{{Short description|Second prayer of the day in Islam}} {{Islam}} '''Dhuhr''' ({{Langx|ar|صلاة الظهر}}, also transliterated as '''Zuhr''', '''Duhr''' or '''Thuhr'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dhuhr |url=https://www.al-islam.org/tags/dhuhr |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.al-islam.org |language=en}}</ref>) is one of the five daily mandatory Islamic prayers (''salah''). It is observed after Fajr and before Asr, between the zenith of noon and sunset, and contains 4 ''rak'a'' (units).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2077|title=Salat al-Duhr|website=Oxford Islamic Studies Online|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025043117/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2077|archive-date=2019-10-25|access-date=2019-10-25|quote=Noon prayer. Second of five mandatory daily prayers (salat), containing four cycles (rakah). Performed immediately after the sun reaches its zenith. Given the restrictions of modern business hours, it is increasingly being performed in the workplace during lunch breaks. On Fridays it is part of the communal prayers (jumah).}}</ref>
On Friday, the Zuhr prayer is replaced or preceded by Friday prayer (''jum'a'') which is obligatory for Muslim men who are above the age of puberty and meet certain requirements to pray in congregation either in a mosque or with a group of Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunan Abi Dawud 1067 - Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat) - كتاب الصلاة - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |url=https://sunnah.com/abudawud:1067 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=sunnah.com}}</ref> The sermon is delivered by the imam.
== Performance == The Dhuhr prayer consists of four compulsory (fardh) rak'a. In addition, there is a voluntary Sunnah prayer, although the details of it vary by branch of Islam. In Dhuhr, Al-Fatiha and the additional surah are to be read quietly or in a whisper (''israr'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Monnot |first=Guy |title=Encyclopaedia of Islam |date=1995 |publisher=Brill Publishers |isbn=9004098348 |edition=New |volume=VIII |location=Leiden |pages=928 |language=en}}</ref>
The Hanafi school believes there are four rak'a before the compulsory prayer and two rak'a after the compulsory prayer of confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) prayer. The Hanafi school also believes there are 4 rak'a of non-confirmed sunnah (ghair mu'akkadah) prayer after the compulsory prayer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=sufyan |date=2011-07-05 |title=What Are the Confirmed Sunna and Non-Confirmed Sunna Prayers Associated With the Obligatory Prayers? |url=https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/what-are-the-confirmed-sunna-and-non-confirmed-sunna-prayers-associated-with-the-obligatory-prayers/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=SeekersGuidance |language=en-US}}</ref> The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools believe there are two rak'a of confirmed sunnah prayer before the compulsory prayer, and two additional rak'a before and after the compulsory prayer as non-confirmed sunnah prayer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-23 |title=Types Of Prayer (Shafii) {{!}} islam and ihsan |url=https://www.islamandihsan.com/types-of-prayer-shafii.html |access-date=2024-10-11 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Building Jannah: The Sunan ar-Rawatib {{!}} Mohammad Zahid |url=https://www.inkoffaith.com/post/building-rawatib |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.inkoffaith.com}}</ref> In the Maliki school, there is confirmed sunnah prayer before and after the compulsory prayer. There is no limit to the amount of rak'a for these, but it is recommended (mustahabb) for it to be at least two rak'a, and it is better to pray four rak'a.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-27 |title=Types of Salat (Maliki) {{!}} islam and ihsan |url=https://www.islamandihsan.com/types-of-salat-maliki.html |access-date=2024-10-11 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Textual references ==
=== Quran ===
Quran 17:18 mentions "the prayer from the decline of the sun", referencing Dhuhr:{{Blockquote|text=Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed ˹by angels˺.|author=[https://quran.com/17/78 Quran 17:78] ("The Clear Quran" translation by Mustafa Khattab)}}Some argue that Quran 2:238's "middle prayer" is about Dhuhr. However the predominant view amongst scholars is that it refers to Asr.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |title=True Islam - Number of Salat |url=https://www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/islam/pillars/number_of_salat_(P1200).html |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Quran-Islam}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |title=The Quran: A Reformist Translation |date=2007 |publisher=Brainbow Press |isbn=978-0-9796715-0-0 |editor-last=Yüksel |editor-first=Edip |location=United States of America |pages=72, 508–509 |editor-last2=Shaiban |editor-first2=Layth Saleh al- |editor-last3=Schulte-Nafeh |editor-first3=Martha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Al-Farabi |first=Abu Musa |date=2020-02-02 |title=Q&A: The 'Middle' Prayer - |url=https://renascencefoundation.com/qa-the-middle-prayer/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Renascence Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prayer |first=Ahmed Abdulla {{!}} |date=2020-04-07 |title=The Five Daily Prayers Not Mentioned In The Quran? |url=https://myislam.org/are-5-daily-prayers-in-the-quran/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=My Islam |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Blockquote|text=Observe the ˹five obligatory˺ prayers—especially the middle prayer—and stand in true devotion to Allah.|author=[https://quran.com/2/238 Quran 2:238] ("The Clear Quran" translation by Mustafa Khattab)}}
=== Hadith === Some ahadith claim there are benefits to Dhuhr: {{Blockquote|text=It was narrated from Umm Habibah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever prays four rak'ahs before Dhuhr and four after, the Fire will not touch him."|author=[https://sunnah.com/nasai:1817 Sunan an-Nasa'i 1817]}}{{Blockquote|text=Abdullah bin As-Sa'ib narrated: "Allah's Messenger would pray four (Rak'ah) after the Zawal of the sun before Dhuhr. He said: 'It is an hour in which the gates of the heavens are opened, and I love that a righteous deed should be raised up for me in it.'"|author=[https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:478 Jami` at-Tirmidhi 478]}}
== Timings == {| class="wikitable" |+By school !School !Start time !End time |- |'''Sunni Islam''' |when the Sun is at its zenith and begins to decline.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam. 7: Mif - Naz |date=1993 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-09419-2 |location=Leiden |pages=27}}</ref> |when shadows are of equal length with their objects; in the Hanafi school, when shadows are twice as large as their objects.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam. 7: Mif - Naz |date=1993 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-09419-2 |location=Leiden |pages=27}}</ref> |- |'''Shia Islam''' |when the Sun is at its zenith and begins to decline.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web |date=2013-01-30 |title=Question 27 : Why do the Shi'ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods? |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shia-rebuts-sayyid-rida-husayni-nasab/question-27-why-do-shiah-perform-five-daily-prayers-three |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.al-islam.org |language=en}}</ref> |when there is enough time to perform only Asr before the sunset.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2013-01-30 |title=Question 27 : Why do the Shi'ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods? |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shia-rebuts-sayyid-rida-husayni-nasab/question-27-why-do-shiah-perform-five-daily-prayers-three |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.al-islam.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-12 |title=Prayer (Salat): According to Five Islamic Schools of Law Part 1 |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia/prayer-salat-according-five-islamic-schools-law-part-1 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.al-islam.org |language=en}}</ref> |- |}
==See also== *Wudu *Other salah: **Fajr prayer (Morning) **Asr prayer (Afternoon) **Maghrib prayer (Sunset) **Isha prayer (Night) *Friday prayer *Eid prayers * Mandaean prayer at noontime
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Islamic prayer}} {{Characters and names in the Quran}} Category:Salah Category:Salah terminology {{Authority control}}