بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
The first way to draw near to Allah is through the obligatory duties that are enjoined upon us. The way to truly earn the love of Allah and be among His most faithful slaves is the supererogatory deeds and voluntary deeds-- mustahabb and Sunnah deeds.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah radhi Allahu anhu, who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said:
Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.
" إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا، فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ، كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ، وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ عَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ، يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ"
[Bukhari]
While Tahajjud (night vigil prayers) might be very tough for a lot of us to perform, it is very much easier to start our journey to Tahajjud and Qiyam al-Layl, by starting our load of optional deeds with the much easier Dhuha prayer.
The Dhuha prayer can be performed from the time of sunrise to before mid-day. That is, from the end of Fajr time to the beginning of Dhuhr time.
It is an optional prayer, and can be a minimum of two rakat to a maximum of eight or twelve rakat (scholars differ as to the maximum amount). Some narrations which mention the practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam are as follows,
Aisha radhi Allahu anha reported: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam used to perform four rakat of Duha prayer and would add to them whatever Allah wished. [Muslim]
Umm Hani, radhi Allahu anha reported: I went to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He was taking a bath at that time. When he finished the bath, he performed eight rakat prayers. This was during the Dhuha (forenoon). [Bukhari and Muslim]
It should not be difficult to pray 2 or 4 rakats of prayer in the morning. It only take a few minutes. Cultivate the habit of praying the 2 or 4 or 8 rakats or 12 before you go to work or school. But start with 2 and gradually increase the number.
The Amazing Rewards...
Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu was given some specific advice by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and that was
“My Khalil (very close friend, meaning the Prophet) directed me to fast three days of each month, and to observe two rakat Duha at forenoon, and to perform the Witr prayer before going to bed.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Moreover, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam further said,
“In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah’s Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Alhamdulillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining good is an act of charity, and forbidding evil is an act of charity, and two rakat Dhuha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).” [Muslim]
This is a sign of the great reward of the Dhuha prayer as it is a form of charity and allows us to complete all our charitable duties for that day that are incumbent upon us.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam further said, “Allah Most High says: O child of Adam, don’t fail to perform four rakats in the beginning of your day, and I shall be your sufficiency at its end.” [At-Tirmidhi]
Another narration from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam states, “Whoever consistently performs two rakats of Dhuha, their sins are forgiven, even if like the foam of the sea.” [Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidi]
So, what is 5 to 10 minutes of your time compared to these tremendous rewards? Indeed, it is an amazing offer from Allah, a treasure mine, Salat ad-Duha. After all He is the One who created your time. Why don't give some back for Him? Invest it in your devotion to Him. Start your day with the morning prayers--2 Fajr prayer (and 2 rakats before it) and Dhuha prayers. You will see great change in your life, inshaa Allah.
May Allah make us of those who are consistent with these prayers and grant us nearness to Him and His love. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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