Skip to content

Virtues and benefits of Surah Ad-Duhaa

Surah 93 11 verses Meccan

Surah Ad-Duhaa belongs to the Mufassal, by which the Prophet ﷺ was favoured over the other prophets, and the Prophet ﷺ advised Mu’adh to recite it, with Ash-Shams, Al-Layl and Al-A’la, in the ’Isha prayer (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Revealed when revelation was delayed, it told the Prophet ﷺ that his Lord had neither forsaken nor hated him, and reminded him of His blessings.

by Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais Read Surah Ad-Duhaa All recitations

Its virtues at a glance

  • A surah for the ’Isha prayer

    When Mu’adh prolonged the ’Isha prayer, the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “O Mu’adh, are you putting people to trial?” and told him to recite Ash-Shams, Ad-Duhaa, Al-Layl and Al-A’la; this shows the ease of Islam and Allah’s mercy towards His servants.

    Authentic (sahih)Al-Bukhari (701) and Muslim (465)

  • Glad tidings to the Prophet ﷺ of his Lord’s pleasure

    Revealed when the idolaters were spreading lies about the delay of revelation, it silenced them, gave the Prophet ﷺ glad tidings of his Lord’s pleasure and reminded him of some of his Creator’s blessings.

  • A surah of the Mufassal

    It belongs to the Mufassal, given to the Prophet ﷺ as an extra grace by which he was favoured over the other prophets, according to the hadith of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa’: “I was given in place of the Torah the seven long ones… and I was favoured with the Mufassal.”

When to recite it

  • In the ’Isha prayer, as the Prophet ﷺ advised Mu’adh when leading people in prayer

Hadiths on its virtues

Arabic text, translation, reference and authenticity grade of each hadith.

وإن معاذًا صلى معك العشاء ثم أتى فافتتح بسورة البقرة، فأقبل رسول الله ﷺ على معاذ فقال: يا معاذ أفتان أنت؟ اقرأ بكذا، واقرأ بكذا… اقرأ: ﴿وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا﴾ ﴿وَالضُّحَى﴾ و﴿وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى﴾ و﴿سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى﴾

“Mu’adh prayed ’Isha with you, then came and began with Al-Baqarah.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned to Mu’adh and said: “O Mu’adh, are you putting people to trial? Recite such-and-such a surah…” In the version of Abu az-Zubayr from Jabir: “Recite ‘By the sun and its brightness’, ‘By the forenoon’, ‘By the night when it covers’ and ‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High’.”

Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Bukhari (701) and Muslim (465) Authentic (sahih) narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim; At-Tirmidhi: good and authentic

What the surah is about

  • The honour and merit of the Messenger ﷺ
  • Refuting the idolaters’ claim that revelation to the Prophet ﷺ had stopped
  • Glad tidings to the Prophet ﷺ of his Lord’s pleasure
  • Reminding the Prophet ﷺ of some of Allah’s blessings upon him
  • Noble character: kindness to the orphan, generosity to the one who asks, not concealing Allah’s blessings

Main purpose: To show Allah’s care for His Prophet at the beginning and the end of his mission.

About Surah Ad-Duhaa

Ad-Duhaa (“the Forenoon”) is Meccan, among the very first surahs: 11th in the order of revelation, after Al-Fajr and before Ash-Sharh, 93rd in the Qur’an, with eleven verses. According to Al-Bukhari and Muslim, from Jundub ibn Sufyan, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill and did not rise for a night or two; a woman said: “O Muhammad, I think your devil has left you,” and Allah revealed: “By the forenoon, and by the night when it grows still, your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hated you.”

Tafsir of Surah Ad-Duhaa Listen to Ad-Duhaa by other reciters

Detailed study in Arabic

The full Arabic text: introduction, virtues, themes, and a study of the chain and authenticity of each hadith.

  1. التعريف بسورة الضحى
  2. فضائل سورة الضحى
  3. موضوعات سورة الضحى
  4. سبب نزول سورة الضحى
  5. الأحاديث الواردة في الفضل ودرجتها