What is Chasht, Tahajjud, and Ishraq Time? (Voluntary Prayers)
Learn about the highly rewarded voluntary prayers: Tahajjud (night), Ishraq (post-sunrise), and Chasht/Duha (mid-morning). Timing and Rak'ahs explained.
Table of Contents
The Sunnah Voluntary Prayers
Beyond the five daily obligatory prayers, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) regularly performed highly rewarded voluntary (Nafl) prayers. Three of the most significant are Tahajjud, Ishraq, and Chasht (Duha).
1. Tahajjud (The Night Vigil)
Performed in the last third of the night after waking from sleep, before Fajr begins. It is the most virtuous of all voluntary prayers, representing deep devotion and sacrifice of sleep.
2. Ishraq (The Post-Sunrise Prayer)
Ishraq is performed roughly 15 to 20 minutes after the sun has fully risen. If a person prays Fajr in congregation, remains seated remembering Allah until sunrise, and then prays two Rak'ahs of Ishraq, they receive the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah.
3. Chasht / Duha (The Mid-Morning Prayer)
Known as Duha in Arabic and Chasht in Persian/Urdu, this prayer is performed when the sun has risen high in the sky and the day is hot (usually a couple of hours after sunrise until just before solar noon/Dhuhr). It acts as charity for every joint in the human body.
This guide has been verified by our editorial board. Astronomical data matches calculated equational metrics, and liturgical instructions conform with established traditional jurisprudential Fiqh sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Academic & Shariah References
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Salat
About The Author
Dr. Tariq Al-Mansoor holds a PhD in Fiqh & Shariah from Umm al-Qura University.