Additional Rulings Regarding Salāt Adh-Ḍuḥā [Forwarded]
This prayer is referred to by some scholars as Salāt Al-Ishrāq (the Ishrāq prayer). However, in reality, this is not a legislated name for the prayer. Rather, they used this name to refer to it in relation to its time. The prayer itself is Salāt Adh-Ḍuḥā (the Duha prayer).
The Duha prayer begins after the sun has risen and become sufficiently high in the sky, approximately the length of a spear, meaning around 15 minutes after sunrise. It is not permissible for a person to pray at the actual time of sunrise, so take note of this. Once the sun has risen and is approximately 12–15 minutes above the horizon, a person may pray two rak‘ahs.
As for the rulings related to this prayer, we can summarise them as follows:
▪️First: There is an authentic hadith regarding this prayer from the Prophet ﷺ:
((من صلى الفجر [في جماعة] ثم جلس يذكر الله حتى تطلع الشمس، ثم صلى ركعتين كان له أجر حجة وعمرة تامة)).
“Whoever performs Fajr [in congregation], then remains seated remembering Allah until the sun rises, and then performs two units of prayer, will receive the reward of a complete Hajj and ‘Umrah.”
Therefore, it is one of the prayers that we have been encouraged to perform and which carries great virtue.
▪️Second: This prayer is only performed after a person has prayed Fajr in congregation and then remained sitting, without leaving the masjid, remembering Allah.
▪️Third: Remembering Allah can be done by reciting the Qur’an, for example, or by reciting the morning adhkār, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, reading books of knowledge, or contemplating, reflecting and pondering. For example, a person may sit and contemplate Allah’s universal signs or His legislative signs. All of this is considered remembrance of Allah.
▪️Fourth: Does a person have to remain in the exact same place?
Regarding someone who prays Fajr in congregation and then sits remembering Allah, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars. Some scholars said that he must remain in the same place, because this is what is intended.
However, the stronger opinion is that what is intended is that the person prays Fajr in congregation and then remains in the masjid.
Therefore, some people may have health-related difficulties that prevent them from remaining seated in the same place. They may move to one of the chairs, or go to another part of the masjid and lean against a wall, for example. This is fine. The important thing is that they remain in the masjid.
If a person needs to renew his wudū’, for example, or needs to relieve himself, there is no problem with leaving the masjid to use the toilets and then returning.
▪️Sixth: The two rakʿahs do not have to be prayed in the masjid.
For example, a person prays Fajr in congregation, sits and remembers Allah, and then breaks his wudū’ by passing wind. He does not have to go and make wudū’ and then continue sitting in the masjid. There is nothing upon him.
Then, when the sun rises and becomes sufficiently high, he can go home and pray the two rakʿahs there. The prayer does not have to be performed in the masjid.
▪️Seventh: Does a person who prays these two rakʿahs no longer have to perform Hajj and ʿUmrah?
The answer is no.
Rather, he receives the reward equivalent to that of Hajj and ʿUmrah, complete and complete. Clear?
Meaning, he receives a reward similar to the reward of the person performing Hajj and ʿUmrah. This is from the bounty of Allah: a simple deed with a great reward.
Therefore, it does not remove the obligation of Hajj, nor does it remove the obligation of ʿUmrah from someone who has not performed ʿUmrah or Hajj. He cannot say, “I will suffice with this.” Clear? May Allah bless you.
▪️The eighth matter relates to performing it regularly.
The basic principle is that you should perform it daily according to your ability and capacity. However, if you do not sit every day, you do not lose the reward altogether. If you sit on one day, you attain the reward mentioned in the hadith.
Nevertheless, it is better for you to consistently and regularly maintain this righteous deed.
https://t.me/masjidsahabah/2298
