Many hadith describe the excellence of the duha prayer.
Abu Zharr reports that the Prophet sallallahu aleihi wasallam said: "Charity is
required from every part of your body daily. Every saying of 'Glory be to Allah'
is charity. Every saying of 'Praise be to Allah' is charity. Every saying of 'There
is no God but Allah' is charity. Every saying of 'Allah is the Greatest' is charity.
Ordering the good is charity. Eradicating the evil is charity. And what suffices
for that (as a charity) are the two rak'at of duha." This is related by Ahmad, Muslim,
and Abu Dawud.
Ahmad and Abu Dawud record from Buraidah that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam
said: "In a human (body) there are 360 joints and man must make a charity for each
one." The people said: "Who can do that, O Messenger of Allah?" He responded: "One
may cover the mucus that one finds in the mosque or remove something harmful from
the road. If one could not do that, he could pray two rak'at of duha and that will
be sufficient for him."
Talking of the legal import of these hadith, ash-Shaukani says: "These two hadith
point to the greatness, excellence, and importance of the duha prayer, stressing
its legality as its two rak'at suffice for 360 charities. Something like this should
be performed regularly and persistently. The hadith also establish the importance
of saying 'Glory be to Allah', 'Praise be to Allah', and 'There is no God but Allah.'
And [the importance of] ordering the good, eradicating the evil, removing the spittle,
removing what is harmful from the path, and such other acts that will fulfill what
is required of a person of daily charities."
An-Nawas ibn Sam'an relates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "Allah
said: 'Son of Adam, do not fail in performing four rak'at in the early day as it
will be sufficient for the latter part of the day."' This is related by al-Hakim
and at-Tabarani and its narrators are trustworthy. Ahmad, at-Tirmizhi, Abu Dawud,
and an-Nasa'i relate it on the authority of Na'im al-Ghatfani with a good chain.
At-Tirmizhi's wording is: "Son of Adam, pray four rak'at for Me in the early day
and it will be sufficient for you for the latter part of the day."
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr says: "The Messenger of Allah sent an expedition and they obtained
lots of booty and returned quickly. The people talked about their quick victory,
abundant booty, and quick return. At this the Messenger of Allah said: 'Shall I
not guide you to a closer battle, a greater booty and a quicker return? Whoever
makes wudu' and then goes to the mosque to pray duha, that is the closer battle,
better booty, and quicker return."' This is related by Ahmad and at-Tabarani. Abu
Ya'la has something similar to it.
Abu Hurairah says: "My friend [the Messenger of Allah] advised me to do three things:
fasting three days of every month, praying the duha prayer, and praying the witr
prayer before I sleep." This is related by alBukhari and Muslim.
Anas says: "During a journey, I saw the Messenger of Allah pray eight rak'at in
the early day. When he finished, he said: 'I prayed my prayer wishing and fearing.
I asked my Lord for three things and He gave me two and withheld one. I asked Him
not to put my ummah to trial by famine and He granted that request. And I asked
that they would not be overtaken by their enemies and He granted that request. And
I asked that they not be split into groups and parties and He refused that request."'
This is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim, and ibn Khuzaimah who classifies
it as sahih.
Salatul duha is a prized prayer and whoever wishes to earn reward should pray it,
while there is no blame upon the one who does not pray it.
Abu Sa'id reports: "The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam would pray duha until
we thought he would never abandon it. And he would abandon it to the point that
we thought he would no longer perform it." This is related by at-Tirmizhi who says
it is hasan.
Anas relates that the Messenger of Allah said: "Prayer in my mosque is equal to
ten thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the inviolable mosque is equivalent
to one hundred thousand prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the battlefield is equivalent
to one million prayers [elsewhere]. And what is more than all of that is two rak'at
by a slave [of Allah] during the middle of the night." This is reported by Abu ash-Shaikh,
Ibn Hibban in his work ath-Thawab, and al-Munzhiri, in his book at-Targhib watTarhib,
is silent about it.
The time for duha begins when the sun is about a spear's length above the horizon
and it continues until the sun reaches its meridian. It is preferred to delay it
until the sun has risen high and the day has become hot.
Zaid ibn Arqam relates: "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alehi wasallam went to
the people of Quba', and they were performing duha, and he said: 'The prayer of
devotion should be observed when the young weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.'"
This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, and at-Tirmizhi .
The minimum number of rak'ah to be prayed is two, as was mentioned in the hadith
of Abu Zharr. The most that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam performed was
eight rak'at, whereas, the most he mentioned was twelve rak'at. Some people, such
as Abu Ja'far at-Tabari, al-Mulaimi, and ar-Ruwyani, who subscribes to the Shafi'
school, say there is no maximum limit to the number of rak'at that one may perform
for duha.
Al-'lraqi says, in the commentary on Sunan at-Tirmizhi: "None of the companions
or followers are known to have restricted it to twelve rak'at." As-Syuti agrees
with it.
Sa'id ibn Mansur records that al-Hassan was asked: "Did the companions perform it?"
He answered: "Yes . . . some of them would pray two rak'at and some of them would
pray four rak'at. And some of them would continue until half the [early] day [had
passed]."
Ibrahim an-Nakha'i reports that al-Aswad ibn Yazid was asked: "How many rak'at are
to be prayed for duha?" He answered: "As many as you wish ."
Umm Hani narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam prayed eight rak'at
of duha and made the taslim after every two rak'at. This is related by Abu Dawud
with a sahih chain.
'Aishah reports: "The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam would pray four rak'at for
duha and would add to it whatever Allah willed." This is related by Ahmad, Muslim,
and ibn Majah.
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