About Dhuha Prayer

Dhuha Prayer - The Forenoon Prayer

Dhuha (also spelled Duha) is a voluntary forenoon prayer performed after sunrise and before Dhuhr. It is also known as Salat al-Awwabin — the prayer of the oft-repenting — and in its early portion (just after sunrise) as Ishraq prayer.

Two rak'ahs suffice to fulfill the "charity of the joints" for the day. It is a confirmed Sunnah — Shaykh Ibn Baz said: "Duha prayer is a confirmed Sunnah which the Prophet ﷺ did regularly and encouraged his companions to observe" (IslamQA 145070).

Significance & benefits

Charity for Every Joint

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Charity is due on every joint of a person every day the sun rises: every act of justice between two people is a charity, helping a man onto his mount is a charity, lifting his luggage is a charity, a good word is a charity, every step taken toward the prayer is a charity — and two rak'ahs of Duha prayer will suffice for all of that" (Sahih Muslim 720).

A Strong Personal Recommendation

Abu Hurayrah said: "My beloved ﷺ advised me to do three things I will never give up until I die: to fast three days of every month, to pray Duha, and to pray Witr before sleeping" (Bukhari 1178, Muslim 721).

Abu Ad-Darda' reported: "My beloved ﷺ advised me to do three things, which I will not give up so long as I live: to fast three days of each month, to pray Duha, and not to sleep until I pray Witr" (IslamQA 145070).

Ishraq: Hajj and 'Umrah Reward

If one prays Fajr in congregation and remains in the mosque in dhikr until the sun rises (15-20 minutes), then prays two rak'ahs, the Prophet ﷺ said the reward equals that of a complete Hajj and 'Umrah (Al-Tirmidhi 485; IslamQA 109794).

Protection from Heedlessness

"Whoever prays Duha prayer with two rak'ahs will not be recorded among the heedless" (Abu Dawud 1289).

Benefits

  1. Charity for all 360 joints — with just two rak'ahs, a believer fulfills this daily obligation of gratitude.
  2. Ishraq reward — equivalent to Hajj and 'Umrah when prayed after remaining in dhikr from Fajr.
  3. Personal recommendation of the Prophet ﷺ — he advised close companions never to abandon it.
  4. Protection from negligence in remembrance of Allah between Fajr and Dhuhr.
  5. Easy and flexible — can be prayed in as few as two rak'ahs on busy mornings.

How to perform / practice

Best Time

Duha begins approximately 15-20 minutes after sunrise (when the sun has risen to the height of a spear) and ends just before Dhuhr time (before the sun reaches its zenith). The optimal time is when the sun has risen high and the day has grown warm — about 1.5 to 2 hours after sunrise. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The Duha prayer is when young camels feel the heat" (Sahih Muslim 748).

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymin clarified: "The Ishraq prayer is the same as the Duha prayer — if done early it is called Ishraq; if done in the middle or late in its time, it is called Duha. But it is all Duha prayer" (IslamQA 129956).

How to Pray

  1. Minimum: Two rak'ahs — this suffices for the charity of all joints (Muslim 720).
  2. Recommended: Four rak'ahs — the most common practice of the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 1176).
  3. Maximum: Up to eight rak'ahs — as the Prophet ﷺ sometimes did on special occasions (Umm Hani narration).
  4. Prayer structure: Pray in pairs of two rak'ahs. Any surahs may be recited — no specific surahs are mandatory.
  5. Surah suggestion: Surah ash-Shams (91) and Surah ad-Duha (93) are often recommended by scholars for this prayer.

Note

There is no Duha prayer on a day you did not sleep the previous night, as the time relates to the morning cycle. Also, if you missed Fajr and made it up after sunrise, you may still pray Duha afterward — it is independent of Fajr (IslamQA 211883).

References