة وكل تكبيرة صدقة وأمر بالمعروف صدقة ونهي عن المنكر صدقة ويجزئ من ذلك ركعتان يركعهما من الضحى
“When a person begins his morning, charity is due upon every joint of his body. Saying Subḥānallāh is charity, saying Al-ḥamdu lillāh is charity, saying Lā ilāha illallāh is charity, saying Allāhu Akbar is charity, enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity—and two rakʿahs of the Ḍuḥā prayer suffice for all of that.”
Reference: Muslim: 720
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
من خرج من بيته متطهرا إلى صلاة مكتوبة فأجره كأجر الحاج المحرم ومن خرج إلى تسبيح الضحى لا ينصبه إلا إياه فأجره كأجر المعتمر
“Whoever leaves his house in a state of purification to perform an obligatory prayer will have the reward of a pilgrim in iḥrām. And whoever goes out to perform the Ḍuḥā prayer, and nothing drives him except that purpose, will have the reward of one who performs ʿUmrah.”
Reference: Abu Dāwūd: 558 – Ḥasan
❀ Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:
أوصاني خليلي بثلاث لا أدعهن حتى أموت: صوم ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر وصلاة الضحى ونوم على وتر
“My beloved friend (the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) advised me with three things which I will not abandon until I die: fasting three days of every month, observing the Ishrāq (Ḍuḥā) prayer, and sleeping after praying Witr.”
Reference: al-Bukhārī: 1178 – Muslim: 731
❀ Ṣalāh al-Ḍuḥā and Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq are the Ṣalāh of the Awwābīn. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يحافظ على صلاة الضحى إلا أواب قال وهى صلاة الأوابين
“Only a truly devout person regularly observes the Ḍuḥā prayer, and it is the prayer of the Awwābīn.”
Reference: Ibn Khuzaymah: 1224 – al-Ḥākim: 1182 – Ṣaḥīḥ (according to Muslim’s conditions); Ḥasan (al-Albānī)
Time of Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:صلاة الأوابين حين ترمض الفصال
“The prayer of the Awwābīn is at the time when the feet of young camels begin to burn.”
Reference: Muslim: 748
✔ The time of Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq extends from complete sunrise until the time of zawāl (midday decline).
Number of Rakʿahs of Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq
❀ Two, four, six, and eight rakʿahs are authentically reported. One may pray as many as desired.
Reference: Muslim: 719, 721 – Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 463 – Ṣaḥīḥ
Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq During Travel
❀ Ṣalāh al-Ishrāq should also be observed while traveling. Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said:“My beloved friend (the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) advised me with three things which I will not abandon until I die: fasting three days of every month, observing the Ishrāq prayer, and praying Witr before sleeping.”
Reference: al-Bukhārī: 1178 – Muslim: 721
