Questions regarding Salāt al-Dhuhā

I want to know about Chasht Salāh.  How many Raka’āt?  How to make Niyyah?  When to pray according to Indian time?  Please mention the Fadhāil (virtues) of Chāsht Salāh also.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Chāsht Salāh is known as Salāt al-Dhuhā in the Arabic language.

Salāt al-Dhuhā is a Sunnah of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam as is proven through various authentic narrations.  Consider the following Ahādīth:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى أَرْبَعًا، وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ  (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 497، دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)

It is reported from Aishah (Radhiyallāhu Anhā) that Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam) used to pray four Raka’āt of Salāt al-Dhuhā and used to increase as per the will of Allāh.

 (Sahīh Muslim)

حَدَّثَتْنِي مُعَاذَةُ، أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا، كَمْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي صَلَاةَ الضُّحَى؟ قَالَتْ: «أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ» (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 497، دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)

Aishah (Radhiyallāhu Anhā) was asked regarding the number of Raka’āt performed by Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam in Salāt al-Dhuhā.  She replied, “Four Raka’āt and at times he increased as much as he desired.”

 (Sahīh Muslim)

عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى فِي بَيْتِهَا عَامَ الْفَتْحِ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ فِي ثَوْبٍ (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 498، دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)

It is reported from Umm Hāni (Radhiyallāhu Anhā) that Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi wa Sallam performed eight Raka’āt in her house while he was covered with one sheet.  This was in the year of the Conquest of Mecca.  (This was Salāt al-Dhuhā)

(Sahīh Muslim)

In the Ahādīth, there are many virtues mentioned for Salāt al-Dhuhā.  Hereunder are a few narrations:

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يُصْبِحُ عَلَى كُلِّ سُلَامَى مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ، فَكُلُّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَنَهْيٌ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَيُجْزِئُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَانِ يَرْكَعُهُمَا مِنَ الضُّحَى (صحيح مسلم، ج 1، ص 498، دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)

Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said: “In the morning, Sadaqah is due on every joint of the body of everyone of you. Saying Subhānallāh is an act of Sadaqah, saying Alhamdullillāh is act of Sadaqah, saying Lā ilāha illallāh is an act of Sadaqah, saying Allāhu Akbar is an act of Sadaqah and enjoining good is an act of Sadaqah, and forbidding evil is an act of Sadaqah.  Performing two Raka’āt of Salāt al-Duha will suffice for all of the Sadaqah due on every joint of the body.”

(Sahīh Muslim)

مَنْ صَلَّى الضُّحَى رَكْعَتَيْنِ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى أَرْبَعًا كُتِبَ مِنَ الْعَابِدِينَ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى سِتًّا كُفِيَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى ثَمَانِيًا كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَمَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ مَنٌّ يَمُنُّ بِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَصَدَقَةٌ، وَمَا مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ يُلْهِمَهُ ذِكْرَهُ (مجمع الزوائد عن المعجم الكبير للطبراني، ج 2، ص 494، دار الفكر)

The one who performs two Raka’āt of Salāt al-Dhuhā will not be written amongst the neglectful.  And the one who performs six Raka’āt of Salāt al-Dhuhā will be sufficed by Allāh the remainder of the day.  And the one who performs eight Raka’āt, Allāh will right him amongst the obedient.  And the one who performs twelve Raka’āt, Allāh will build for him a house in Jannah.  Every day and night Allāh Ta’ālā bestows His servants with a favor.  And no favor exceeds Allāh’s Dhikr (being given the ability to remember Allāh) in excellence.

(Majma’ al-Zawāid)

قَالَ: ” «قَالَ اللَّهُ – عَزَّ وَجَلَّ -: ابْنَ آدَمَ صَلِّ لِي أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ أَكْفِكَ آخِرَهُ» “.  (مجمع الزوائد عن مسند احمد، ج 2، ص 492، دار الفكر)

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said: Allāh Ta’ālā says, “O’ son of Adam, perform four Raka’āt in the beginning of the day, I will suffice you for the end of the day.”

(Majma’ al-Zawāid)

At the outset, the minimum number of Raka’āt for Salāt al-Dhuhā is two. [1]  The following narration appears in Sahīh al-Bukhārī:

قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: «أَوْصَانِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِرَكْعَتَيِ الضُّحَى» (صحيح البخاري، ج 3، ص 110، دار البشائر الاسلامية)

Abū Hurairah (Radhiyallāhu Anhu) says: “Nabī (Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam) advised me to perform two Raka’āt Salāt al-Dhuhā.”

(Sahīh al-Bukhārī)

The maximum number of Raka’āt for Salāt al-Dhuhā is twelve.  Rasulullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said:

مَنْ صَلَّى الضُّحَى ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ قَصْرًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي الجَنَّةِ (سنن الترمذي، ج 2، ص 23، الرسالة العالمية)

Allāh will build a palace of gold in Jannah for the one who performs twelve Raka’āt of Salāt al- Dhuhā.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)

When intending to perform Salāt al-Dhuhā, merely having intention of nafl Salāh is sufficient. [2]

With regards to its time, Salāt al-Dhuhā extends from after sunrise (approximately 15 min. after sunrise) and ends before midday when the sun reaches its zenith. [3] However, based on a narration of Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam, the best time to perform Salāt al-Dhuhā is after one-fourth of the day expires.  In other words, the day stretches from sunrise to sunset.  After dividing this period into four parts, the best time for Dhuhā would be after the first part terminates.  The narration is as follows:

صَلَاةُ الْأَوَّابِينَ حِينَ تَرْمَضُ الْفِصَالُ (مسلم،ج 1، ص 515، دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت)

The time for Salāt al-Dhuhā is when the young ones of the camels feel the heat of the sun (i.e. when it becomes very hot)” 

(Sahīh Muslim)

Note that Salāt al-Ishrāq and Salāt al-Dhuhā are two separate prayers.  The time for Salāt al-Ishrāq also sets in a little after sunrise (approximately fifteen minutes).  Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to perform Salāt al-Ishrāq first, then would perform Salāt al-Dhuhā.  This is substantiated by a Hadīth narrated by Imām Tirmidhī Rahimahullāh.  The narration is as follows:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ [ص:494] إِذَا كَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ هَاهُنَا كَهَيْئَتِهَا مِنْ هَاهُنَا عِنْدَ العَصْرِ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، وَإِذَا كَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ هَاهُنَا كَهَيْئَتِهَا مِنْ هَاهُنَا عِنْدَ الظُّهْرِ صَلَّى أَرْبَعًا (سنن الترمذي،  ج 2، ص 137، الرسالة العالمية)

Alī Radhiyallāhu Anhu says (regarding the daytime prayers of Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam): Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam used to perform two Raka’āt when the sun was at a distance from the Zenith (in the other direction) similar to its distance at Asr time (Salāt al-Ishrāq).  And Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam performed four Raka’āt when the sun was at a distance from the zenith similar to its distance at Dhuhr time (Salāt al-Dhuhā).

(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
US

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net

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