1139/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “My close friend (the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) advised me to do three things: fast three days of every month, perform the two Rak‘ahs of the Duha prayer, and perform the Witr prayer before I go to sleep.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Observing the Witr prayer before going to bed is recommended for a person who is not sure he will wake up in the last part of the night; if he is sure, it is better for him to delay the Witr prayer till the last part of the night.
1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) advised his Companion Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) to offer the Duha prayer. A fortunate person would act upon the Prophet’s advice.
2) The minimum number of Rak‘ahs for the Duha prayer is two, to be prayed minutes after the sun has completely risen.
1140/2 - Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every morning, charity is due on every joint in your body. Every utterance of Allah’s praise (saying 'Alhamdulillah') is an act of charity, every utterance of Allah’s oneness (saying 'La ilah illa Allah') is an act of charity, and every utterance of Allah’s greatness (saying 'Allahu Akbar') is an act of charity; and enjoining good is an act of charity, and forbidding evil is an act of charity; and two Rak‘ahs which one offers in the forenoon (Duha prayer) suffice for all this.” [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Charity is due on the joints in a person’s body every day in gratitude to Allah Almighty for endowing us with bodies and health.
2) The due charity can take the form of anything pleasing to Allah Almighty, be it a good word or deed or spending money in charitable ways.
3) The Duha prayer consists of two Rak‘ahs and it suffices in place of all these due charities. This is mercy from Allah Almighty.
1141/3 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Duha Prayer as four Rak‘ahs, and sometimes as more Rak‘ahs as Allah willed.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1142/4 - Um Hāni’ Fākhitah bint Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “I went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the year of the Conquest (of Makkah) and I found him taking a bath. When he finished his bath, he offered eight Rak‘ahs. This was in the forenoon.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] This is one of the versions by Muslim, abbreviated.
1) The least number of Rak‘ahs of the Duha prayer is two, and there is no limit to the maximum. The Hadīth that mentions eight Rak‘ahs does not indicate restriction to that number.
2) We are encouraged to regularly perform the Duha prayer, whether we are travelers or non-travelers. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) offered this prayer on the day of the Conquest of Makkah, i.e. during travel.