Chapter: The virtue of the Duha prayer, its minimum, maximum and median number of rak‘ahs, and an exhortation to observe it regularly

1139 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “My close friend ﷺ enjoined upon me to fast three days of every month, to pray two rak‘ahs of Duha, and to perform Witr before I lie down to sleep.” Agreed upon.

Praying Witr before sleeping is recommended only for the person who is unsure he will awaken at the end of the night; if he is confident of waking, then praying it at the end of the night is superior.

1140 – Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Each morning charity is due on every joint of one of you: every declaration of ‘Subhan Allah’ is charity, every ‘Al-hamdu lillah’ is charity, every ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ is charity, every ‘Allahu akbar’ is charity; enjoining what is right is charity, forbidding what is wrong is charity. All of this is sufficiently fulfilled by two rak‘ahs a person prays at Duha.” Narrated by Muslim.

1141 – ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray four rak‘ahs of Duha and would add to that whatever Allah willed.” Narrated by Muslim.

1142 – Umm Hani’, Fakhitah bint Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with her), said: “I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Year of the Conquest and found him bathing. When he finished his bath he prayed eight…”