(206) Chapter: Merit of the (Optional) Duha (Forenoon) Prayer

Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He was taking a bath at that time. When he finished the bath, he performed eight Rak'ah (of optional) prayers. This was during the Duha (forenoon).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith holds that Duha prayer consists of eight Rak`ah. Another Hadith elaborates that the Prophet (PBUH) performed these Rak`ah in four couplets. What is the time of Duha prayer? Is Duha prayer and Ishraq prayer one and the same? There is a difference of opinion on these issues. Some people think that Duha and Ishraq are two different names for one and the same prayer, and this is performed soon after sunrise. While others think that the earliest time of Duha prayer is soon after sunrise and the last is a little before the sun begins to decline. The one performed in the early hours is called Ishraq prayer, while the one performed in the late hours is called Duha prayer. Some people say that the two Rak`ah performed at the time when the sun is at a height of a lance in the sky is Ishraq, and the one, comprising four Rak`ah, performed when the sun covers one fourth of the sky is Duha.

(For more details, see Miratul-Mafatih, a commentary of Mishkat Al-Masabih, Chapter Duha prayer). The majority of Muslim scholars consider this prayer as Mustahabb (desirable).