Dhuhr

Regarding the importance of Dhuhr prayer, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “This is an hour at which the gates of heaven are opened, and I like that my good deeds should rise to heaven at that time.” (Tirmidhi) From the hadith it is clear that accounts / deeds of a person are taken to heaven at the time of Dhuhr, therefore, it is important that the deeds of a person reaching the heaven should be closed in a good manner. However, as far as the Sunnah of Dhuhr are concerned, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a hadith: “Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rakat before Dhuhr prayer and four (2 sunnah, 2 nafl) after the Dhuhr prayer, Allah will send him against the Fire (of Hell).” [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi] This hadith makes it all the more important to offer the Sunnah prayer before and after the Dhuhr. Offering Fard prayer is mandatory and if one does not do it, he or she be held questionable for it.