The Duha prayer

Duha is a voluntary prayer of the forenoon, between sunrise and midday. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised Abu Hurairah to keep three things: fasting three days every month, praying the two rakats of Duha, and praying witr before sleeping (Bukhari 1981).

Its virtue The Prophet said that every morning a charity is due for every joint of a person's body. Every glorification of Allah, every praise, every saying of La ilaha illallah and every takbir is a charity, enjoining good is a charity and forbidding evil is a charity, and two rakats prayed in the forenoon take the place of all of it (Muslim 720).

Its time

1. It begins once the sun has fully risen. The Prophet forbade praying while the sun is rising until it is up, and while it stands at its height at midday until it passes the meridian (Muslim 831, Bukhari 583).
2. So Duha lasts from a little after sunrise until shortly before Dhuhr.
3. Its best time is later in the morning, when the heat rises: the Prophet called it the prayer of those who turn back to Allah, prayed when the young camels feel the heat of the sun (Muslim 748).

Duha prayed early, soon after sunrise, is often called Ishraq. It is the same Duha prayer at the start of its time.

How many rakats Two rakats are enough. The Prophet often prayed four, and sometimes more, as Allah willed (Muslim 719). Pray them two by two, like other voluntary prayers.

If you are unsure about your own situation, ask a trusted local alim.