Question:
Is it true that there is a hadith which states that whoever performs 12 rakaat dhuha prayer will get a gold castle in paradise?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Dhuha prayer is one of the sunnah prayer which is greatly encouraged to be performed by every Muslim. It is also known as al-Awwabin prayer and its time starts after the sun rises. Furthermore, the Prophet PBUH advised Abu Hurairah RA to never leave Dhuha prayer:
أَوْصَانِيْ خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلاَثٍ: صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَرَكْعَتَي الضُّحَى، وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنَامَ
“My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two rak`at of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and (3) to pray witr before sleeping.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1880) and Sahih Muslim (721)
According to the above question, there is a hadith which narrates the advantages of those who perform 12 rakaat Dhuha prayer will receive a gold castle in paradise. This hadith is narrated by:
- From Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ صَلَّى الضُّحَى ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ قَصْرًا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي الجَنَّةِ
"Whoever prays twelve Rak'ah of Ad-Duha, Allah will build a castle made of gold for him in Paradise."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (473) and Sunan Ibn Majah (1380)
The Status of the Hadith
The following are some of the opinions of scholars regarding the status of this hadith:
- Imam al-Tirmizi evaluated the hadith from Anas as gharib (odd) for it is unknown. (See Sunan al-Tirmizi, 337/2)
- Imam Ibn Mulaqqin said the hadith is placed by Ibn al-Sakan in his sahih sunan book. (See Tuhfah al-Muhtaj, 416/1)
- Imam al-Nawawi ruled the hadith as dhaif (weak). (See Khulasah al-Ahkam, 571/1)
- Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said in the sanad of this hadith, there is a narrator who is weak. (See Fath al-Bari, 54/3)
- Syeikh al-Albani evaluated the hadith as dhaif (weak). (See Dhaif Jami’ al-Tirmizi, 52/1, Dhaif Ibn Majah, 380/3)
Here, we would like to state that we are inclined to state that the hadith is dhaif (weak), however, it can be elevated to hasan when it is supported with several other narrations. Likewise, this is stated by al-hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani:
لَكِنْ إِذَا ضُمَّ إِلَيْهِ حَدِيثُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ وَأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَوِيَ وَصَلُحَ لِلِاحْتِجَاجِ بِهِ
“However, if it is combined with the hadith from Abi Zar RA and Abi Darda’ RA, then it is strengthened and can be used as an argument.”
(See Fath al-Bari, 54/3)
The Advantages of Dhuha Prayer
Among the advantages of Dhuha prayer is 2 rakaat Dhuha prayer is equivalent to us donating to 360 joints of our body. This hadith is narrated by Imam Muslim:
- From Abi Zar RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
يُصْبِحُ عَلَى كُلِّ سُلَامَى مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ، فَكُلُّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَنَهْيٌ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَيُجْزِئُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ رَكْعَتَانِ يَرْكَعُهُمَا مِنَ الضُّحَى
“In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah's glorification is an act of charity. Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is distreputable is an act of charity, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.”
Sahih Muslim (720)
Conclusion
To conclude, it is a must for every person who believes in Allah SWT to perform the sunnah Dhuha prayer every day. The reason is it is one of the ways to showcase our gratitude to Allah SWT for all His blessings including the blessings of each joints in our body. Lastly, let us all try to perform the sunnah Dhuha prayer consistently in our daily lives, even if it is just 2 rakaat for this is more beloved by Allah SWT as narrated by Aisyah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
أَحَبُّ الْعَمَل إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ وَإِنْ قَل
“The deed liked most by Allah is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small.”
Sahih Muslim (783)
Wallahua’lam.