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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikum

Can you please explain what is "Chaast Prayers" and "Ishraaq Prayers"? 

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Answer:

Chaast and ishraaq prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Arabic term ‘Ishraaq’ is name given to the time of day when the sun has completely risen in the mornings. The ‘ishraaq’ prayers are a two-rakah supererogatory prayer offered after the sun has completely risen. It was the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he would lead the believers in the obligatory fajr prayer in the mosque, then sit and glorify and remember Allah Subhanah till the sun had completely risen; and then he would offer a two-rakah prayer and leave the mosque. This two-rakah prayer in the early morning after the sun has completely risen is known as the Israaq prayer.

The ‘chaasht’ prayer is also known as the ‘Salat-ud-Duha’ and the ‘Salat-al-Awwabeen’ in Islamic Jurisprudence, and its time starts a couple of hours after the sun has completely risen and lasts till the sun has reached its abject meridian at noon. The salat-ud-Duha is a supererogatory prayer and is offered in two rakah combinations, and the maximum number of rakahs which the Prophet (saws) prayed at this time was eight and according to another narration, twelve. A section of the eminent jurists and scholars in Islam are of the opinion that one may pray as many rakahs of Salat-ud-Duha as one wishes or is convenient or easy for them.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.31a

The time for ‘duha’ begins when the sun is about a spear's length above the horizon and it continues until the sun reaches its meridian. It is preferred to delay it until the sun has risen high and the day has become hot.

Zaid ibn Arqam relates: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) went to the people of Quba', and they were performing the ‘Duha’ prayer, and he (saws) said: 'The prayer of ‘Duha’ should be observed when the young weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.'"

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and at-Tirmidhi .

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.31b

The minimum number of rak'ah to be prayed in the supererogatory ‘Duha’ (forenoon) prayer is two. The most that the Prophet (saws) performed was eight rak'at, whereas, the most he (saws) mentioned was twelve rak'at. Some eminent scholars, such as Abu Ja'far At-Tabari, Al-Mulaimi, and Ar-Ruwyani, who subscribes to the Shafi' school of thought, say there is no maximum limit to the number of rak'at that one may perform for the voluntary ‘Duha’ prayers.

Al-'lraqi says, in the commentary on Sunan At-Tirmidhi: "None of the companions of the Prophet (saws) or followers are known to have restricted it to twelve rak'at." As-Syuti agrees with it.

Sa'id ibn Mansur records that al-Hassan was asked: "Did the companions of the Prophet (saws) perform the ‘Duha’ prayer?" He answered: "Yes . . . some of them would pray two rak'at, and some of them would pray four rak'at, and some of them would continue until half the [early] day [had passed]."

Umm Hani narrates that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam prayed eight rak'at of ‘Duha’ and made the taslim after every two rak'at.

Related by Abu Dawud.

Aishah reports: "The Prophet (saws) would pray four rak'at for ‘Duha’ and would add to it whatever Allah willed."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and ibn Majah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.274 Narrated by Abu Huraira

My friend (the Prophet (saws)) advised me to do three things and I shall not leave them till I die, these are: To fast three days every month, to offer the voluntary Duha prayer, and to offer Witr before sleeping.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan