The Forgotten Prayer (Duha Prayer)
Khaalid Abu Saalih
Among the recommended Sunan, which are neglected by many people, is Duha Prayer (forenoon prayer)
- Categories: Fiqh of Prayer -
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah alone. And prayers and peace of Allah be upon the last Prophet.
Among the recommended Sunan, which are neglected by many people, is Duha Prayer (forenoon prayer); the prayer that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) encouraged us to perform and elaborated its merits in many authentic Ahadîth such as the following:
Merits of Duha Prayer:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “In the morning charity is due for 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 evil is an act of charity, and two Rak’as which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.” [Reported by Muslim]
«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» رواه مسلم
And it is narrated on the authority of Buraida (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) says: “Everyone has three hundred and sixty joints, so he has to give charity for each one of them.” It was said (to him): “O Messenger of Allah, who can afford that?” “You can bury the mucus that you may find in the Masjid, or remove stumbling block from people's path. If you did not afford that, then two Rak’as at Ad-Duha (forenoon) are enough” The prophet replied. [Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawûd and Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«في الإنسان ستون وثلاثمائة مفصل فعليه أن يتصدق عن كل مفصل منها صدقة قالوا: فمن يطيق ذلك يارسول الله؟ قال: النخاعة في المسجد تدفنها، والشيء تنحيه عن الطريق، فإن لم تقدر فركعتا الضحى تجزي عنك» رواه أحمد وأبو داود وصححه الألباني
Ash-Shawkany said: “These two Ahadîth proof the greatness of the merits of Duha prayer, the highness of its rank, the certainty of its legislation and its being equal to three hundred and sixty charities. Actually, such thing deserves to be observed regularly.”
The recommendation of the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him):
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “My companion (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) has advised me to do three things: Fast three days every month, two Rak’as of Duha prayer and observing Witr prayer before going to bed.” [Agreed upon]
«أوصاني خليلي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بثلاث: بصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر، وركعتي الضحى، وأن أوتر قبل أن أرقد» متفق عليه
And in the Narration of Ibn Khuzayma: “My companion recommended me to do three (acts), and I would never abandon them. (And these three acts are): I should not sleep till I have observed Witr prayer, not to abandon two Rak’as of Duha prayer (because it is the prayer of those who are penitent) and to fast three days month.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«أوصاني خليلي بثلاث لست بتاركهن: أن لا أنام إلا على وتر، وأن لا أدع ركعتي الضحى فإنها صلاة الأوابين، وصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر» صححه الألباني
Better than war bounty:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “The Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) sent detachment, and they gained great bounties and returned quickly. A man said: “O Messenger of Allah, we had never seen a detachment returns in such quickness or with such bounties.” Whereupon, the Messenger of Allah said: “Would I tell you about quicker return and more bounties? A man perfected his ablution, then went to Masjid and prayed in it the early morning prayer then prayed Duha (forenoon) prayer after it; such a person had returned quickly and gained great bounties.” [Reported by Abu Ya’la and Al-Bazzar, and Al-Albani said that it is good authentic Hadeeth]
«ألا أخبركم بأسرع كَرة منهم وأعظم غنيمة؟ رجل توضأ فأحسن الوضوء ثم عمد إلى المسجد فصلى فيه الغداة ثم عقب بصلاة الضحوة فقد أسرع الكرة وأعظم الغنيمة» رواه أبو يعلى والبزار وقال الألباني: حسن صحيح
Reason for having protection from every evil:
It is narrated on the authority of Oqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah the Exalted and Glorious says: ‘O son of Adam, suffice Me with four Rak’as at the beginning of the day, and I will suffice you because of them (to) the end of your day.” [Reported by Ahmad and authenticated by Al-Albani]
«إن الله -عز وجل- يقول: يا ابن آدم اكفني أول النهار بأربع ركعات أكفك بهن آخر يومك» رواه أحمد وصححه الألباني
Equals the reward of ‘Umra:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Omamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever leaves his house in state of purification for performing obligatory prayer would gain a reward equals the reward of the pilgrim who leaves in the state of Ihram. And whoever leaves (his house) just for Duha prayer would gain a reward equals the reward of the person who performs ‘Umra. And prayer after another without nugatory deeds between them is a record in ‘Illiyyûn.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd and authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من خرج من بيته متطهرًا إلى صلاة مكتوبة فأجره كأجر الحاج المحرم ومن خرج إلى تسبيح الضحى لا ينصبه إلا إياه فأجره كأجر المعتمر وصلاة على إثر صلاة لا لغو بينهما كتاب في عليين» رواه أبو داود وحسنه الألباني
The prayer of those who are penitent:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “None could observe Duha prayer regularly except a penitent.” [Reported by At-Tabarani and Ibn Khuzaymah, and declared good by Al-Albani]
«لا يحافظ على صلاة الضحى الا أواب» رواه الطبراني وابن خزيم وحسنه الألباني
Great glad tidings:
It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation and then sits to remember Allah till sun rises and then prays two Rak’as would have the reward of Hajj and ‘Umra completely … completely … completely.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من صلى الفجر في جماعة ثم قعد يذكر الله حتى تطلع الشمس ثم صلى ركعتين كانت له كأجر حجة وعمرة قال: قال رسول -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: تامة تامة تامة» رواه الترمذي وحسنه الألباني
Time of Duha prayer:
Time of Duha prayer begins from the sunrise about a spear in the sky and lasts till shortly before noon.
And it is better to pray it when the heat of the sun reaches its highest grades, because the Prophet says: “The prayer of those who are penitent is observed when your weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.” [Reported by Muslim]
«صلاة الأوابين حين ترمض الفصال» رواه مسلم
Number of Duha prayer rakahs:
The minimum of Duha prayer rakahs is two rakahs, because of the saying of Abu Hurayra: “My companion (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) has advised me to do three things” and mentioned among them “Two Rak’as of Duha prayer.”
However, scholars differed about the maximum of its Rak’as. Some said: “It is eight Rak’as because Um Hani narrated that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed eight Rak’as for Duha in the year of the conquest.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الفتح صلى سبحة الضحى ثماني ركعات ثم سلم من كل ركعتين» صححه الألباني
And it is said that there is no maximum number of Rak’as for it, because ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) used to pray Duha prayer four Rak’as and then increases as Allah wills.” [Reported by Muslim]
«كم كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي صلاة الضحى؟ قالت: أربع ركعات. ويزيد ما شاء» رواه مسلم
Al-Hassan was asked; did the companions of the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) use to pray Duha? “Yes, some of them used to pray two Rak’as, and some used to pray four Rak’as, and some used to continue praying till noon” he replied.
It is narrated on the authority of Ibrahim An-Nakhey that a man asked Al-Aswad ibn Yazid: “How much Rak’as should I pray for Duha?” “As you like” Al-Aswad replied.
O brother, where are you from these gains and profits?!
O my beloved, wake up before the time of weep and cry.
Where is the will of men? Where is the determination of heroes?
O my beloved brother; if you are invited, you should be initiative. And if you intended, you should persist. And know that the person who accepts to be late will never attain the objects of pride!
Compiled by: Khaled Abu Salih, may Allah forgive him and his parents and the Muslims
Madar Al-Watan