What is Duha prayer?

Charity for every joint

The Prophet ﷺ said that every morning, charity is due for each joint of your body. Every "Subhan Allah" is charity, every "Alhamdulillah" is charity, enjoining good is charity, and "two rakat of Duha are enough to cover all of that" (Sahih Muslim 720). Two short rakat, and your whole body's daily "thank you" is paid.

Abu Hurairah said his beloved friend ﷺ advised him with three things he should never leave: fasting three days each month, two rakat of Duha, and praying witr before sleeping (Sahih al-Bukhari 1981). That is how small and steady this sunnah is meant to be.

When to pray it

• Start: about 15–20 minutes after sunrise, once the sun is clearly up.
• End: about 10–15 minutes before Dhuhr begins (the sun's zenith).
• Best time: later in the morning when the day has warmed up. The Prophet ﷺ said the prayer of those who turn back to Allah is when young camels feel the heat of the sun (Sahih Muslim 748).

In practice, for most people in Europe or the USA, mid-morning (roughly 9–11 am, depending on season) is ideal. Check your local sunrise and Dhuhr times. See Can I trust prayer time apps?

How many rakat?

The minimum is two. You can pray 4, 6 or 8, in pairs with salam after every two. Eight is reported from the Prophet ﷺ on the day Mecca was conquered, and some scholars put the maximum at 8 or 12, while others say there is no upper limit. There is no special surah required; recite al-Fatiha and any short surah you know.

Duha is sometimes also called salat al-ishraq when prayed early, right after sunrise. Some scholars treat ishraq as the early part of Duha, others as a separate prayer.

Fitting it into a busy day

Duha is easy to fit in: a coffee break at work, a gap between lectures, or before starting housework. You don't need a mosque or a special room. See Do I need a prayer mat to pray?