Duha Prayer (Forenoon)

What is the Duha Prayer?

Salat al-Duha (Arabic صلاة الضحى) is a voluntary prayer performed in the mid-morning — from about 15–20 minutes after sunrise (when the sun has cleared the horizon by roughly a spear's length) until just before the sun reaches its zenith at Dhuhr. It is one of the most encouraged voluntary prayers in the Sunnah, expressing gratitude for the gift of a new day and its provisions.

How to Perform Duha

• Number of rakah: minimum 2 rakah, most commonly 2 or 4, and up to 8 or even 12 rakah — prayed in pairs (each unit closed with tasleem).
• Time: the best time is when the day grows warm (roughly halfway between sunrise and Dhuhr) — the Prophet ﷺ called this "the prayer of the returning penitents (salat al-awwabin)".
• Recitation: any Quranic verses; some recite Surah ash-Shams and ad-Duha in the two rakah as a Sunnah-based habit.

Virtues from the Sunnah

• Abu Hurayrah reported: "My beloved (the Prophet) ﷺ advised me on three things: fasting three days each month, praying two rakah of Duha, and praying Witr before I sleep" (Bukhari 1178).
• The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every morning, charity is due upon every joint of one of you… and two rakah of Duha suffice for all of that" (Muslim 720).
• He ﷺ also said: "Whoever prays Duha with four rakah, and four rakah before Dhuhr, Allah builds him a house in Paradise" (Tirmidhi 428, hasan).

Names and Timing

Duha has several names in the tradition, reflecting its time:

• Ishraq — when prayed immediately after the disliked post-sunrise interval ends.
• Duha — during the main forenoon window.
• Salat al-Awwabin ("prayer of the returning penitents") — when prayed as the sun grows hot, roughly the middle of the morning.

All three refer to portions of the same voluntary time window and can be considered the same prayer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a specific reason to pray Duha?

No — Duha is a general prayer of gratitude and closeness to Allah. However, it is especially recommended after receiving good news, upon returning from travel safely, and as a general daily practice.

What if I pray it only occasionally?

That is fine. The scholars encourage consistency even in small amounts — Aishah ﷺ said the Prophet ﷺ prayed Duha four rakah and "as much more as Allah willed" (Muslim 719). Even two rakah once in a while carries the reward.