Part 18

20. To Mention Himself Only if He is the Imam It is reported that the Prophet (2), said:

Let no one be the Imam of a people, and then only mention

himself in the du‘ a, and leave them out. If he does so, then he

214 has cheated them.

Although this hadith might not be authentic, the meaning of it is applicable, as the Imam is responsible for the welfare of the entire congregation. Therefore, when he makes a dw’ 4, such as in the witr or qunut prayer, he should not say, “O Allah, forgive me, and increase my knowledge!” but rather, “O Allah! Forgive us, and increase our knowledge,” and so forth. This only applies to the du‘a that is done out loud. As for the dua that one does silently, such as in sujad (prostration) or at the end of the prayer, then the Imam is allowed to pray only for himself.

214 Reported by al-Tirmidhi (# 357), Aba Dawad (# 90), and Ahmad (5/ 250). Al-Tirmidhi said that it is hasan, but Ahmad Shakir pointed out that it might have some weakness in it (2/190). Al-Albani stated that it is weak

"THE RECOMMENDED TIMES FOR Du'4

Of the great mercy of Allah is that He has favoured certain times over others. Thus, He has distinguished these timings so that the worshipper can eagerly anticipate their arrival, and thus pray earnestly and sincerely. Had all timings been the same, the worshipper would not have had the enthusiasm and fervor that exists during more blessed times.

Therefore, it is important that the one who desires that his dua be answered utilise these times, and ensure that his dua be more frequent and sincere during them.

1. Du‘a@ in the Last Third of the Night

During this time, when most of creation is in a deep sleep, the true worshipper is awake, earnestly praying to his Creator, reflecting upon Allah’s creation, the heavens and earth. In fact, Allah describes the true believers as those who:

Zeon ret pee @ Opts oh sty) “and, in the hours of dawn, they seek forgiveness from their

Not only that, but Allah Himself comes down to His servant,

and opens for Him the doors of Mercy and Forgiveness. Aba Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (#8) said:

2 seerah al-Dhariyat, 18.

“Our Lord descends every night, during the last third of it, to the skies of this world, and asks: ‘Who is making du’ a to Me, so that I can respond to him? Who is asking Me, so that I can give him? Who is asking for My forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?’”?"*

And ‘Amr ibn ‘Absah reported that the Prophet (#8) said:

“The closest any worshipper can be to his Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so”

This is a huge incentive, then, for any person who truly desires

to come closer to Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him, and wishes

.to have his sins forgiven, and his dua@ responded to, to wake up

when everyone else is asleep, and remember Allah privately, and all the while praying to Him.

Furthermore Aba Sa‘id and Aba Hurayrah both reported that the Prophet (#8) said:

“Allah waits until the first third of the night has passed, then He descends down to the skies of this world and says: ‘Is there any that seeks forgiveness? Is there any who wishes to repent? Is there any who is asking? Is there any who is making a du‘ a?’

And this continues, until the break of dawn”.

“Our Lord — all Glory and Praise be to Him — comes down in the last third of the night to the skies of this world, and He says: ‘Who is there that is making a dw’ @, so that I can respond to him? Whois there that is asking Me, so that I can give him? Who is there that is seeking my forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?”

216 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim, from Aba Hurayrah, as reported in Sahih al-Jami' # 8021.

Authentic, narrated by al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, and al-Hakim from ‘Amr

ibn ‘Absah, and authenticated by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ # 1173.

718 Authentic, narrated by Ahmad and Muslim from Aba Hurayrah and Aba Sa‘id al-Khudri.

219 Reported by al-Bukhari (#1145), Muslim (# 758) and others.

Hence why Abi Bakr al-Tartashi said, “And this chapter is closed by stating: He is not a wise man who has a need to Allah, yet he sleeps away his need at night!”

So if a person wishes that his du'@ be answered, this is the best time to ask.

2, An Hour of the Night

In addition to the hadith pertaining to du‘a at the last third of the night, there are also ahadith informing us that there is a general time at night during which du'as are responded to. The Prophet (88) said:

There is at night an hour, ne Muslim happens to be asking

Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.”!

3. dua When the Adhan is Called This is based on the hadith of the Prophet (#8):

“Two (du'as) are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du‘a during the call for prayer, and the du‘a during the calamity,

when the two armies attack each other”.

“When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du’ a is answered”.

And in another one,

“Seek the response to your du’ as when the armies meet, and

the prayer is called, and when rain falls”.””*

220 AL-Hilali, p. 47.

2 Reported by Muslim (# 757).

222 Reported by Aba Dawid (# 2540), Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim, from Sahl ibn Sa‘d, and authenticated by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ # 3079.

223 Reported by al-Tayalisi in his Musnad (# 2106); authenticated in alSahihah, # 1413.

*4 Reported by al-Shafi't in his al-Umm (1/223); authenticated in al-Sahihah,

4. dua Between the Adhan and Igamah

This is one of the best times for the prayer to be accepted, and what a great blessing it is! Five times every day, while a worshipper is waiting to offer his prayers to Allah, he is given the opportunity to ask from Him his needs of this world and the Hereafter.

Anas ibn Malik narrates that the Prophet (3%) said:

“The dua said between the adhan and the igamah is not re-

fused, therefore offer your du’ as (at this time)”.

5. dua@ During the salah

This time is also one during which du‘ as are answered and accepted by Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him. Aba Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (3%) said:

“People will have to stop from looking up at the sky while making du’ a during yalat, or else Allah will snatch their sight

Other narrations forbid looking up at the sky during prayer in general, and this narration shows that the prohibition is even stronger while one is making dua@. This because one has a natural tendency to look upwards while making a du’ a, and, thus, the Prophet (#%) mentioned du ‘a explicitly in this narration.

Some of the postures of the sa/at during which the performance of du’a has been narrated include the following:

1. After the initial zakbir, when one is starting the salah.

2. Before the ruki’ and after one has finished reciting the Quran

— but this is only during the witr or other quniit prayers.

225 Narrated by Ahmad, Aba Dawad (# 521) and al-Tirmidhi (# 212) from Anas ibn Malik. Al-Tirmidhi considered it to be hasan sahih, and Ahmad Shakir agreed with him (1/416). Also see Sahih al-Jami' # 3408.

26Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, and al-Nasa’i, from Aba Hurayrah, as mentioned in Sahih al-Jami' #5479.

3. After one has stood up from ruka’. Abt Hurayrah narrates the Prophet (#8) used to say, after standing up from rukaz': “Allah is Ever-Hearing to one who praises Him. Our Lord! To You belongs all praise, the weight of the Heavens, and the weight of the earth, and the weight of anything that You desire. O

Allah! cleanse me with ice and water, cleanse me of my sins and mistakes as a white garment is cleansed of dirt!”

4. During the rvka’ itself, for the Prophet (3%) used to say during it: “Glorified be You, O Allah, our Lord, and be Praised! O

5. During the seya#d, and this was the posture during which the

Prophet (#8) made most of his du’ as. 6. While sitting between the two sajdahs.

7. After the final tashahhud, and before the end of the prayer.

These postures are in addition to the du’ as that he (3%) used to do while actually reciting the Qur’an. Hudhayfah narrated in this respect:

“I prayed one night behind the Prophet (3%), and he started reciting Sarah al-Bagarah. I thought to myself, ‘He will surely stop after a hundred verses.’ However, (after he reached a hundred verses), he went on, so I said to myself, ‘He will surely finish the Sarah in this rak‘ ah’. When he finished a/-Bagarah, I thought, ‘He will surely go into ruka’ now’, but he started Sarah al-Nisa, and continued reciting it until he finished. Then he started reciting Sarah Al’ Imran, and he completed its recitation! He was reciting in a very gentle and unhurried manner. Whenever he read a verse in which Allah was glorified, he

227 Narrated by Muslim (476) from ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa. 228 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

would glorify Allah, and whenever he read a verse which requested something (from Allah), he would request it, and whenever he read a verse that sought refuge in Allah, he would seek refuge in Allah...”

So when a person is reciting the Qur’an in a voluntary prayer, they are encouraged to make dua whenever one occurs in the Quran. This is only for voluntary prayer, as for the obligatory prayers, it is not encouraged.

6. dua while Prostrating

This is the most noble posture that a worshipper can be in, for it

‘is the epitome of humility and submissiveness. And how can it not

be, when a person in prostration lowers his face — the most noble

and sacred part of his body — to the dust, seeking the pleasure of his

Lord? This is why this posture is the most beloved by Allah, all

Glory and Praise be to Him. Abi Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (8) said:

“The closest any worshipper can be to his Lord is while he is