Salat al-Duha, also known as Duha prayer, is a voluntary Islamic prayer that can be performed at any time after sunrise and before the time for Dhuhr prayer but is preferably performed after the sun has risen high. It is sometimes called the "Forenoon Prayer" or " Ishrāq Prayer.”

The term "Duha" in Arabic means "forenoon" or "the time of brightness,” which is after sunrise and before the zenith.

The Duha prayer consists of a variable number of Rak'ahs or units, usually performed in pairs, and it can be as short as two Rak'ahs to as long as twelve. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said that performing four Rak'ahs of Duha prayer is best.

This prayer is not obligatory, but it is highly recommended and has numerous virtues ascribed to it in various Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). According to one Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "In the morning, every single joint of yours must pay a Sadaqah (charity). Every Tasbih (saying 'Subhan Allah') is a Sadaqah, every Tahmid (saying 'Alhamdulillah') is a Sadaqah, every Tahlil (saying 'La ilaha illallah') is a Sadaqah, every Takbir (saying 'Allahu Akbar') is a Sadaqah, enjoining what is good is a Sadaqah, forbidding what is evil is a Sadaqah. All this is accomplished through two Rak'ahs one can pray in Duha." (Sahih Muslim)

This prayer is a beautiful way of starting your day by remembering Allah and seeking His blessings.

Salat al-Duha, also known as the forenoon prayer, is typically performed in the late morning after the sun has risen high in the sky, but before the time for Dhuhr (midday), prayer begins.

More specifically, the Duha prayer begins about 15 to 20 minutes after sunrise (when the Fajr prayer ends) and ends about 10 to 15 minutes before the zenith (when the time for the Dhuhr prayer begins).

However, the most preferred time to perform the Duha prayer, according to various Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him), is when the young camels feel the sun’s heat and lift their hooves off the sand. This was traditionally understood to be when the sun is about a quarter of the way up the sky, approximately midway between sunrise and zenith, usually a couple of hours after sunrise.

As with all voluntary prayers, you have a degree of flexibility when you choose to perform the Duha prayer. The important thing is to maintain sincerity and devotion when you pray. Please note that the exact times can vary depending on your location and the time of year, so it's a good idea to refer to a reliable Islamic calendar or prayer timetable.

Salat al-Duha, also known as Ishrāq Prayer, is a voluntary prayer that can be performed in the late morning before the time for Dhuhr (midday prayer) starts. The method of performing Salat al-Duha is simple and similar to any other Salah. It can consist of a minimum of two Rak'ahs (units of prayer) and a maximum of twelve.

Here are the general steps to perform Salat al-Duha:

1.    Make the intention (Niyyah): Begin by intending to pray Salat al-Duha in your heart.

2.    Takbiratul Ihram (Starting Takbir): Raise your hands to your ears and say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the greatest) to initiate the prayer.

3.    Recitation: Start the first Rak'ah by reciting Surah Al-Fatiha followed by a Surah or verses from the Quran of your choice.

4.    Ruku (Bowing): Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow down into Ruku. While bowing, you typically say "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" (Glory be to my Lord the Almighty) three times.

5.    Standing Up from Ruku: Stand up from the Ruku position while saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him), followed by "Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (Our Lord, and to You be all praise).

6.    Sujood (Prostration): Say "Allahu Akbar" and go into prostration. While in prostration, say "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.

7.    Sitting Between Two Sujoods: After the first prostration, sit and say "Allahu Akbar.” This is followed by the prayer "Rabbighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me).

8.    Second Sujood: Perform a second prostration like the first.

9.    Second Rak'ah: Stand up for the second Rak'ah and perform it just like the first, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha followed by another Surah or verses from the Quran.

10. Tashahhud: After the second Sujood in the second Rak'ah, remain seated and recite the Tashahhud, "At-tahiyyatu lillahi...".

11. Tasleem (Ending the prayer): End the prayer by turning your head to the right and saying "As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you), and then to the left and saying the same.

This completes two Rak'ahs of Salat al-Duha. If you want to perform more Rak'ahs, you can continue in pairs following the same pattern. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have recommended praying four Rak'ahs of Duha prayer. Still, he is also reported to have sometimes prayed up to eight or twelve.

Remember, these are the general steps, and there might be slight variations in the performance of Salat al-Duha based on different schools of thought within Islam. As with all acts of worship, intention, and devotion truly count.

The Duha prayer is a non-obligatory prayer usually performed late in the morning before the Dhuhr prayer. It is highly flexible regarding how many Rak'ahs (units of prayer) one can perform.

The minimum number of Rak'ahs for the Duha prayer is two. As for the maximum number, there are different views, but many scholars state that up to eight or twelve, Rak'ahs can be prayed based on various Hadiths.

In Sahih Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The prayer of the penitent is to be observed when the young ones of camels feel the heat of the sun (i.e. when it becomes very hot), and it is to be performed as four Rak'ahs.

Do you like me to teach you two Rak'ahs which the Messenger of Allah used to pray?" he proceeded to describe the method for performing a four-Rak'ah Duha prayer.

In another Hadith narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to perform four Rak'ahs of Duha prayer, and he would add to it whatever Allah wished." (Sahih Muslim)

Based on these and other Hadiths, many scholars consider four Rak'ahs the most preferable number, but more can be performed if one wishes, up to a maximum of eight or twelve. However, there is no strict limit, and the most important aspect is the sincerity and devotion with which one performs the prayer.

Salat al-Duha, or Ishrāq Prayer, is a voluntary prayer performed after sunrise and before the Dhuhr prayer. Although it's not obligatory, it holds great rewards and numerous benefits for those who perform it. Here are some of the benefits and virtues mentioned in various Hadiths:

1.    Charity for Each Joint in the Body: In a Hadith reported by Abu Dharr and recorded in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "In the morning, charity is due on every joint of the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah's glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity. Every utterance of His praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity. Every utterance of declaration of His greatness (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar) is an act of charity, and enjoining good is an act of charity, and forbidding what is disreputable is an act of charity, and two Rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice."

2.    Forgiveness of Sins: In a Hadith reported by Anas ibn Malik and recorded in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "He who observed the Duha prayer, his sins would be forgiven even if they were like the foam of the sea."

3.    Providing for One's Livelihood: Performing Duha prayer has also been associated with Allah's assistance in providing for one's livelihood. In a Hadith narrated by Ummul-Mumineen Umm Habiba (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever adheres to the Duha prayer shall have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah).

4.    It helps you accomplish all your responsibilities for that day.

5.    A castle of gold is built in Paradise for the person.

6.    One obtains the reward of one Hajj and one Umra – if one prays Fajr in the congregation, then remains seated in the same place while engaging in remembrance until after sunrise, and then performs two cycles of prayer. (Mishkat; Tirmidhi)

Remember, it's always about the quality of the prayer, not just the quantity. The focus should be on sincere devotion and performing the prayer with mindfulness and concentration. As with all acts of worship, the intentions must be pure, seeking the pleasure and rewards of Allah.

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