Al-Shamail Al-Muhammadiya | Episode (27) | Duha prayer and voluntary prayer at home

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:07 With pens of longing,

0:09 And the ink of love,

0:11 We record lines more precious than gold,

0:15 In describing the Master of all creation,

0:17 Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

0:20 The Prophetic characteristics (Shama'il).

0:31 Chapter: The Duha prayer.

0:33 Mu'adhah reported:

0:37 I asked 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

0:40 "Did the Prophet, peace be upon him, pray the Duha prayer?"

0:44 She replied, "Yes, four rak'ahs,

0:47 And he would add whatever Allah, the Almighty, willed."

0:51 In this hadith,

0:54 It is noted that Mu'adhah bint 'Abdullah al-'Adawiyyah,

0:57 Who was a learned and devout lady,

1:00 Asked the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

1:03 "Did the Prophet, peace be upon him, pray the Duha prayer?"

1:08 And as we have seen before,

1:10 In this question and others like it,

1:12 Is the eagerness of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, for knowledge,

1:15 And for following the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, with insight.

1:20 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, answered her,

1:23 Saying, "Yes, four rak'ahs,"

1:27 Meaning he would usually pray four,

1:30 And sometimes add whatever Allah, the Almighty, willed,

1:33 That is, whatever He decreed and ordained.

1:36 And from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him,

1:40 That the Prophet, peace be upon him,

1:43 Used to pray the Duha prayer in six rak'ahs.

1:46 This hadith does not contradict what preceded it

1:52 From the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

1:55 Because she said, "And he would add whatever Allah, the Almighty, willed."

2:00 This indicates the desirability of variation

2:03 In the number of rak'ahs for the Duha prayer.

2:05 For the Prophet, peace be upon him, would pray it

2:08 Sometimes as two rak'ahs,

2:10 Sometimes as four rak'ahs,

2:13 Sometimes as six rak'ahs,

2:15 Or eight rak'ahs.

2:17 The scholars have said:

2:19 The Duha prayer is a Sunnah,

2:21 Its minimum is two rak'ahs,

2:23 And there is no limit to its maximum.

2:25 It is best not to exceed eight,

2:28 And one should perform the taslim after every two rak'ahs,

2:31 As it is not appropriate to combine them into one single taslim,

2:34 Based on the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him:

2:38 "The prayer of the night and the day

2:40 Is two by two."

2:42 And from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla,

2:46 Who said:

2:47 "No one informed me that they saw the Prophet, peace be upon him,

2:51 Praying the Duha prayer,

2:53 Except for Umm Hani', may Allah be pleased with her."

2:56 For she narrated

2:58 That the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

3:01 Entered her house on the day of the conquest of Makkah,

3:04 Performed ghusl,

3:05 And prayed eight rak'ahs.

3:08 "I have never seen him, peace be upon him,

3:11 Pray a prayer lighter than that,

3:14 Except that he would perfect the bowing and prostration."

3:19 In this hadith,

3:22 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla informs us

3:25 That no one informed him that they saw the Prophet, peace be upon him,

3:30 Praying the Duha prayer,

3:31 Except for Umm Hani'.

3:33 Al-Qari said:

3:35 This only negates his own knowledge,

3:38 And does not contradict what others have preserved.

3:41 Moreover, the report of Umm Hani' is sufficient.

3:44 As for his statement,

3:46 "For she narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

3:50 Entered her house on the day of the conquest of Makkah,

3:53 Performed ghusl,

3:54 And prayed eight rak'ahs,"

3:57 Meaning he prayed eight rak'ahs.

3:59 This is a case of naming a thing

4:02 By some of its parts,

4:04 For prayer is called "subhah" (glorification),

4:06 And it is called "sajdah" (prostration).

4:09 And her statement,

4:10 "I have never seen him, peace be upon him,

4:13 Pray a prayer lighter than that,

4:16 Except that he would perfect the bowing and prostration,"

4:20 Indicates the desirability of lightening the Duha prayer,

4:23 And that the Prophet, peace be upon him,

4:26 Would sometimes lighten it,

4:29 Yet he would bow until the one bowing was at ease,

4:33 And prostrate until the one prostrating was at ease.

4:36 This lightness is different from his prayer, peace be upon him, at night,

4:42 For he used to prolong that.

4:45 The hadith also shows the legitimacy of the Duha prayer while traveling.

4:49 And from 'Abdullah ibn Shaqiq, who said:

4:54 "I asked 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

4:57 'Did the Prophet, peace be upon him, pray the Duha?'"

5:02 She said, "No,

5:04 Unless he returned from his absence."

5:08 This hadith, in its outward appearance, contradicts the hadiths

5:11 That establish his prayer, peace be upon him, during the Duha.

5:16 The people of knowledge have said:

5:18 The hadiths that have come regarding the Duha prayer

5:21 Are of three categories:

5:24 The first category is that which provides absolute affirmation,

5:28 Such as the statement of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

5:31 When she was asked, "Did the Prophet, peace be upon him, pray the Duha?"

5:36 She said, "Yes, four rak'ahs,

5:39 And he would add whatever Allah, the Almighty, willed."

5:44 The second category

5:46 Is that which is restricted to his return from travel,

5:50 Such as her statement in this hadith,

5:52 When she was asked if he prayed the Duha,

5:55 She said, "No,

5:57 Unless he returned from his absence,"

6:00 Meaning, unless he returned from a journey.

6:03 The third category

6:05 Is absolute negation,

6:07 Such as her statement, may Allah be pleased with her,

6:09 "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, never prayed

6:13 The Duha prayer at all."

6:15 This means that 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,

6:18 Negated her own witnessing of the Prophet's, peace be upon him, Duha prayer,

6:23 But she did not negate the existence of the prayer itself,

6:25 Because this prayer was established for her through narration, not through her own sight.

6:30 This indicates that he, peace be upon him,

6:34 Did not consistently perform this prayer,

6:37 Which is why 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, did not see him praying it.

6:41 However, he, peace be upon him,

6:44 Urged Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, to perform it consistently.

6:49 That is why Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

6:53 Is it better to perform it consistently,

6:56 As in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah,

6:58 Or is it better to refrain from consistency,

7:01 Following the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him?

7:05 This is a matter of dispute.

7:08 The most plausible view is to say:

7:10 Whoever is consistent in the night prayer (qiyam al-layl),

7:13 It suffices him from being consistent in the Duha prayer,

7:17 As the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to do.

7:21 And whoever sleeps through the night prayer,

7:24 Then the Duha prayer is a substitute for the night prayer.

7:29 And from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him,

7:33 That the Prophet, peace be upon him,

7:36 Used to consistently pray four rak'ahs when the sun passed its zenith.

7:40 I said, "O Messenger of Allah,

7:43 You are consistent with these four rak'ahs

7:46 When the sun passes its zenith."

7:48 He said,

7:49 "The gates of heaven are opened when the sun passes its zenith,

7:53 And they do not close until the Dhuhr prayer is performed.

7:57 So I love that a good deed of mine should ascend at that hour."

8:01 I asked, "Is there recitation in all of them?"

8:06 He said, "Yes."

8:07 I asked, "Is there a separating taslim in them?"

8:11 He said, "No."

8:14 In this hadith, the noble Companion informs us,

8:18 According to the statement of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him,

8:21 That the Prophet, peace be upon him,

8:24 Used to consistently pray four rak'ahs when the sun passed its zenith.

8:28 His statement "used to consistently pray" comes from "idman,"

8:32 Meaning persistence and constancy.

8:35 And his statement "when the sun passed its zenith,"

8:37 Meaning when it has definitely occurred.

8:40 The intent is the beginning of the time of its zenith,

8:44 And this is the Sunnah prayer before Dhuhr.

8:47 Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

8:50 "O Messenger of Allah,

8:52 You are consistent with these four rak'ahs

8:55 When the sun passes its zenith."

8:57 It is as if he asked about the reason for his maintaining them.

9:01 The Prophet, peace be upon him, said,

9:04 "The gates of heaven are opened when the sun passes its zenith,"

9:08 Meaning for the acceptance of acts of obedience and supplications.

9:11 "And they do not close until the Dhuhr prayer is performed."

9:15 The gates of heaven do not close at this time,

9:18 Rather, they remain open until the Dhuhr prayer is performed.

9:23 And his statement, "So I love that a good deed of mine should ascend at that hour,"

9:28 Meaning a righteous deed.

9:30 The meaning is: I desire and wish

9:33 That there be ascended and raised for me at that hour

9:36 A good deed from the voluntary prayers,

9:38 In addition to what has been prescribed for me,

9:41 To demonstrate the perfection of servitude,

9:44 Through the desire for worship.

9:48 And his statement, "Is there recitation in all of them?"

9:51 Meaning, is there recitation in every rak'ah?

9:54 He said, "Yes,"

9:56 Meaning he recites the Fatihah,

9:58 And recites what is easy after it.

10:00 And his statement, "Is there a separating taslim in them?"

10:04 He said, "No."

10:06 This indicates that they are prayed without a separating taslim.

10:10 However, Shaykh al-Albani declared this weak,

10:14 And it is better that they be prayed with a separating taslim,

10:17 Due to the generality of his statement, peace be upon him:

10:21 "The prayer of the night and the day

10:23 Is two by two."

10:25 Narrated ‘Abdullah Ibn al-Sa’ib, may Allah be pleased with him:

10:30 That the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

10:33 used to pray four rak’ahs after the sun had passed its zenith, before the Dhuhr prayer.

10:38 He said:

10:40 "It is an hour in which the gates of heaven are opened,

10:44 so I love that a righteous deed of mine should ascend during it."

10:48 This hadith

10:51 carries the same meaning as the aforementioned hadith of Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him.

10:55 It contains an encouragement to perform these four rak’ahs before the Dhuhr prayer.

11:01 Narrated ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him:

11:06 That he used to pray four rak’ahs before Dhuhr,

11:10 and he mentioned that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,

11:13 used to pray them at the time of the sun’s zenith,

11:16 and he would prolong them.

11:18 This hadith carries the same meaning as the previous hadiths

11:24 concerning the Sunnah prayer regularly performed before Dhuhr.

11:28 His statement "and he would prolong them" means:

11:30 that he would lengthen the recitation in them,

11:33 and lengthen the bowing (ruku’) and prostration (sujud).

11:36 A beneficial point:

11:40 The Duha prayer holds a position of great importance.

11:43 It is among the voluntary prayers

11:46 for which the Sunnah has provided encouragement,

11:49 urging their performance and explaining their reward.

11:53 Among the hadiths narrated regarding the importance of this prayer

11:58 is what is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari,

12:01 from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

12:04 "My beloved friend (the Prophet) advised me to do three things,

12:07 which I will not abandon until I die:

12:10 fasting three days of every month,

12:13 performing the Duha prayer,

12:15 and sleeping after having performed the Witr prayer."

12:18 It is also recorded in Sahih Muslim,

12:20 from the hadith of Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him,

12:23 that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

12:27 "Every morning, charity is due for every joint of yours.

12:32 Every glorification of Allah (tasbih) is charity,

12:34 every praise of Allah (tahmid) is charity,

12:37 every declaration of His oneness (tahlil) is charity,

12:39 every declaration of His greatness (takbir) is charity,

12:42 enjoining good is charity,

12:45 and forbidding evil is charity.

12:48 And two rak’ahs performed during the Duha time suffice for all of that."

12:53 The time for the Duha prayer

12:55 begins approximately fifteen minutes after sunrise,

12:59 and extends until the sun reaches the center of the sky,

13:03 which is about ten minutes before the Dhuhr adhan.

13:08 All of this is its designated time,

13:11 so its time is expansive.

13:13 However, its best time, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, is:

13:18 "The prayer of the penitent (awwabin) is when the young camels feel the heat,"

13:22 meaning when the heat of the sun intensifies and the young camels—

13:27 which are the young of the camels—begin to feel its heat.

13:31 Chapter: Voluntary prayer at home.

13:38 Narrated ‘Abdullah Ibn Sa’d, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

13:44 "I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, about praying in my house

13:50 versus praying in the mosque."

13:52 He said:

14:09 ‘Abdullah Ibn Sa’d, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet, peace be upon him,

14:14 about praying at home versus praying in the mosque,

14:18 meaning which of the two is more beloved and better.

14:21 The Prophet, peace be upon him, answered him by saying:

14:25 "You see how close my house is to the mosque,"

14:29 using an expression of wonder to further clarify and emphasize performing voluntary prayers at home,

14:36 following the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

14:39 And his statement:

14:41 "That I pray in my house is more beloved to me than that I pray in the mosque."

14:58 He preferred praying at home over praying in the mosque,

15:02 even if that mosque were one of the three most virtuous mosques,

15:06 because it is further removed from showing off (riya’),

15:09 it is a realization of sincere faith,

15:12 it intends for blessings to reach the home and its inhabitants,

15:15 it invites the descent of angels into the house,

15:18 and it drives the devil away from it.

15:20 His statement "unless it is a prescribed prayer"

15:24 means a mandatory (fard) prayer,

15:26 for the most beloved thing to me is to pray it in the mosque,

15:29 because it is one of the rites of Islam.

15:32 It has been narrated in the hadith of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, in Sahih Muslim,

15:37 that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

15:41 "When one of you finishes his prayer in his mosque,

15:44 let him assign a portion of his prayer to his house,

15:48 for Allah will place goodness in his house because of his prayer."

15:54 An exception to this is the night prayer of Ramadan (Tarawih),

15:57 for the best way to perform the night prayer of Ramadan

16:00 is in congregation in the mosque,

16:03 even though it is a Sunnah and not an obligation.

16:06 However, the Sunnah has indicated that the night prayer of Ramadan is better in the mosque.

16:12 The hadith has more to follow, if Allah wills.

16:16 And Allah knows best.

16:18 May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad,

16:21 and upon all his family and companions.

Al-Shamail Al-Muhammadiya | Episode (27) | Duha prayer and voluntary prayer at home

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