Salat al-Duha: Its Time, Method and Number of Rakahs

Salat al-Duha is a voluntary prayer of at least two rakahs. Its time runs from about fifteen minutes after sunrise until about ten minutes before Dhuhr, and the best part is late in the window when the heat rises.

How to pray Duha, step by step

1. Wait until the sun has risen about fifteen minutes after sunrise; there is no prayer at sunrise itself.
2. Make wudu, face the qibla and intend the Duha prayer in your heart.
3. Pray two rakahs like any voluntary prayer: opening takbir, al-Fatiha and some Quran, bowing, prostration, tashahhud and salam.
4. To pray more, pray four, six or eight, two by two with a salam after each pair.
5. No specific surah or supplication is required; make any dua you wish.

For the full table of the other prayers open prayer times.

When does Duha start and end

It starts once the forbidden time at sunrise has passed, when the sun has risen the height of a spear to the eye, which scholars estimate at about 12 to 15 minutes after sunrise. The Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade praying as the sun rises until it has risen, reported by Muslim (831).

It ends shortly before the zenith, about ten minutes before Dhuhr. See prayer windows: when each time enters and exits for detail.

Best time: late in the window when the heat is strong, from the hadith "the prayer of the awwabin is when the young camels feel the heat", reported by Muslim (748).

How many rakahs

The virtue of Duha

The Prophet said: "Every morning charity is due on every joint of each of you ... and two rakahs prayed at Duha suffice for that." Reported by Muslim (720). Two short rakahs stand as thanks for the whole body for that day.

Abu Hurayrah said: "My close friend advised me to do three things: fast three days every month, pray the two rakahs of Duha, and pray witr before I sleep." Reported by Bukhari (1981). Read more in Salat al-Witr.

Allah swears by the forenoon, the busiest hours of the day. Whoever sets aside two rakahs in it gives his Lord a share of his most crowded time.

Is Duha the same as the Ishraq prayer

Many scholars hold that Ishraq is simply Duha prayed at the start of its time; others separate them. A hadith in Tirmidhi about sitting in remembrance after Fajr until sunrise and then praying two rakahs has been graded differently by scholars, so acting on it is good without making it a condition of Duha.

Common mistakes

Frequently asked questions

Can Duha be prayed at home

Yes, and voluntary prayers are better at home.

Can a menstruating woman pray it

No, she does not pray obligatory or voluntary prayers, but she may remember Allah and make dua.

Can it be combined with the sunnah of wudu

Yes, according to many scholars, both rewards are attained with two rakahs.