Assalaamu 'alay kum, Regarding the Duha prayer: 1. Can the recitation be audible? 2. Can it be prayed in congregration? Jazak Allah Khair

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The Dhuha prayer should be performed silently like other supererogatory prayers which are performed during the day. In principle, the night supererogatory prayers are performed loudly and those which are performed during the day are performed silently unless there is evidence that they should be performed loudly, like 'Eed prayers and the prayer for rain.

Ibn Abu Zayd from the Maaliki School, said: 'It is desirable to perform night supererogatory prayers loudly and it is desirable to perform the supererogatory prayers during daytime silently, nonetheless, if one performs the supererogatory prayers during the daytime loudly, then his prayer is accepted.'

It is of course desirable to stick to the principle, but if one does otherwise, then it is acceptable.

It is not permissible to perform supererogatory prayers in congregation unless there is evidence that it is desirable to perform a given supererogatory prayer in congregation, like the Taraweeh prayers and the prayer for rain, for example. Whereas the Dhuha prayer, it is among the prayers which are not permissible to be performed in congregation. An-Nawawi said: 'As regards all other supererogatory prayers like the recommended fixed Sunnah prayers…and the Dhuha prayer, it is not permissible to perform them in congregation, meaning that it is not desirable to do so, but if they are performed in congregation, then the prayers is accepted…There are many narrations as evidence about the permissibility of performing supererogatory prayers in congregation. For instance, 'Utbaan Ibn Maalik narrated that the Prophet came to his home when it was very hot with the company of Abu Bakr so the Prophet stood for the prayer and we stood behind him, then he concluded with Tasleem and we said the Tasleem after him as well.' [Al-Bukhari]

Therefore, there is no harm to perform the Dhuha prayer in congregation provided one does not take this as a habit.   

Allaah Knows best.