1
Wait until the sun has fully risen and cleared the horizon — roughly 15–20 minutes after sunrise (avoid the exact moment of sunrise itself).
☀️
The forenoon prayer — charity for every joint
Salat al-Duha
صَلَاةُ الضُّحَى
Time
From about 15–20 minutes after sunrise until roughly 15 minutes before Dhuhr. The best time is when the sun has risen high and the day feels hot — about a quarter of the way to Dhuhr.
Rak'ahs
Minimum 2 rak'ahs. Most commonly 2, 4, 6 or 8 — up to 12. Prayed in pairs of two.
Overview
Salat al-Duha (also called Salat al-Awwabin — the prayer of the oft-returning) is a beloved Sunnah offered in the mid-morning. The Prophet ﷺ described it as sadaqah (charity) that discharges the duty owed by every one of the 360 joints of the body each day.
Virtue
"‘In the morning, charity is due upon every joint of a person. Every tasbih is charity, every tahmid is charity, every tahlil is charity, every takbir is charity, enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity. And two rak'ahs prayed in the forenoon (Duha) suffice for all of that.’ (Muslim 720)"
How to perform
2
Make wudu and stand in a clean place facing the qiblah.
3
Make the intention in your heart: two rak'ahs of Sunnah Salat al-Duha for the sake of Allah.
4
Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Takbiratul-Ihram) and pray two rak'ahs exactly like any other prayer — Fatiha and a short surah in each rak'ah, then ruku', two sujud, tashahhud and tasleem.
5
In the first rak'ah, it is recommended to recite Surah ash-Shams (Ch. 91) after al-Fatiha, and in the second, Surah ad-Duha (Ch. 93) — both fit the theme of the sun and forenoon.
6
Give tasleem after two rak'ahs. If you wish to pray more, add another pair (up to 12 rak'ahs total), giving tasleem after each pair.
7
Finish with dhikr and du'a — thank Allah for the new day and ask Him to bless your provision, work and time.
Recommended du'a of Salat al-Duha (narrated from the pious)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ الضُّحَاءَ ضُحَاؤُكَ، وَالْبَهَاءَ بَهَاؤُكَ، وَالْجَمَالَ جَمَالُكَ، وَالْقُوَّةَ قُوَّتُكَ، وَالْقُدْرَةَ قُدْرَتُكَ، وَالْعِصْمَةَ عِصْمَتُكَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ رِزْقِي فِي السَّمَاءِ فَأَنْزِلْهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَخْرِجْهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُعَسَّرًا فَيَسِّرْهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ حَرَامًا فَطَهِّرْهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ بَعِيدًا فَقَرِّبْهُ، بِحَقِّ ضُحَائِكَ وَبَهَائِكَ وَجَمَالِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ، آتِنِي مَا آتَيْتَ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Allahumma innad-duha'a duha'uk, wal-baha'a baha'uk, wal-jamala jamaluk, wal-quwwata quwwatuk, wal-qudrata qudratuk, wal-'ismata 'ismatuk. Allahumma in kana rizqi fis-sama'i fa-anzilhu, wa in kana fil-ardi fa-akhrijhu, wa in kana mu'assaran fa-yassirhu, wa in kana haraman fa-tahhirhu, wa in kana ba'idan fa-qarribhu, bi-haqqi duha'ika wa baha'ika wa jamalika wa quwwatika wa qudratika, atini ma atayta 'ibadakas-salihin.
"O Allah, the forenoon splendour is Your splendour, the beauty is Your beauty, the majesty is Your majesty, the strength is Your strength, the power is Your power, and protection is Your protection. O Allah, if my provision is in the heavens, send it down; if it is in the earth, bring it forth; if it is difficult, make it easy; if it is unlawful, purify it; and if it is far, bring it near — by the truth of Your splendour, majesty, beauty, strength and power, grant me what You have granted Your righteous servants."
Notes
- 💡 ‘Whoever guards the two rak'ahs of Duha, his sins are forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.’ (Tirmidhi)
- 💡 It is also called Salat al-Ishraq when prayed right after sunrise. Some scholars distinguish them; others treat them as the same prayer prayed at different times of the forenoon.
- 💡 It is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ but not obligatory — pray what you are able to maintain consistently.