Salat-ud-Duha

Salat-ud-Duha is a Nafl Salah that varies between two to eight Rak'aat. According to some Hadith, it is up to 12 Rak'aat. This Salah is performed in the morning. The word Duha means the interval between sunrise and before Istiwa. That is, before the sun completes half of its journey.

Therefore, the time of Salat-ud-Duha begins when the sun has risen fully and it lasts until the sun has completed half its journey. However, the most recommended time is when the sun has already completed one quarter of its journey. It is to be noted that half of its journey or one quarter of its journey is in relation to sunrise and sunset.

Once, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) saw the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum) performing this Salah immediately after sunrise. Regarding this, he said: "Salat-ul-Awwabeen is the time when the legs of the young camels begin to burn". The time when young camels begin to have difficulty in walking due to the heat, is the time when the sun has risen quite high in the sky. This is approximately when the sun has completed one quarter of its journey. Therefore, according to this Hadith, it is also permissible to perform this Salah earlier than the time when the sun has already risen. However, the best time or the time of the Awwaabeen or those who devote their time to perform this Salah, is the time when the young camels begin to have difficulty in walking because it starts to feel hot and the earth is already well-heated.

During this time, people normally tend to rest. Despite this, when a person devotes this time to performing Salah instead of resting, in a way, he proves his sincerity and devotion. That is why the Salah which is performed during this time is called Salah of Awwaabeen (the devoted). That is, a Salah that is performed by those who are very dedicated. 

This Salah requires a little extra sacrifice. And it is only those who are devoted who can do it. That is why Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"None besides the Awwaab (devoted) can observe Salat-ud-Duha regularly because it is the Salah of an Awwaab (devoted).

Just as a person proves his devotion and sincerity by engaging himself in Salah at this time, similarly, he expresses it by dedicating it in Nafl Salah during the interval between Maghrib and Isha. Therefore, it is correct to call this Salah also Salat-ul-Awwaabeen due to it being called such by Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu Anhuma) and Hazrat Abdullah Bin 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma). It is true that Salat-ud-Duha has been called as Salat-ul-Awwabeen, but this does not prohibit another Salah to be called such because it has been named such, in relation to the state of mind of people who perform it. This state of mind can exist in several circumstances on the occasion of different Salah. It is to be noted that Salat-ul-Awwaabeen was never a proper noun for Salat-ud-Duha in a way that it cannot be applied to another Salah.

It is just like Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) has labelled certain way of performing Salah as Salat-ul-Munaafiq. As we know, this name is not a proper noun for a particular Salah. It is only in relation to some bad behaviour found in the Musalli that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) named this Salah as Salat-ul-Munaafiq.

That is why the 'Ulama did not see any contradiction in naming the Nafl Salah after Maghrib as Salat-ul-Awwabeen. Thus, naming this Salah as Salat-ul-Awwabeen is not a false conception. On the contrary, refusing to accept it as such is based on a misunderstanding of Hadith.

[English version of "Salaat-ud-Doha" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.15]