حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلانَ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ الرِّشْكِ، قَالَ‏:‏ سَمِعْتُ مُعَاذَةَ، قَالَتْ‏:‏ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ‏:‏ أَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى‏؟‏ قَالَتْ‏:‏ نَعَمْ، أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ‏.‏

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari said (may Allah the Exalted be well pleased with him)

“The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to devote himself to four cycles [of ritual prayer] at high noon, so I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you devote yourself to these four cycles at high noon!’ He explained: ‘The gates of heaven are opened at high noon, then they are unlocked until the midday ritual prayer is performed, so I love to have a good deed ascend on my behalf during that time!’ I said: ‘Is there a Qur’anic recitation in each of them [the four cycles]?’ He said: ‘Yes!’ I said: ‘Do they contain a separating salutation of peace?’ He said: ‘No!'”Another chain reports a similar narration.