Duha prayer: when to pray it and how many rak‘ahs
The mid-morning prayer: its time, its rak‘ahs, the silent recitation, and what the schools say
Duha is the voluntary prayer of the morning. It is prayed once the sun has fully risen, until shortly before its zenith: at least 2 rak‘ahs, silently, two at a time. The Prophet ﷺ advised it to Abu Hurayrah, and prayed 8 rak‘ahs of it on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
What the schools agree on
Duha is a voluntary prayer: it is not owed, but it is recommended. It has at least 2 rak‘ahs, prayed two at a time like a two-rak‘ah prayer.
It is prayed after sunrise, once the sun is well up, and before the zenith, as Dhuhr approaches. Like the other daytime prayers, it is recited silently.
| Rak‘ahs | at least 2; 8 at Umm Hani’s house |
|---|---|
| Time | in the morning, once the sun is up, before its zenith |
| Voice | silent |
Abu Hurayrah said the Prophet ﷺ advised him of three things to keep all his life: fasting three days each month, praying Duha, and sleeping only after praying Witr.
Duha, step by step
2 rak‘ahs are enough; you can add more, two at a time.
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The timead-duha
After sunrise, when the sun is already high in the sky, and until shortly before midday.
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2 rak‘ahs
Al-Fatiha and a surah in each rak‘ah, silently, then the tashahhud and the salam, like any two-rak‘ah prayer.
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Adding more, if you wish
You can continue two at a time, up to 8 rak‘ahs as the Prophet ﷺ did at Umm Hani’s house; the maximum differs between the schools.
Umm Hani’ said that on the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ bathed at her home, then prayed eight rak‘ahs, light ones, yet with complete bowing and prostration.
The four schools, all valid
Which surahs at Duha?
No surah is fixed for Duha: any surah is fine, and a short one is enough.
Frequently asked questions
How many rak‘ahs for Duha?
At least 2. The Prophet ﷺ prayed 8 at Umm Hani’s house; the maximum varies between the schools (see the box).
When is Duha prayed?
Not at a fixed hour: after sunrise, once the sun is well up, and before the zenith. The exact time changes with the place and the season.
Is Duha recited aloud?
No, silently, like the other daytime prayers, for the four schools.
How can I check my Fatiha and the surahs I recite in prayer?
Recite them out loud in the Tilawa app: it follows your recitation word by word and shows you the words and tajweed rules to work on. During prayer, it can also follow the verses you recite.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error