Surah Ad-Duhaa (The Morning Hours)

About Surah Ad-Duhaa

Ad-Duhaa, “The Morning Hours”, is a surah of comfort. It came after revelation had paused for a time and opponents mocked the Prophet, claiming he had been abandoned. Swearing by the bright morning and the still night, it assures him that his Lord has neither left him nor become displeased, and that what lies ahead is better than what has passed.

A perfectly balanced surah

• Two oaths (93:1–2): the morning light and the night when it settles — just as night follows day, a quiet period is not a rejection.
• Reassurance (93:3–5): the Lord has not forsaken him, the later life is better than the first, and he will be given until he is pleased.
• Three favours (93:6–8): God found him an orphan and sheltered him, found him unaware of the way and guided him, found him in need and made him self-sufficient.
• Three responses (93:9–11): do not mistreat the orphan, do not turn away one who asks, and speak of your Lord’s blessings.

Each instruction mirrors a favour: the Prophet who was once an orphan is to protect orphans; the one who was once in need is not to repulse those who ask; the one who was guided is to share that blessing.

Occasion of revelation

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record, from Jundub ibn Sufyan, that the Prophet was unwell and did not rise for night prayer for a night or two, and a woman taunted him that his companion had left him; this surah was then revealed. Reports differ on how long the pause lasted.

In the Meccan reading tradition, some reciters say a takbir at the end of Ad-Duhaa and each surah after it; scholars have discussed the strength of the report behind this practice.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Surah Ad-Duhaa revealed?

After a pause in revelation, when the Prophet was taunted that he had been abandoned; it reassured him that his Lord had not left him.

How many verses are in Surah Ad-Duhaa?

11.

What is Surah Ad-Duhaa good for?

Many Muslims turn to it for hope in difficult times, as its message is that God has not abandoned the believer and better is coming.

How many ayahs are in Surah Ad-Duhaa?

Surah Ad-Duhaa has 11 ayahs. It is surah number 93 in the Quran and is Meccan.

Can I read Surah Ad-Duhaa in English or save it as a PDF?

Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.

Is Surah Ad-Duhaa the same as Surah Duha?

Yes. Duha, Ad Duha, Al Duha, Dhuha, Zuha and Ad-Duhaa are different English spellings of the same surah name, الضحى.

Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.