Question:
Assalamu Alaikum, what is the difference between salaatul ishraaq and salaatu duhaa? And were they both performed by the messenger of Allah Peace be upon him daily? With Evidences Please. Shukran.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The majority of our Fuqahaa (scholars) are of the view that Salaah al-Ishraq and Salaah ad-Duha (chasht) are the same Salaah. However, some scholars are of the view that Salaah al-Ishraq and Salaah ad-Duha are two separate prayers.
The first half of the morning, from after sunrise (after about 15 mins), will be the time to pray Salaah al-Ishraq, and the second half of the morning until Istiwaa us Shams (zenith) will be the time to pray Salaah ad-Duha.
It is mentioned in Bahishti Zehwar,
Ishraaq salaat is offered in the following way: after the fajr salaat one should not get up from his musallah. Instead, he should sit in the same place and occupy himself in reading durood shareef, or the kalimah, or the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala. He should not involve himself in any worldly talk, nor in any worldly activity. When the sun rises considerably, he should offer two or four rakaats of salaat. In doing so, he will get the reward of one hajj and one umrah. If a person gets occupied in some worldly activity after the fajr salaat, and after sunrise he offers ishraaq salaat; this will also be permissible. However, the reward will be less.
Thereafer, once the sun rises quite high, and it gets quite hot; one should offer at least two rakaats of salaat. If he wishes, he could offer more. That is, four, eight, or twelve rakaats. This is known as chaasht salaat. There is a lot of reward in offering this salaat.
Anas Bin Malik Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said “Whosoever offers his Fajr prayer in congregation, then remains seated making zikr of Allah until the sun rises and thereafter offers two rakaats, they will receive the reward of performing a Hajj and Umrah”. (Tirmidhi)
Aisha (Radhiallahu Anha) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would offer four rakats at the time of Duha, and increase on it whatever Allah wished. (Sahih Muslim)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
